Fishing Report Week of Sept 4 - Sept 11 2007

Finally some much needed rain!!

It's not likely enough to bring the river up to trigger runs of salmon, but it's a start! The colder night forecast for the week should make a big change in the rivers.

The Grand River, it's still too warm for my liking, 70 degrees on Sunday. The upper section has had some great caddis hatches, #16-20 in Tan and Olive. Good amounts of fish keying into the emerger.

The Rocky Saugeen is at 70 degrees as well, with any luck the temp will drop and the Brookies will find themselves feeding on whats left of the Hex's and Isonychia. The hex's last week had been heavy at dusk. Not one fish rising for these big flies. The Iso's are heavy right now. the last hour of day light has seen some fish brave enough to move for a meal. The bats are eating really well before they head south...can't wait till they are gone...not that I don't like them...just not in my House!!

The Main Saugeen is still at a trickle, my Brookie spot has seen some heavy traffic with very few fish over 10 inches left. Make me sad to see natural Brook trout taken from a river that is struggling to maintain a decent population.

The Smallmouth have begun to school up, "double header" are the words of the day. Big fish are starting to pool up and are willing to eat for the up coming winter months. The Muskie have been more cooperative with lots of follows and some great takes.

The Notty around Angus has some good numbers of fish, and anglers, I don't fish this area, at least you can get into some fish if you can stand the crowds. The lower Notty has seen some very small Pushes of salmon heading into the river. With the rain... we might see more fish entering the system.

Had a visit from Fly Fitters Mike Verhoef yesterday, we talked about the level of the Maitland.

He has never seen the River so low, not in 37 years.... I think he's older than that, but live that dream Mike!!

As promised, Mike B sent me a CD of the photo's they took on the Drift trip down the Saugeen.

The shots just don't do the fish justice. If you know Mike he's a big dude, this fish took him all over the river while he giggled like a school girl...great job Mike. Mark was Mikes fishing partner,

he got into some great fish too! Same time next year guy's??

Okay.. this is obviously not the fish, it is however the smallest fish of the year!!

This Is the Fish..The smile says it all!!

Fishing Report Weeks of Aug 20- Sept 4 2007

Smallmouth Fishing has been outstanding!!
The Saugeen continues to produce some truly huge fish, Mike can attest to that with one of the largest fish I've ever had in the boat! I'll post the photo when I get it from Mikes camera.
The Maplehill Dam continues to be a problem with the flow changes as drastic as a 2 foot drop within minutes. The Rainbows have been showing up in really good numbers in the Saugeen feeding heavily as they head to the lake. I've also seen some good sized Browns feeding on Dries in some areas.
The Rocky has had a good Hex hatch the last few evenings. Super tough fishing with all the growth in and around the River. These big flies bring out the best of the best in the Rocky!
That's all I'm going to say.
Still waiting for the Nooks in the Notty to be in catch able numbers. Fished it a few hours last week with nothing to show for it. The flow is okay,lots of guy's looking for the fish but nothing to be seen. I'll post another update as I will be on the Notty again this week.
My Steelhead season is going to be crazy with very few days still open.
If you have been thinking about getting into the drift boat with me this fall,better get an email off soon.
We are in the last month of trout fishing.Get out and have some fun as it's a long winter without resident trout fishing.
Tight Lines
Ken

Fishing Report Weeks of Aug 1 - Aug 20 2007

I know I know...update the Blog!!!!
This has been one of the best Months I've had! Thank you to all that have booked a wade or drift boat trip!
The cooler nights are a welcome relief, to all species in this part of Ontario. The Upper Saugeen has very little water, can't imagine how the Brookies are surviving in this drought.
The Rocky Saugeen, with it's heavy tree cover, has been at better temps but I will not fish the River until the water cools. Val and I often make a trip down the road to let Sulfur cool down and do some fishing on her own...(mostly for frogs). We have seen Trico's, Olives and Mahogany dunns, with some trout feeding very close to dark.

The Grand's trico hatch has started, but be ready to be on the river in the dark. We fished it today (Aug 20) with dunns and emergers in the early hours, then to spinners after 9:00 am.
Some good fish rising, but nothing huge. It's challenging fishing at best and a lot of fun.

The Notty is still very low, running at 70 degrees, we really need some rain! The cooler nights might start bringing in more fish. Lets hope for larger Salmon this year!

I'll be out for the next 3 days, I'll post a report early next week.
I'm Drifting for smallmouth and muskie and am sure we'll have a good week.

Tired of fishing low water for picky trout??
Why not give me a call and try some hard fighting smallies.
Tight lines
Ken

Fishing Report July 27- Aug 1 2007

A quick up-date.

The Saugeen is fishing great!! John booked a full day on the Saugeen to try these hard fighting fish,and after a slow start he was into some great fish!!

John has asked I no longer call him my "Poster Child" so I'll just call him the best student I've ever had. Completely focused and determined to get the most out of his time angling. I truly enjoy his company and willingness to learn. It's a pleasure to have John in my boat.

Thanks again John,see you in the fall!!



It's time for Hex's on the Saugeen. If you have yet to experience this hatch on the Saugeen now is the time!!

The lower sections are getting good emergence and spinner falls,with smallies keying into these good sized meaty flies. This is an evening thing,but well worth booking a drift boat trip for dry fly action.
I have not been On any Trout waters.With this heat, I'm sure temps are beyond what I will subject clients and fish to. The Trout Creeks in my area are very low and warm,not worth wetting a line. The Rocky Saugeen is beyond fishing temps. It's all bass, bass,bass, not a bad trade off!!!

I have limited dates open,call today to book your trip!!

Tight lines

Ken

Fishing Report July 17- July 27- 2007

Wow! it's getting way too warm out there.
The Grand is fishing well. The early am hours and the evening are the times to be on the water. Water temps continue to climb close to my cut-off point. Monday at 5:30 pm it was 72 at the Trestle!! Had good success with Caddis, Cranes and Cahills after the sun was off the water.
The Rocky Saugeen has hit 70, Still fish rising in the evening to Iso spinners,I will no longer angle the river with the temps that high. It's never worth the possibility of killing a Brook trout
Right?
The Saugeen has been good for smallmouth. The Rain we received last week, the River had come up and gone off colour. I was very fortunate to have a day out with the staff of Canadian Fly Fisher magazine. Although fishing was slow, due to the conditions ,we had a great day on the water.
Derek and his buddy Paul cashed in on a drift I had donated to the Co-operators for the Children's Make a wish foundation. They are great anglers,good casters and after a short tune-up with presenting flies,they were on the money!! We had a good day and a lot of fun.
Dan from Montana had an introduction to smallmouth, he's never fished for bass with a fly rod. Why would he when he's got a fantastic fishery in his backyard. This guy was awesome,he could place a fly on a dime!! Again, with practicing presentations to smallies he got some good fish.
Dan, if you read this thanks again, I had a great time on the River with you and enjoyed the conversation and all the info on your beautiful River.
In the Lower stretches of the Saugeen the Hex's are just starting, won't be long before the Hatch is hard and heavy...anyone not yet experiencing this, has got to get out for an evening of dry fly action to these hard fighting brutes.

On a side note, the T.U. work day we had on the west branch on the Rocky was a huge success
I was so into slogging wood out of the river that I forgot to take pictures of our day. The New fly-Fisher attended the work day with cameras in hand,so you may have a chance to see what we did on the show. Please,If you ever get the chance to do some in water work with the Trout unlimited people ,get out and spend a few hours to help enhance our cold water fisheries, I'll bet you feel as good as I do.
Have a look at my Photo's page for shot's taken over the last few trips.
I'm currently booking Steelhead trips, so if your thinking of heading out this fall,
Drop me an email soon as I'm booking into November. If we have a fall like last year
you'll want to get out in the drift boat for a day of Steelheading!!
Tight lines
Ken

Fishing Report June 25- July 17 2007

Bass, Bass,Bass and Muskie!!

Mr. Cooper shows us how it's done!! He cast the 10 wt all day and it payed off!!

We've been busy with warm water species, smallmouth fishing has been excellent to say the least. I've seen some truly huge bass on the Saugeen.

Had a long day on the Saugeen Monday with two guy's from London, Ruben and his new fly fishing friend Dave. Dave started off slow, but quickly picked up casting the fly gear.In no time he was hooking smallies with the 6 weight. Clousers and crayfish with a couple of fish taken on Ruben's flies! Never met a smallmouth that didn't want a crayfish. Dave found that out when he cast to a large boulder, his fly was met by a 18 inch bass as the fly dropped!

Thanks again Guy's.

The Upper Saugeen has reached it's summer flows, and temps. It's become almost impossible to find a brook trout or brown in the system.

The Rocky has warmed up, still below the 65 degree mark.The evening fishing has been fair to good on small BWO spinners and cahill spinners. The Happy Trout Chapter of T.U. has a work day Wed the 18th of July, I'll post some shots from the day.

The Grand River, what can I say. If you know what sections to be on,you can get some great fishing in. Be prepared to fish late...and spend some time on the banks watching.. I did with Don and Rob well worth putting in the time, Don missed a big fish and Rob hooked this 21 inch fishing on a Iso spinner

Had a chance to head to the Conestoga, water levels look good. I didn't have time to fish,but looks like the water to be on is up-stream of county Rd 12.

We need Rain, the small brook trout creeks have come to a stand still, no flow and algae getting a good foot hold makes fishing not an option.

The Sydenham below the Falls has great tree cover so, it's still fishing well, not great. You still have to work for a fish,but it's so nice and cool in the bush. Nymphing has been the a good producer, caddis and small pheasant tails are what have been best on 6X tippets.

Maitland, if you know the deeper pools you'll get sore from fighting smallmouth.

It shouldn't be more than a few weeks before Chinooks start moving in to a well know River

We will however, need a good couple of days of rain to start that small and early run of fish.

All in all thing are still good, if you want to make the most of your trip out,give me a call and I'll be sure to make your day worth hiring us.

Tight lines

Ken