1.
Lake Huron (ONTARIO)
The top 25 fish in last year’s CFPS Chantry Chinook Classic
on the east end of Lake Huron weighed in at more than 22 pounds
each, with the largest tipping the scales at 26.08 pounds. And
throughout the 16-day event, hardly a day passed without anglers
pulling in 20-pound-plus fish. Combined with $125,000 in prizes,
it’s no wonder 2,800 anglers typically compete in the Classic,
which is organized by the Lake Huron Fishing Club to raise funds
for conservation projects.
During the tournament, the club’s
Web site posts daily information on where the best catches have
been made and which lures have been successful. Tourney chairperson
Ken McClement recommends focusing on structure to locate the
big fish. “With over 90 miles of shoreline on the east
side of Lake Huron, you must learn structure like the back of
your hand to be successful,” he says. From Kincardine,
you need only run slightly over a mile to the drop off. Off
Port Elgin and Sauble Beach, slightly longer runs of five to
six miles are required. Lyman plugs are popular early and late
in the year, with spoons taking up the slack in the middle of
the season. McClement strongly suggests staying on baitfish
schools for constant action.
2.
Queen Charlotte Islands (BRITISH COLUMBIA)
The remote northern tip of B.C.’s Queen Charlotte Islands
is one of the most exciting places to fish for all five salmon
species. It’s also home to two tournaments: the Haida Gwaii
Tournament and the Rick Hansen Fishing Challenge operated out
of Langara Fishing Lodge. Last year’s tourneys pulled in
a number of chinooks weighing 60-plus pounds, while the lodge
record is a whopping 78-pound chinook.
The 10-year-old Haida Gwaii Tournament
runs for four days in June, and features a grand prize of $50,000
for the largest released salmon (last year’s 62.5-pound
winner is believed to be the largest tournament-caught salmon
ever released). The Rick Hansen Fishing Challenge, meanwhile,
is entering its fourth year, and last year’s field of 52
participants produced a winning salmon of 40 pounds. The area
by Langara Island is quite sheltered and most of the prime fishing
areas can be reached by a run of anywhere from two to 15 minutes.
Tips? Last year’s Haida Gwaii tournament winner was taken
off Conneehaw Rock, and most anglers here favour trolling cutplug
herring.
3.
Port Alberni (BRITISH COLUMBIA)
Coho, chum, pink and sockeye are the salmon of choice in the
Port Alberni Salmon Festival, held each Labour Day on the west
side of Vancouver Island at Port Alberni, the “Salmon Capital
of the World.” With more than $50,000 in cash and prizes
up for grabs, approximately 3,000 anglers competed in last year’s
festival, where a 22-pound coho took top fish honours. (Chinook
were not eligible last year because of a closure in that fishery.)
Now entering its 30th year, the festival helps raise money for
local salmon enhancement programs and bursaries for secondary
school students.
Trolling with downriggers is the
proven tactic on the 30-mile-long inlet approaching Port Alberni.
Here, sockeye prefer sparse red hoochies fished behind a flasher,
while coho—although they can be caught on the same gear
as sockeye—are more often landed using anchovies in teaser
heads fished behind a dodger or flasher. The area is also home
to the popular Somass/Stamp River, where drift-fishing is the
most popular method, with Spin-N-Glos, yarn flies and roe the
baits of choice.
4.
Lake Ontario (ONTARIO)
Held each summer on Lake Ontario, the Great Ontario Salmon Hunt
is Canada’s largest tournament; last year approximately
14,000 anglers vied to be the first to reel in a specially tagged
salmon worth $1 million. The biggest fish caught during last
year’s 50-day event, meanwhile, was a tournament record:
a 46.38-pound chinook. The big fish are certainly out there,
but you have to know where to look. The most popular harbours
are Bronte, Port Credit, Bluffers Park (Scarborough), Oshawa,
Port Hope and Wellington. Last year The Toronto Star printed
a daily report listing the top locations and lures, although
some of the most valuable information can be obtained at launch
ramps or over the VHF radio.
| TOURNEY
CONTACTS |
1.
CFPS Chantry Chinook Classic (Lake Huron, Ontario)
CFPS Chantry Chinook Classic, P.O. Box 355, Southampton,
Ontario N0H 2L0; www.bmts.com/~fish;
(519) 832-6477
2. Haida Gwaii Tournament
(Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C.)
Langara Fishing Adventures, South Terminal Building,
201-4440 Cowley Cresent, Richmond, B.C. V7B 1B8;
(800) 668-7544
Rick Hansen Fishing Challenge
(Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C.)
Rick Hansen Fishing Challenge, www.rickhansen.com;
(604) 822-5616
3. Port Alberni Salmon
Festival
(Port Alberni, B.C.)
Port Alberni Salmon Festival, Box 334 Port Alberni,
B.C. V9Y 7M8; (250) 723-8165
4. Great Ontario Salmon
Hunt (Lake Ontario, Ontario)
Toronto Sportsmen’s Shows, 703 Evans Avenue,
Suite 202, Toronto, Ontario M9C 5E9; www.sportsmensshows.com;
(416) 695-0311
5. Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular
(Georgian Bay, Ontario)
Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular, P.O. Box 264, Owen
Sound, Ontario N4K 5P3; www.bmts.com/~ssa/osss.htm;
(519) 376-7177 |
|
Lake
Ontario’s chinook salmon relate heavily to structure and
are usually found within one to six miles of shore in 80 to
300 feet of water. The best fishing is at first light, although
fish can be caught throughout the day. A good sonar unit is
a necessity since fish in Lake Ontario can be scattered over
wide areas. As for tackle, most competitors use downriggers
and favour spoons such as Northern Kings, Patriots, RACs, Williams,
Lure Kings and Nasty Boys. Lately, a number of anglers have
been trolling cut-bait rigs behind a flasher.
4.
Georgian Bay (ONTARIO)
Throughout
last year’s Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular, the 10 largest
chinook caught each day topped 20 pounds apiece. And with plenty
of catches approaching 27 pounds, it’s easy to see why
more than 5,000 anglers flocked to Ontario’s second largest
tournament late last August and early September. Held on the
protected waters of Georgian Bay on the eastern side of Lake
Huron, the Salmon Spectacular is organized by the Sydenham’s
Sportsmen’s Association, with all proceeds going to local
fisheries and wildlife projects.
Tourney co-chair Fred Geberdt
recommends first and last light as the most productive fishing
times due to the clear water. Popular lures include Lymans and
the Silver Fox spoon in lime rickey, blue-on-blue and blue-green
finishes, while premier fishing locations include the ever-popular
Thompson’s Hole and local legends Red Doors and Pumpkin
Seed. For up-to-the-minute fishing reports, local tackle shops
and anglers are known to be very generous with their information.
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