Yeah, especially lakers who are super sensitive to being ripped out of the water. Looks like they went back, but they were certainly stunned. Nice job man, looks like a fun ole' time :)

Ontario, Canada. Birch Lake Resort

Watch the video.....

Agreed, I try to not grab under the Gill plate to pick up or hold them. Prevents Gill damage. Teeth cuts and scratches on the fingers will heal, hold them by the mouth without pliers.

smallmouth bass

Smallmouth Bass, Steelhead, Lakers and Musky. I've also run across some big Sheepshead and saw some massive Carp

@@nobodyimportant69 rainbow no steelhead

Steelhead are out in the Lake during the mid Summer months, but they run up the river during mid October, November/December is peak for Steelhead in there.

I work a 180 pattern of cast and retrieve. On the first cast I let it sink for a count of 3. Then I rework it for a count of 5 and then 7. If you start ticking the bottom shorten the count or you'll start losing lures. I adjust the count until I find what depth they're hanging in. Also, if the current is coming straight at you shorten the count. Takes time but you'll learn the current.

TightLines Fishing thanks man

There are no signs that tell you how to find this spot. But you can find the whirlpool on all maps. Just past where Whirlpool Rd meets the Niagara Parkway there is a parking lot. Park there. There will be a paved walkway there. Follow it to your right until you see a path with stairs on your left. If you walk more than 200m you've gone too far. The trail will take you down to the pool. Tight lines!

It has been a cold spring the last couple of years. But May is usually great weather.

Thanks for the feedback. In northern Ontario bass fishing is open year round but unfortunately here in the south we have to wait until late June. Great fighters!

Length of fish does not apply to salmon as long as it is in season. You have to check the local regs to determine that. They are in season during the fall at the whirlpool. Having said that they are spawning and that means they start to die. Silver salmon are always the best but I know people who eat them when they turn to the darker colors. Many would take the one I caught home to eat. To each their own.

If you watch my videos you will see that I put more back than I keep. My intent was to keep one for eating. If it had been a bigger fish of good breeding stock it would have gone back.

The difficulty with the whirlpool is that it's depth is controlled by both rains and how much water the power plant releases each day. In the course of a day the water can rise or drop as much as 15ft. We had a lot of rain this year so the water was unusually high for a longer period of time. So high in fact that at times the whirlpool would stop moving and that's when the lakers really turned on. So given all of this I usually count anywhere from 5 to 7 seconds before retrieving my lure. I do this regardless of how high or low the water might appear to be because the shore appears to be a gradual and consistent slope. Good luck and tight lines!

TightLines Fishing thanks man, I appreciate it

great bid.. but we need some shots of you holding the fish

They are there starting in April and stay until late May when they head back down the gorge. To be honest we've never seen so many in the 3yrs I've been fishing there.

That is a great way to tell. Part of my problem was my with my glasses. At first glance the back of the fish had the appearance of having a very dark blue hue, similar to some salmon, and that threw me off. Lesson learned and still learning. Thanks!

Thanks!

Number 5 is the most popular and very effective. Wouldn't go smaller than a #4. Thanks for the feedback!

I know, I'm still facepalming over it. I corrected myself in the comments above and in the video title. Also acknowledged it my next video.

No it's not steelhead. Its Coho salmon!!

You'll notice that the water is high in this video. Chances are it's going to seriously drop in the near future if it already hasn't. This is a game changer as it affects the current and the activity of the fish. Bring lots of lures, minnows, jigs or whatever it is that you're planning to use. Pay attention to how things move in the water and the current.

This was the May long weekend.

More than happy to and thanks for subscribing.

You are absolutely right. Too easy to forget. However Damian actually kept both fish in this video.