Steelhead Fishing - Where to fish on the Grand River

[@nicolelewis1828]

I fished the Grand briefly on Friday afternoon. Fished Five Oaks, another pool and went to the dam. Water was still low. Lots of darter action. No hits. Was swinging. Thank you! You rock! :-)

[@hooked4lifeca]

My day consisted of a tiny walleye and a hook up with something much bigger that got off. Definitely wasn't a steelhead, probably a big walleye.

[@hooked4lifeca]

The Credit River through Erindale Park is ope, so is the Saugeen below the abutments, the Maitland below the HWy21 bridge. Most rivers have a section at the mouth that is open longer.

[@stephencifka4629]

Peter, thanks for doing this instructive video....feels just like exploring new water with a guide. Thanks!

[@Thermopylae2007]

Thanks for the insightful video. I was thinking of exploring the river with a fly rod for mooneyes, but I might make a point of packing gear for bass and walleyes, or even visit later in the year for steelhead.

[@sonny8259]

Great spot to fish. I regularly go to this area for steelhead in the fall. Also once hooked into a really dirty chinook when drifting roe bags. Long ways up from the lake, but they do sometimes make it. Couple nice pockets west side of the center island for spoons and spinners if you like throwing hardware.

[@shanevanniekerk3375]

Enjoyed the video Peter. Love the editing style and the depth of information. Great job

[@nicolelewis1828]

Peter, I may turn up to fish the Grand in December between Christmas and New Years. Thank you for sharing these spots!

[@hooked4lifeca]

Contact me ahead of time as water conditions can get very iffy in late December with drifting ice and slush. If it is good, family commitments allowing, perhaps we could fish.

[@nicolelewis1828]

@@hooked4lifeca Peter, I'd be so thrilled! Thanks! Will do.

[@stripermanly]

Grew up in the Owosso and Corunna area and opted to fish the East side in the tributaries of Lake Huron. Wasn’t till a year or two before I left Michigan that I adventured the grand river and feeder creeks to it. Caught a lot of kings and steelhead from pine creek east of St. John’s.

[@hooked4lifeca]

This Grand is on the Ontario side. A lot of people get them mixed up.

[@stripermanly]

@@hooked4lifeca I assumed the states side since we have a grand river with a town called Caldonia as well

[@clydeschliska7775]

never heard of pine creek where at did you fish fine creek also from owosso area!!

[@japapelili]

Thank you for sharing this Peter, looks like a great spot to go.

[@gz1423]

Thank you for this video! Very informative

[@lastcastproduction4030]

Beautiful spots peter👍🏼. No fish but i still enjoyed that sir! Always got a tip and always learning from it.

[@SavedTraveler-1975]

Love how you classify a spinning rod as a "bass" rod.

[@johnf6288]

just found this, nice to see . any recommendations for learning fly fishing in the Hamilton area? I have only used spinning in the grand with very limited steelhead sucess and this looks more productive for the Grand and the Niagara Whirlpool

[@hooked4lifeca]

First Cast Fly Shop in Guelph has six hour Learn To Fly Fish courses that covers all of the basics. Contact Ray at 519-766-4665 to book a spot. He'll be starting the course when trout season opens in late April. He can also get you on the water now for steelhead with a guide who could show you the ropes.

[@johnf6288]

@@hooked4lifeca thank you

[@plangroup1]

Hello Peter great video....not to often guys reveal spots to fish and understandably but thanks for sharing, as a newbie it can be difficult to find good water, even if you do but catch nothing you may lose faith in these spots...knowing that someone has caught fish there before helps with sticking it out instead of just saying " there's no fish here" and moving on too quickly. I have a few questions for you...Wanted to know if you fish these spots all winter or is it a fall and spring thing only? What station do you use for water flow charts? what are good flow rates? Thanks again for posting these great videos I have watched many as there are quite educational and you do an amazing job getting the message across....tight lines!

[@hooked4lifeca]

In Southern Ontario steelheading, knowing that there's fish in Caledonia is like knowing that Tim Hortons has donuts. :) Fall into winter is the best time. The season opens so late in the spring run that the window isn't very large. It all depends on the weather. We can have blown out conditions, then it gets hot and it's done. If the river stays fishable and the spring remains cold, then the spring can be good.

[@zenbooter]

Dear Peter, what type of suction device are you using to hold down rod., Thanks, TJ.

[@juls_esp]

thank you for this... very much appreciated

[@johnf6288]

I see that Steelhead ends there on Dec 31st. Any other steelhead suggestions other than the Niagara after the season ends there? Thanks

[@hooked4lifeca]

The Credit River through Erindale Park is ope, so is the Saugeen below the abutments, the Maitland below the HWy21 bridge. Most rivers have a section at the mouth that is open longer.

[@johnf6288]

@@hooked4lifeca thank you, I will try those if I am off during the week. I am guessing that they are busy on the weekend's. I'm off to your grand hotspots on the weekend I'll let you know if I get any, thanks again

[@aaronburrows44]

Hey I’ve fished a lot at the bottom of the Caledonia dam there. for spinning reel baits what do you recommend for rainbow and walleye to use there?

[@hooked4lifeca]

As you probably know, MNR has been enforcing the regs about minimum distance from a dam or fish ladder, so that moves the fishing downstream. My walleye catches are usually incidental when fishing for steelhead and the few times I've targeted them, I've used fly rods. If we fish for steelhead with spinning rods much like fishing with a fly rod, then it opens up a lot of lure choices, from small Rapalas, to Cleos to soft plastics. Here's a video of me demonstrating the technique using soft plastics. In the video I pickup smallies, walleye and steelhead on the same technique and soft plastic bait. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2rJlJShga6cgtk

[@michaelJ415]

Back in the day we used to fish the Uniroyal hole and once the ice was off on the river sometimes in early to mid March ,giant female walleye in there I’ve seen 10 pounders caught out of there ,it’s all closed off now can’t get to it,Grand River in painesville ohio

[@hooked4lifeca]

Interesting to see how many Grand Rivers (ON, MI, OH) there are flowing into the Great Lakes. Mine is in Ontario.

[@ryanenns]

I’m amazed you are unscathed from hot spotting a river!! In British Columbia, it’s “no river names” policy if you’re doing any kind of fishing report.

[@hooked4lifeca]

This video is aimed at people new to the sport and its intent is promotional. I'm producing these videos for Cable 14 TV and Haldimand County. The Caledonia area is very widely known in southern Ontario steelhead circles so to name it is akin to revealing that Tim Horton's is a good place for donuts and coffee. In the past the Caledonia area has been plugged full of anglers, but over the last few years, the numbers have been in decline. Trust me when I say that nobody's honey hole was revealed. The local businesses have no problem with these videos. ;)

[@ryanenns]

Ah, this makes perfect sense then 👍🏻👍🏻 Fantastic work and hope you can raise awareness to what a great sport fly fishing is!!

[@sonny8259]

This spot is highly frequented by many people. Tackle shop across the road holds annual pickerel derby's and promotes fishing this spot. Great people at that store too, be sure to drop in!

[@seamusmcfitz913]

These are popular spots that most people know!

[@mikericci324]

What’s your spey setup? What kind of sink tips do you run

[@hooked4lifeca]

Most of the time I'm using an Airflo Rage head with Polyleaders - intermediate to fast sink.

[@hardtomello364]

Do you know where the river turns into almost a stream where you can see the bottom I’m trying to get my first trout on fly gear and I’m just wondering where the water gets shallower

[@hooked4lifeca]

This area is completely wadeable at normal flows (about 50 cms), but only sees migratory trout (steelhead) in the fall to spring time frame. The season closes December 31st, opening the fourth Saturday in April. For resident trout you'll have to go farther north to the Fergus area. The season for that stretch is only open from the fourth Saturday in April until September 30th.

[@sakanatsuri]

Thank you for the great video. I am rather new to the lower Grand River, and I have never fished that section of the river before. I usually fish the upper Grand for Browns. By the way, do you drive your car with your waders and wading shoes on? It's a kind of troublesome to remove waders and/or wading boots when changing locations. Also, you have a nice gadget to hold fishing rod onto your car. I wonder where you bought them.

[@hooked4lifeca]

You're welcome. I've always driven with waders and boots on for it's no different than driving while wearing snow gear or rain gear. The rod rack is made by Vac Rac and should be obtainable by fly fishing retailers.

[@sakanatsuri]

@@hooked4lifeca Thank you.

[@seamusmcfitz913]

Thank you!

[@jakeday4105]

I can't believe you made this video pal

[@hooked4lifeca]

Please, let's get real. 1. Caledonia is widely known across Ontario steelheading. It's even known in NY and MI. This is no secret spot. It's urban effing fishing. It's in the middle of town! 2. The vast majority of viewers of this video don't live anywhere close to Caledonia. Nobody who sees this video in Australia is going to hop on a plane to fish Caledonia. 3. Have you tried fishing it lately? Ten years ago there were on an average Saturday in mid season 30 to 50 guys fishing between the dam and the bridge. Today knock the zero off of those numbers. Today the place is deserted. 4. The fishing industry is dependent on people going fishing and I'm in the industry. Tackle doesn't get sold if people can't fish. If tackle doesn't get sold, there isn't a fishing industry to supply YOU with tackle.

[@Kayakingoutdoorsman]

hi Ptere I am Bill, first episode my friend. New SUB, hope I can catch you back. Just getting into fly fishing

[@Jfldhr]

Is there fish in the spring as well ?

[@hooked4lifeca]

Yes there is spring fishing, however the window is short as the season doesn't open until the fourth Saturday in April.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Vac Rac mounts

[@jbshear4886]

Thanks for the video Peter! Nice to have a couple more spots to swing a fly rather then near the crowds at the dam.

[@hellosweetheart3350]

What month?

[@hooked4lifeca]

This video was shot in the fall. November is often the best month, but that can vary.

[@evanslaton5588]

Anybody else thinking this was in West Michigan? LOL I saw Grand River and Caledonia and got fooled.

[@hooked4lifeca]

You're not the first one. I've driven through Grand Rapids and over the river a number of times, so I half expected some viewers to assume I was talking about MI. It's about a five hour drive to Caledonia, ON, so maybe some would like to try the 'other' Grand River.

[@ericklimstra3756]

Hey Peter. Great video. I emailed you on Jan 13th and am wondering if it went to junk mail. Hope to hear from you

[@hooked4lifeca]

Yup, I got it and replied 12 minutes later, so maybe I went to your junk mail. :)

[@hooked4lifeca]

Just resent my original email

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

looks like a fun place to live.

[@hooked4lifeca]

The best part, it's just over a ten minute drive from the house.

[@AlejandroMartinez-cd6yd]

I almost shit my pants when he used his blinker in downtown lansing.

[@hooked4lifeca]

This is the Grand River in southern Ontario, not the one in MI. ;). We blinker :)

[@shlomorothstein9691]

why would you cast a spinner downstream? lol with all that gear you got you'd think you'd know what you're doing...

[@hooked4lifeca]

Since you seem to be an expert, why don't you produce a video to show us how it is done?

[@shlomorothstein9691]

@@hooked4lifeca I can't be bothered to make a video, but I can explain. I feel like it's common sense. For one, casting upstream and retrieving downstream is a more natural presentation. But more importantly, in order for fish to stay in the same spot, they have to be facing the current and constantly swim against it to stay stationary since they can't swim backwards. So if you cast downstream and retrieve upstream, they won't see your lure until it passes their head if they're going to even see it at all. And in colder temperatures they're less likely to chase it upstream. But if you cast upstream and retrieve downstream, they have plenty of time to see your lure coming straight for them to ambush

[@hooked4lifeca]

​@@shlomorothstein9691 The swung fly has been in use for centuries as a fishing method, probably dating back to the Romans. Swinging a spinner in current with a slow retrieve is functionally no different from swinging/stripping a fly in current. The swung spinner is a common way for conventional tackle anglers to catch trout, salmon and steelhead. Over the centuries, millions of fish have been caught by swinging flies/lures in current. You do not sound like a trout angler, for if you were, you would realize that much of what you have said is factually wrong. Trout do stay in one place in current. Steelhead (migratory rainbow trout) do hold in one spot while resting during migration. During their return to the ocean (or Great Lakes) they actually go backwards as they drop down the river. As far as this comment goes, ""they have plenty of time to see your lure coming straight for them to ambush" well, the prey does not charge a predator. If the fly/lure is at the same level as the fish and "coming straight for them" they will get out of the way. They will flee. Fish don't have an ego and if something is not right, they don't stick around to find out. You're arguing against literally centuries of fishing practices.

[@shlomorothstein9691]

@@hooked4lifeca Are you trying to say trout DONT like to hide behind cover to ambush small baitfish and insects caught in the current? Thats trout fishing 101 dude

[@deanazarnush884]

because hes fishing a river and thats how you fish spinners and spoons in rivers

[@jasonnester9514]

I thought this was grand river Ohio lol

[@hooked4lifeca]

I have this image of you poring over Google Maps, looking for Caledonia. ;)

[@jasonnester9514]

Hahahahahaha

[@zenbooter]

me too.

[@jeffhenderson796]

Sad

[@jakeday4105]

Tell the whole world peety Build a wood shop in your grage quit making videos