When does pike season open in Toronto?

Thankful for the comments left after my last post, I now know that pike season is actually closed until the second Saturday in May. I was under the false impression that pike fishing is open year-round from the lake up to highway 2 - this is NOT true. These great comments lead me to review the 2011 regulations on the Ministry of  Natural Resources website - something that I should have done, just to be certain. It turns out that pike is open in the spring but closes on March 31st for a short window. The season reopens this year on May 14th and remains open until the last day of the year (Saturday, December 31st).

So if you are wondering when pike season is open in Toronto, now you know. I will not have the opportunity to do any pike fishing this year as I am only days away from leaving Canada for an adventure across Central and South America. Naturally, I will be walking with my rods and I will be updating this blog with all of the amazing adventure fishing opportunities that I find.

Thanks again for the comments.

Scarborough Bluffs Fishing Update - Tons of Pike at Bluffers Park

I had the chance to hit the Scarborough Bluffs (Bluffer's Park) this weekend for an hour of casting. I will start by saying that I didn't catch a single fish during the hour - hopefully this isn't a reflection of my fishing ability.  With that being said, there are tons of fish swimming about the marina. I have been fishing at the Bluffs for about four years now and this is the first time that I have seen so many pike cruising the waters (sometimes in groups of three or four). For some reason, the pike would slowly follow my clouser minnow but lose interest after a brief chase. Any idea why they aren't taking the fly? I figure it has something to do with the water temperature and the fact that they are still in lethargic mode. If I have the opportunity to go back in the next day or two, I will try another presentation - perhaps the faithful spinner bait.

If you considering fishing at the Scarborough Bluffs (real urban fishing), but you don't know how to get there or where to fish, see my previous post on "Where to fish at the Scarborough bluffs". I used my GoPro camera to make a short video of the drive down to the marina and I will be posting it in the next day or two. Stay tuned for more updates and please leave a comment if you have had any recent success.

Ah - one last thing. I did spot a beautiful 10-12 lb pike from the bridge. Obviously I didn't catch him or I would have posted big picture with me smiling happier than a pig in s@*t! Maybe you will be the lucky one.

Tight Lines. 

Scarborough Bluffs (Toronto) Fishing Update - The Fish Are In

Scarborough Bluffs at sundown - a think fog creeps in 

Tonight I went down to the Scarborough Bluffs with my faithful fly-rod and a handful of clouser minnows. A thick fog crept across the marina creating an eerie atmosphere characteristic of the opening scene of a low-budget slasher flick. Although I had anticipated that it would be a bit colder near the water, I didn't expect the winter-esk temperature that greeted me. Nothing was going to stop me from taking a few casts - not even the return of old man winter. 

I headed to one of my usual spots near the bridge. A 2-pound pike followed my chartreuse clouser to shore, watching intently but not committing to an attack.  After ten casts I was forced to put down the rod to rescue what was left of my frozen fingers. For the next hour, I would take three casts then put my hands into my pockets for three minutes of warmth - it was frigid. 

With no luck from the shoreline, I headed to the bridge to see if I could spot any fish swimming down below. Although it was quite dark, I was still able to spot a beautiful brown trout and a stealthy 4-lb pike swim pass in the moving current. With the light quickly fading, I was no longer able to see my fly in the water. My florescent green floating line suddenly began to disappear from the surface, followed by a sharp solitary tug. And just like that - I lost it. The 8-lb florocarbon leader was severed with the precision of a butcher's cleaver. My fingers could no longer function to perform a complexed task like tying on a new fly. My brief fishing session was over but left with the knowledge that THE FISH ARE IN. If you can handle the current cold temperatures, it is worth heading down for some urban fishing at the Scarborough Bluffs. 

Scarborough Bluffs Fishing Update - Is it time to fish?

Thinking of going to fish at the Scarborough Bluffs? Great idea - but you may want to give Mother Nature another week or two to work her magic. I took a quick trip down to the marina this morning to gauge when I will be able to get a line in the water.

A thin sheet of ice at the Scarborough Bluffs

Good news - The ice is thawing and constant crackling noises can be heard while standing near the shoreline. Below the bridge near the entrance of the Bluffers Park Yacht Club is a popular spot for spring and fall trout fishing. Luckily this happens to be the spot where most of the melting is occurring. On both sides of the bridge there is about 60-100 feet of water where you can cast or set a floating line. I didn't see any fish running under the bridge but one thing I have learned is that you never know what to expect when fishing at the Bluffs. Since I am severely 'allergic' to the cold, I will wait for the next wave of warm weather before heading down with my fly-rod. Although most people go to the Bluffs for trout in the spring, many toothy northern pike troll the shorelines looking for an easy meal. Last year I had a lot of luck using clouser minnow flies.

Don't know where to fish at the Scarborough Bluffs? Read this post and click on the map to see four great spots. READ POST

Fishing photo of the week - Guapote on Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

Chris & Captain Marc with a Guapote on Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

This is a photo of a female Rainbow Bass (locally called 'Guapote') caught on Lake Arenal, Costa Rica. Lake Arenal is one of the best places in Costa Rica to catch a trophy sized Guapote. Since we were fishing in the rainy season and water levels were high, we trolled with deep diving Bomber lures to get down about 30 feet. 

Early Morning Trout Fishing at Wilmot Creek (Bowmanville, Ontario)

Early-morning trout fishing at Wilmot Creek

The tranquility of early morning fall fishing can only be captured in a photo or experienced firsthand. This photo was taken at about 7a.m. on a Saturday morning. I was told to be there before sunrise to get a spot, but it was still surprising to see how many anglers were scattered along the shoreline for a chance to hook into a Lake Ontario, trout at that early hour. 

Have you fished at the mouth of Wilmot Creek? Do you have any advice for your fellow anglers? Leave a comment. 

Real Travel Magazine - High adventure in the low season (Costa Rica)

My Costa Rica travel article in Real Travel Magazine - High adventure in the low season

Holding your published work is a great feeling - especially after spending countless hours hunched over a keyboard trying to bring a story to life. This was the case for my first published 'travel' article to Costa Rica with my good friends Chris, Nikki, and Ryan. We dubbed our trip 'The 2010 Reckless Road Trip', and we packed as much action and adventure into 10 days as we possibly could. We did it all - partied on white sand beaches, fished at the base of an active volcano, soared through the rain forest  on  zip-lines, and tons more.If you would like to read about our adventure, be sure to pick up a copy of the February issue of Real Travel Magazine - you won't be disappointed.

Who would have thought that one part-time travel writing course at George Brown College would lead to a feature magazine article just a few months later? If you have ever though about writing but just never started, I would be more than willing to give you a few pointers on how to begin (just leave a comment). The most important thing is 'starting'. The second most important thing is to believe that you can write and continue writing'. I would like to thank everyone that has encouraged me to continue writing and continue to push me to live what I love. You can expect many more exciting articles this year as I write while trekking through Central and South America - starting May 4th, 2011.

Live what you love, 

Joel (AdventureJo)