Expecting rainbows

The outlook for Great Lakes rainbow trout fishing steelheaders can proudly advocate for the tremendous potential of our Great Lakes fishery. Many visiting anglers describe their Ontario steelhead experience as world class. As environmental conditions evolve across the Great Lakes, anglers and the MNR continue to monitor the status of these prized fish. Lake Erie Lake Erie is often considered a sleeper steelhead destination. A key factor influencing rainbow trout fishing here is significant stocking on the US side. According to the 2023 Report of the Lake Erie Coldwater Task Group, the four US border states stocked more than 1.7 million rainbow trout. The Lake Erie Salmon and Trout Club contributes by stocking fish out of Port Stanley. “Some of my clients did well in June and July targeting Nanticoke, Port Maitland, and further west,” Grimsby Tackle Manager Mark Penner said. As smelt move into Canadian waters, US-stocked rainbows follow their food source across the lake. Erie’s main spawning rivers are Big Creek and the Grand River. Steelhead account for roughly 70% of the Grand River’s fall run (at an angler estimated 10,000 fish). Smaller tributaries between Long Point and Port Dover also support modest uns, with less angling pressure. Erie’s steelhead opportunities continue to improve. Lake Superior Steelheading on Lake Superior is an experience like no other, with the rugged natural beauty of the region enhancing the thrill of fishing fast-flowing tributaries. Due to limited harbour facilities and launches, most angling takes place in rivers. Superior’s steelhead are sustained entirely through natural reproduction. The North Shore Steelheaders Association (NSSA) plays a vital role in monitoring fish populations. Club members participate in angling projects in the Thunder Bay and Nipigon Bay areas, supplying critical data. “This past year, a lack of rainfall from June to September in the Thunder Bay area created low-water conditions in the tributaries and high mortality of juvenile rainbow,” NSSA President Tom Whalley said. In-between lakes The St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie connect Lake Superior to Huron and offers a unique fishery. “Excellent numbers of rainbows are available within sight of the city right through the summer,” Redwood Charters (redwoodcharters.net) owner Dean Lapham said. Lake Huron Lake Huron boasts some of Ontario’s most consistent steelhead rivers. Guides from Grand River Outfitting and Fly Shop (ontarioflyfishing.ca) report productive fishing on the Nottawasaga and Bighead Rivers, with other tributaries also holding strong numbers despite low-water conditions.