Top Tips for the Best Fall Fishing in Canada
Fall fishing in Canada offers some of the best opportunities for great catches and some real big FAT fish. Why? Because as fish attempt to gorge themselves through the fall in anticipation of the winter, they present Anglers with with a number of exciting opportunities for rs to head out for a bite as well.
The BRMB Team has prepared a list of the most popular species to fish for in the fall, and the best locations for fall fishing in Canada..
Fish Species in Canada
While these aren’t the only species you’ll find wallowing in fall waters, you will most likely find large numbers of these species and the most opportunity for catching them.The amount and size of any type of fish in any location varies year to year, and from one body of water to the next.
Bass Fishing in Canada
Due to the decline in water temperatures and the hunt for food, the highly sought after Bass moves into shallower waters in the fall season. Even some of the larger bass, typically found in deeper waters during the summer, come closer to shore seeking warmer water. This means reservoir hot spots, coves, creek mouths, ledges, and flats are great places to find a largemouth bass in the fall.Don’t forget to check out rivers as well as the lower water levels can force the fish towards the main channel areas.
Bass Fishing Methods: Bait, lure and fly-fishing
Best Places to Fish for Bass:
Winnipeg River (Manitoba)
Flowing from Lake of the Woods in Ontario, the Winnipeg River drains into about an area of 135,000 km2 (52 ml2) and angling opportunities here for smallmouth bass are popular from May into October. Lake Ontario (Ontario)
Bass are often overlooked in this huge lake, but there are regular reports of bucket mouth bass over 2.5 kg (5 lbs) from the shallower regions of the lake, where you’ll find most bass in the fall season. For specific depth charts and entrance points, our Ontario Fishing Mapbooks will come in handy on a lake of this size.
Magaguadavic Lake (New Brunswick)
With easy access, shallow shorelines and a large size, Magaguadavic Lake can yield 25 to 35 fish a day, averaging 1 kg (2.5 lbs). The best time to go is late September/early October.
Walleye Fishing in Canada
Come September and October Walleye are ready to prepare for winter and this means getting their gorge on. Because the fish they prey on are small baitfish, found close to the shore, you’ll also get a good chance finding walleye along the bank during the fall.
Walleye Fishing Methods: Trolling
Best Places to Fish for Walleye:
Bay of Quinte (Ontario)
From late October to early November, most trophy sized walleye move to the Bay of Quinte preparing for spring spawn. The bay is an ideal place to catch walleye in the fall as they are here to feast on anything they can find. Fishing in Eastern Ontario, and the Bay of Quinte, are an angler’s paradise in the fall.
Winnipeg River (Manitoba)
The Winnipeg River is well known for its fall run of walleye, due to their size and quantity. You can head out past the river mouth to find them, or find them in various spots throughout the river.
Tobin Lake (Saskatchewan)
Tobin Lake is home to world class walleye fishing, especially come the fall season. Dependant on the season you can find walleye over 4.5 kg (10 lbs) in size.
Catfish Fishing in Canada
These trophy fish are well sought after for their size and characteristics, and for those looking to be the top dog – the fall is the best time to catch a catfish. As the carnivorous fish search for a meal, they often move into shallow, current swept waters at night. You can often find a 2-5 kg (5-10 lbs) catfish hiding out in these areas in the fall.
Catfish Fishing Methods: Bait-fishing
Best Places to Fish for Catfish:
Red River (Manitoba)
Often referred to as the “catfish capital of the world” the Red River hosts cats exceeding 18 kg (40 lbs), caught annually.
Pike Fishing in Canada
Pikes are an aggressive, stealthy fish – especially in the fall. You’ll be able to find them seeking cover in aquatic vegetation, that hasn’t yet died from the cold weather, in deep water. With their sharp teeth they are able to rip through any plastic bait, so you’ll want to come prepared with pliers to remove a hook and the strength to reel them in.
Pike Fishing Methods: Bait, Lure, and Fly-Fishing
Best Places to Fish for Pike:
Lake Diefenbaker (Saskatchewan)
Considered a world-class fishery, Lake Diefenbaker hosts healthy populations of pike ready for an aggressive fight to be caught.
Lake Athabasca (Saskatchewan)
Pike are recorded to be exceptional here all year round, and with the main option to access Lake Athabasca being by flight, the fall months tend to be a lot less busy, giving the best opportunity to catch a pike, uninterrupted is in autumn.
Trout Fishing in Canada
Even though you can catch trout throughout the year, the fall is an ideal time to catch them as the waters are often less populated, and trout are feeding aggressively attempting to build fat reserves for the winter. Trout feed on food sources found in drop-off zones or in water that is less than 6 meters deep, and the best trout fishing action can be found in 2 m (2 yds) of water or on the shore itself. While trout fall fishing doesn’t last long, it is a worthwhile expedition for those who venture to try.
Trout Fishing Methods: Fly-fishing, Bait and Lure Fishing (less common)
Best Places to Fish for Trout:
Laurie Lake (Manitoba)
While Laurie Lake is most common for splake, come the fall season lake and brown trout are the main attraction. The lake has produced 11 of the 25 biggest brown trout ever caught in Manitoba, and in 2009 a 74 cm (29 in) trophy was caught in Laurie Lake.
Middle River (Nova Scotia)
Middle River is open to trout fishing, right to the end of October, and is favoured by most anglers for trout fishing. You can also find salmon here during the autumn.
Salmon Fishing in Canada
It’s undeniable that the fall is one of the best times to catch salmon – especially in September and October as the salmon swim upstream to spawn. While there are many ways to fish for salmon, you’ll find that the best time to fish for salmon in the fall is in the morning and afternoon when the water temperatures are coolest, making the salmon more willing to take a fly. They are a mighty fish, especially if you’re looking to catch a chinook salmon, but once you catch your first you’re sure to be hooked wanting more.
Salmon Fishing Methods: Trolling (offshore and estuaries), Lure and Fly-Fishing (rivers), Spinning (coho)
Best Places to Fish for Salmon:
Stamp River (BC)
While the Stamp River is primarily known for its amazing steelhead, fall fishing in BC also promises the opportunity to find large amounts of Chinook and Coho Salmon as they return for spawning.
Salmonier River (Newfoundland)
The fall is a great time to head to the Salmonier River to catch what else but some salmon! The Salmonier River in Newfoundland is also an excellent location for dry fly fishing.
Steelhead Fishing in Canada
As temperatures begin to drop, and cold rain starts to fall, steelhead are moving their way into creeks and rivers, and though it varies throughout different bodies of water, their run begins as well – around mid to late October. Steelhead will remain in the river in most of the fall and winter, right until the ice melts in the spring, and with less anglers on the water this makes it an ideal time for steelhead fishing.
Steehead Fishing Methods: Fly-Fishing, Bait and Lure Fishing (less common)
Best Places to Fish For Steelhead:
Skeena River (BC)
Well known as one of Canada’s greatest rivers, the Skeena boasts some of the biggest steelhead runs in the entire country. They are not only legendary in quantity, but in size as well, and while anglers can fish for steelhead year round, the fall is a great time to go with less anglers on the water and steelhead still looking for a bite. Our Cariboo and Northern BC Fishing Mapbook gives a detailed description on access to the Skeena River, as well as the variety of other species you can find there.
Bulkley (BC)
As a tributary from the Skeena River, the Bulkley River is prime Steelhead fishing in the October, with the run in full swing from the beginning of October to November. It is an ideal river to visit in the fall as it is much clearer than others in the area.
Before heading out to fish this fall, be sure to check the fishing regulations in your area and the specific licences you require to fish there.
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