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 (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

Weekly Fishing Photo - Smiling Pike, Lake Dalrymple Ontario

Denver gets his Northern Pike to smile for the camera  (Lake Dalrymple, Ontatrio)

Instead of allowing them to collect digital cobwebs on my hard drive, I will post one fishing photo every week. 

Fishing Tip: Lake Dalrymple is a very weedy body of water. When pike fishing, you will want to use a flashy lure that is virtually weedless. It can get more than a bit frustrating if you have to remove big clumps of weeds after every cast. I tend to trade in the crank baits for safety-pin style spinner baits (1/2 or 3/4 ounce variety). There are many weed beds at the southern end of the lake and a really big weed bed right before the narrowing where the north and south lake meet. Let your lure fall just above the weeds and retrieve at a steady pace, ensuring that it is going fast enough to part the softer weeds. Pike just go crazy when a bright flashy spinner bait comes ripping through the weeds. You won't have to guess if you got a hit or not, pike are all business. 

If you don't have spinnerbaits in your tackle box, I highly recommend you buy a few (roughly $5 each). I have a variety of colours and blade types since subtle differences can determine whether you will have a good or great day on the water. 

Want to share a fishing photo with fishtalker readers?  Just leave a comment or a message and I will get your photo uploaded. If you would like to know more about fishing on Lake Dalrymple, just leave a comment and I will share what I know. 

Shore Fishing at the Scarborough Bluffs

Bluff

n. A steep headland, promontory, riverbank, or cliff.

Word origin - 1680s, from Dutch blaf “flat, broad," apparently a North Sea nautical term for ships with flat vertical bows, later extended to landscape features (taken from dictionary.com)

When doing internet research for places to fish close to Toronto, you may read about a place called ‘The Bluffs’. The Bluffs is actually the short name used by locals when referring to The Scarborough Bluffs, located on the shores of Lake Ontario. The landscape was said to resemble the limestone cliffs of Britain’s first seaside resort town (Scarborough, North Yorkshire) and consequently inspired the name given to the city in 1796.

Bluffers Park Marina at about 8am

Bluffer’s Park is located at the southern end of Brimley Road where it twists, turns and descends steeply to meet Lake Ontario (drive with caution). The park first opened in 1975 to answer residents’ call for more public open spaces and improved access to the lake. Among other things, the park offers scenic lookout points, a supervised beach (July and August only), public restrooms, and a public boat launch facility for recreational boaters and sailors. Families, young couples and outdoor enthusiasts flock to the park on summer afternoons to escape the hustle and bustle of Scarborough’s city streets. Paid parking is usually enforced from June to September so walk with some extra coins or a credit card to avoid being ticketed.

The Fishing:

Fall: The marina receives most of its fishing pressure from September to November when trout and salmon come into the marina for a short stay before making their way to nearby rivers to begin spawning. Anglers use many techniques but float fishing roe bags and pitching spoons like Wilson Wobblers are most commonly used. I have had a lot of success using inline spinners like the Vibrax Blue Fox (#3 or #4) and the Mepps Aguila.

Winter: The water in the marina freezes over so shore fishing is just about impossible unless we experience an unusually warm winter that extends the fishing season.

Spring: Right after the ice thaws in the spring many massive Northern Pike make their way into the marina to spawn and feed. If you already fish for pike you know that they eat just about anything in sight and are less picky eaters than other species of fish. They also tend to feed during sunny periods when bass and other fish run for cover under the shade of heavily weeded areas. Your chance of catching bigger pike is best in the spring before they return into the deeper waters when temperatures rise. They will hit your lure quite close to the shoreline where they troll up and down scooping up smaller less fortunate fish.

Northern Pike - Caught in July on a Lucky Strike soft-plastic frog

Safely released after his picture was taken

Summer: In July and August smallmouth and largemouth bass make their way into the marina. Remember these are Lake Ontario bass so there is always a chance to catch your personal record when you least expect it. The bass tend to be more finicky and will often chase your lure to shore without taking it. Don’t lose hope. As an angler it is your job to figure out what they are really feeding on.

When all else fails...try a Mepps