Fall Fishing The Notty Near The Mouth

So I'm planning on taking a buddy fishing this weekend in the notty near the mouth in Wasaga, we like to troll and just talk shop from the boat but I'm wondering what should I even be targeting? I've never fished this time of year in the river and I figure the salmon are gone and that's about all I know to target post summer. I have numerous body baits, spoons and jointed baits so I think I could target most but any general direction would be great!

Sidenote, I don't think I'll be going out into the bay since I'm just in a tin can and I'm told the winds this time of year change on a dime so I'll play it safe. I would be up for a drive somewhere but even then I'm not sure where I'd go and I'd probably have the same problem of what to fish for there too haha.

Any advice for fishing this time of year in the notty (or elsewhere nearby wasaga!) from boat would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

Try Owen Sound for trout. Pick your day and its fairly protected from most winds.

Yep my son lives there and does quite well.

We trolled the mouth of the Notty for years in the fall. We typically would start the weekend after thanksgiving flatlining in 20-40 fow and every week moved shallower. At this time of year the bows are trickling in, warm temps and lack of big winds (north or NW) have bows in a bit of a holding pattern in 100 fow give or take. I know they are being caught in areas shallow but majority of them are still in 80-120 down 50-60 but for sure with the cooler nights now, temps are dropping and fish are coming closer to shore. Go for a troll, flatline small baits in 20-40, fish will be there just not plentiful (yet). or the bay could surprise you and you might get in to a few. I know they are in the rivers already just not in mass numbers.

Any recommendations on a boat launch in Owen sound? I’ve never been up that way before.

Also just a couple questions about flatlining

If we’re running 2 rods, would we want roughly the same amount of line out of the 2 rods or staggered or does it even matter much

And does anyone use planer boards when flatlining? or does it not make much of a difference if you’re already 150ft+ behind the boat

Am I trying to get my lure down deep (like if I’m trolling out in 40fow) like is it fine to be using one of those tiny j-5’s that may only get down a couple feet in that scenario or should I be aiming for deeper diving / heavier lures in deeper water

Thanks for the advice everyone!

There is a public boat launch behind the Bayshore Arena with electronic payment for launch fee. large parking lot and decent lighting if going early or late. My 2 cents on flatlining with 2 rods is keep them at equal distances. Good luck

Thanks Itsaboutime! Will check it out

Weather looked good so we stuck it out in wasaga and tried our luck on the bay. Got onto the water about 9am (boat trouble slowed us down). Super calm, sunny morning. We trolled all morning but no luck. In the afternoon though we got one!! First ever rainbow in the boat! We weren’t paying much attention to the depth and we ended up in under 10ft of water, but that was the ticket I suppose.

I'm a little surprised by this topic, because yesterday I was at the mouth of a small creek on GB, and there were several salmon in the shallows, apparently trying to enter the stream with very little water in it.
I also asked a local fisherman if they were salmon and not rainbow trout, and he confirmed it, adding that rainbow trout won't be around until spring.
Isn't it too early for rainbows right now?

Rainbow/Steelhead run in both the fall and spring. The fall run they come to feed heavily on salmon eggs. They don’t run just once per year. Studies have show they may come in and out of a stream/river a half dozen times from fall to spring. They come in, feed and drop out or come in feed and head up to a pool to winter over. They do many things with river heights and temps effecting what they choose to do.

We also have systems with much of the spawning happening in Jan/Feb/March for fall heavy runs. Spring runs often spawn March/April/May.
The range of when they spawn is variable, again dependant on weather and temps.

Whom ever told you Rainbows won’t be around until spring is just plain wrong.
I have posted here for decades fall Steelhead pics in the rivers.

Dave, thanks a lot for clarifying and detailed information. I actually talked to my brother a couple days ago about it and he also told me that rainbows come to streams to feed on salmon eggs but I could hardly believe it.
As you are the most experienced and knowledgeable person in the topic I’ve ever met , I’m glad that now I know the real things.
Thanks a lot for your reply! I really appreciate it.

Glad I could help Mark but there are a ton of knowledgeable people here. My learned knowledge is from experience, reading, and a ton of passed on knowledge.

I have a moto I learned from Indigenous culture.

“Knowledge is only borrowed. It’s our job to pass it on or the knowledge dies.”

Very well said.

Well said Disco.

Edit: I see that Jamie concurs.....did not see his comment till after I posted mine.


Arnie

You are a very humble person, Dave, but I see that you combine both talent and great passion for fishing.
Yes I know from the Net that there are some other guys with great knowledge, passion and tremendous success in fishing. But I had a fortune to meet you personally and still greatly appreciate that you take me once into your boat.
Also rare people can explain things in detail and essence as well as you are able to do.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and your passion here.