Canadian Fishing Trips

Come Land a Salmon!

Canadian fishing trips produce an amazing amount of freshwater trophy fish every year. Admit it, you want a trophy! You need a trophy! We all do. Sure there are walleye , northern pike and muskie to bag all over the country, but to land that lunker that will make you the envy of your friends and family, think just one word. Salmon.

Salmon fishing in Canada is hugely popular for many reasons. The fishing is great. The scenery is amazing. And the fish put up a fight that will have you coming back for more. Salmon have been known to tip the scales at over 100 pounds on occasion and it is not uncommon to land a salmon over 30 pounds while on Canadian fishing trips. No wonder so many anglers come back every year!

Some Background on Salmon in Canada

canadian fishing trips,lake huron salmon fishing,lake michigan salmon fishing,canadian salmon fishin

Salmon is the umbrella name for a number of different members of �the family�. The technical name for the species is Salmonidae. Many fish within the Salmonidae family are actually called �trout�.

Salmon (as we call them) are divided into two types. Atlantic and Pacific. The fish can be found not only in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but the Great Lakes, many river systems and a variety of freshwater lakes in Canada (and Alaska). Anglers have luck in both salt and freshwater during their Canadian fishing trips, so the choice is yours.

Atlantic Salmon

Migrating upstream at a rate of about four miles a day, Atlantic Salmon head through cold freshwater May through July. Salmon can jump as high as 12 feet out of the water and are able to amazingly clear most obstacles on their way to spawn. The female will lay up to twenty thousand eggs in the early fall once they reach their final destination. After the eggs have been deposited, the adult salmon float back downstream as they return to the ocean.

Unlike Pacific salmon, the Atlantic version does not die after spawning. The young salmon (known as brandlings or parrs) remain in the freshwater systems for up to two years before they return to the ocean. These fish will return later in life to the same spawning locations their ancestors have visited for years.

There are several species of Atlantic salmon that are �landlocked� in the northern United States and Canada. These fish never migrate to the sea. If you catch one on your Canadian fishing trips, you will notice that they are smaller than migrating salmon. Their maximum weight is typically around 35 pounds. Many of these landlocked salmon species are spread from New Hampshire through to Labrador.

Pacific Salmon

Unlike their relatives in the Atlantic, Pacific Salmon are able to spawn only once, dying after depositing and fertilizing their eggs. Of all the Pacific salmon (Chinook, Chum, Coho, Cutthroat, Pink, Steelhead and Sockeye) the Chinook travels further than the rest. The Chinook (sometimes called King Salmon) often travels over 1500 miles inland in search of its spawning grounds. Their eggs typically will hatch within two months with the young making their way to the Pacific Ocean when they are about 3 inches in length.

Every summer Pacific salmon are drawn by instict to return to the rivers which they were born. Fighting their way upstream against strong currents and obstacles they battle their way back �home�. Not only does the river pose a challenge to them but bears, people and predatory birds look forward to this migration every year. It seems ironic that those that beat the odds and survive the journey, simply die after laying and fertilizing their eggs.

The Great Lakes

If you are eyeing the Great Lakes on your Canadian fishing trips make note that the fishing on each one is quite different. Even though the lakes are connected, the depth and flow of water make each better for some species than others.

For example, Lake Erie is quite shallow compared to the other lakes and hosts a good number of perch and walleye. Lake Superior is known for its good lake trout fishing. The two lakes that have the most in common are probably Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Lake Huron salmon fishing is famous as 30 pounders are taken every year. Lake Michigan salmon fishing is equally as good, and the two lakes seem to cycle year to year as to which is better. If you are looking to the Great Lakes for your Canadian fishing trips, this is where you need to focus.

The two species of salmon caught in the Great Lakes are Chinook and Coho. Both species were introduced to the region in the last fifty years with the Chinook being the larger of the two. The Coho was introduced into Lake Michigan to reduce alewife populations and to enhance the sport fishing experience.

The Spawn

Prior to the spawning season (which varies by species), salmon are somewhat dull in color. But when the spawn draws near, the salmon develop bright colors that can be quite breathtaking. The male goes through the most radical transformation usually developing a hooked snout and a hump on its back.

Before the male and female mate, one parent excavates a nest in the gravel and stones for the eggs. Once the eggs have been laid and fertilized, the female pushes pebbles and stones over the eggs to protect them. Typically the eggs hatch between two weeks and six months depending on the trout species and water temperature. Amazingly during the migration and nest building exercise the salmon do not eat any food!

Techniques for Catching Salmon

Catching salmon from the shore on your Canadian fishing trips is an ideal way to experience the thrill of catching salmon. Typically there are three main methods that are employed that yield the greatest results. These techniques are casting, flipping and plunking!

If you have not heard the term �plunking for salmon�, don�t worry about it. Chances are you have used this method on other species before. It is simply the term associated with still fishing. Typically using cured salmon eggs, the angler simply throws the bait on the bottom. In some locations you can have more than two rods set up at a time. This is a great way to catch salmon on their way by, and a technique that is used often during Canadian fishing trips.

Casting is something you will be familiar with and another popular method for landing trophy salmon. Using a variety of spoons, spinners and plugs, casting from the side of a river for salmon can be a load of fun. Each lure you select will have its own retrieval speed. The depth and speed of the current will come into play how you retrieve you lure as well. A good thing about casting for salmon is you can work different areas of the river. Plus when the salmon hits, you will know it! Casting for salmon on your Canadian fishing trips is something you may want to give a go! You will be glad that you did. Flipping is a little more complicated than plunking or casting, but not by much. In fact it is probably the most effective method for catching salmon from the banks of a river. Typically the bait consists of a Coho fly or corkies and egg snells with cured salmon eggs. By working the edges of the shore, the angler flips the line upstream at a 45 degree angle from shore and lets the current carry the bait. The key is to keep your real open with your line loose. This ensures a natural path for the bait to take as it is swept downstream. If you are using this method on your Canadian fishing trips, make sure your rod tip stays low and follows the progression of the bait as it drifts by you. If you get the hang of this, it can be a lot of fun!

Salmon fishing in Canada is something you have to put on your list to do, if you have yet to experience it. There are many anglers who swear by it. Canadian fishing trips in British Columbia, the Maritimes and the Great Lakes region are the source of great experiences for anglers around the world.

Check back with Freshwater Fishing Canada as we take a deeper dive on strategies to catch salmon in the coming months. For other great Canadian fishing trips ideas , don�t hesitate to explore this site.

Thanks for reading, and good luck out there!!