Salmon Fishing Canada

Admit it, you want a trophy! You need a trophy! We all do. Salmon fishing Canada provides anglers from all over the world with the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime.

Salmon fishing in Canada is 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.

No wonder so many people keep coming back!

Salmon is the umbrella name for “the family”. The technical name for the species is Salmonidae. Many fish within the Salmonidae family are actually called “trout”.

Salmon 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 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 back 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 those that beat the odds and survive the journey, simply die after laying and fertilizing their eggs.

Salmon Fishing Canada & the Great Lakes

If you are eyeing the Great Lakes while salmon fishing Canada, note that 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.

The two lakes where anglers have the most success salmon fishing are Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Both lakes see 30 pounders caught every year and the two lakes seem to cycle year to year as to which is better.

The two species of salmon caught in the Great Lakes are Chinook and Coho. Both species were introduced to the region in the mid-1900’s with the Chinook being the larger of the two.

There are a number strategies to land your fish of a lifetime. No matter if you are fishing the rivers of British Columbia or the depths of Lake Huron, a trophy salmon will keep you coming back for more.

Salmon fishing Canada attracts anglers from all over the world. If you have yet to experience it, put it on your short list. It is something you will never forget.

Thanks for reading.

Good fishing.

Catching salmon off the shore
Lake Huron Salmon Fishing
Some thoughts about salmon lures and trolling
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