Winter Surfing Fishing

[stealhead]

I want to try my hand at fishing from the beach for steelhead later this winter but I'm not sure where to get my line in the water. People used to fish in the surf at Craigleith all the time before MTO blocked off access to the shore. I also see lots of people fishing near the mouth of a small tributary near me - which is a little confusing because the river is so tiny that I can't imagine there are many fish migrating up it. I don't know anybody that does this sort of fishing so I have to ask my questions of you fine folk. What kind of shore line would be best to target staging steelhead in the late winter? And what kind of conditions are best?

From what I've read online, there doesn't seem to be much debate about the type of set up to use: long rod + rod holder, 10 lbs mono main line with sliding sinker, 24"-36" 6-8 lbs leader with a floating roe bag. Just cast it as far out into the surf as possible and start sipping coffee (whisky). Check on the eggs every 30 min or so to make sure the the mesh didn't tear apart. Does that seem about right?

I'm not asking for the secret spot - just want to know what I should be looking for!

[Jesse]

Ainsley woods and a few other spots north east of owen sound can't name them all without upsetting other fishermen sorry

[tnm19.12]

You pretty much got it right , the trout start to stage for spawning outside river mouths late winter , we also have good luck on rock shoals or points within a km or two of the river mouth , it can be some slow fishing ,but can be fun as well, don't forget a long net , windy days are usually better but without a long net you'll be getting wet trying to grab your fish ,good luck

[tnm19.12]

I have never fishes Georgian Bay though , I'm usually on lake o

[Tailfin]

You go to the provincial park a few yards up the road. I park at the end their parking lot and walk east down to the shore. Use a short dropper line for you weight, you'll lose less gear (very sharp shael/rock bottom) the rest you already know.

Good luck, Oh yes take a chair you'll need it.

[stealhead]

Thanks for the tips, guys. Out of curiosity, what makes Craigleith a good spot if it's not actually close to any tributary mouths? If I am setting up near a trib mouth do I want to be as close as possible or head somewhere with deeper water close to shore?

Also, does anyone use any other baits or is it strictly roe bags?

[Krawler]

I prefer a worm when surf fishing, we insert a syringe and push some air in to the worm to keep it off bottom. When the fish hits, we open the bail for the fish to swallow the bait without there being any tension on the line, after a few seconds reel in your slack line and set the hook. I prefer worms because you simply cant go wrong. With roe if you don't have the right stuff, scent, color, size, etc, the fish can be finicky and wont hit. Also if your roe isn't cured properly it cant turn white quickly and be much less effective.
Try and find a pier, shoal, change in shoreline, structure something that will cause the fish to change course or direction. Also an area where fish cant get away from waves and current will often hold fish along shorelines. I dont fish your side of the Bay so i cant offer up locations.

good luck

[Tailfin]

In the old days before change in water depth it would seem that the steelhead use the 15 to 20 ft depth alone the shore. I would liken it to a fish highway, and they would travel west to east.
The shore is comprised of shale ledges, most only one or two feet different in depth.

[Knuguy]

With the high water I don't think there is any place to sit or stand at Craigleith

[jam1324]

The signs they had up on the waters edge are currently about level with the surface of the water, so where people used to stand is about 4-5 feet deep.

[scharfy83]

Their calling for ven higher water levels this year so I don't see it getting any better

[Fishnhunt]

We surf fished near Owen Sound for years and without a doubt the best fishing was when the wind was blowing onshore with considerable wave action. It seemed to roil the water on a stony beach and the fish liked it. It might be a different story on a mud or dirt bottom beach as it could possibly make the water too cloudy.

I also caught many steelhead in Colpoys Bay by wading parallel to shore waist deep in waders and throwing spoons into the deeper water. I’m sure these tactics could work any where.

Good luck.