Quinte Fishing

I've fishied for salmon at the first damn many years ago. I've seen lots of them there but haven't been back in a long, long time.

BTW, I hope this isn't too stupid of a question but, what are resident trout?

I'm from Belleville originally and my grandparents lived up the river, near Corbyville Dist. They had the wood shop then turned antique shop. They put in a trout pond in their back yard and stocked it for many years.

Well, the river flooded and they left. Maybe it's them?

Good luck Hoser.

Trout, salmon and dams can all make for some interesting conversation in the Quinte area. Match it up with some stocking or local history and some unique fishing opportunities can be available. A few special cases come to mind, mainly the old fish hatchery that existed at the headwaters of Waring Creek and the seasonal temperature fluctuations that allow small runs of rainbow on some Prince Edward County streams. * Note- a now deceased friend extensively fished various streams in PE County, and more or less had it down to an art; some apparently were limited to literally a few days given the temperature fluctuations.

Another interesting one is the Salmon river. Every dam all the way upstream to Forest Mills is now passable, with some coolwater trickling into it, in some select locations. With Atlantic salmon once using this waterbody, I have ran into people that have claimed to have caught the odd trout and observed a salmon within the past twentyfive years. I have yet to see any photo's, but do remain hopeful......

I have not fished the Trent, but am aware of the salmon and trout that go there in addition to whitefish. I understand that there is a small stream that enters it below one of the major dams. That always sounded interesting, given the geology of the area and how it could keep the water cooler, thereby holding them longer.

I have not fished the lower Moira, but am aware of at least 2 streams that enter it north of Belleville that hold miniscule populations of trout. Finding them and getting permission to fish for them will require a bit of legwork on anyones part that may be interested.

The Napanee River has a very small run of trout and salmon that make it as far as Springside Park. I have seen, rainbows, lakers, browns, splake, coho, and chinook. These exist by and large according to what the season and more specifically the temperature allows them. That said.....lol.....I caught a couple of splake at the spring discharge pipe, on the Springside Park side in and around 1979......in roughly late July. A tiny holding area allowed them to be comfortable....imho.

I have run into various regional cases where ponds located near rivers have been drained or accidentally breached creating a situation where trout mysteriouly appeared. There are exceptions in the Quinte area, but most trout are usually explainable.

I love quirky fisheries. Having fished for goldens and Athabascan rainbows in Alberta, and Aurora's in Ontario (no luck), I have had the chance to meet one fellow many years ago, who wanted to catch every major strain of trout in North America. He is from Calgary and was facinating to listen to, and to see some various photo's replica's and skin mounts of some of what he had experienced (something like 25/40+?) as of 1993. That said, I like fishing the Quinte area and discovering or perhaps redicovering some quirky little feature......ideally with trout.

Regards
Don Stokes

Thanks for the great response, Don.

About 4 years ago, the Napanee River had an enormous run of lakers at the falls. I haven't seen this since and don't ever remember such a run in the many years I've fished that area.

I can't wait for the return.

..........Anyone have any thoughts or tips on trolling around the hydro plant without using down riggers?

CHEERS!

Dipsey divers, 10 colour lead core or snap weights will work around the hydro plant. The water depth is around 50 to 70 feet. I find the Trout are just off bottom -- a water mellon NK 28 spoon should produce. A temp probe will help you locate the temapture breaks out front of the plant. The small mouth bass fishing is also excellent.

cheers'

-et

_________________
Fish On...
Sheldon Hatch
NPAA 928

saw 2 kings on saturday behind giant tiger in the moira. hope more to follow, they showed no interest as I tried eggsucking leeches and glow bugs. hopefully more to come. hows the napanee doing?? any word yet?? I was out for my main target of smallmouth and happened to notice them. also the chub would just not leave me alone, caught enough to fill a dumptruck.

I was out to the Bath Hydro plant and Millhaven Creek this weekend. Didn't see any salmon or trout yet

Any reports for Napanee or area?

Cheers!

I always stood by the date of Oct. 15 as a very safe bet for the fish being in at Springside Park in Napanee. Even being across the country outside of Vancouver I would bet on it, fully knowing the heat, water concerns that were to be had over the past few months.

I understand that there was a reasonable rain on the weekend? Watch it very, very carefully. One can literally see the fish moving through the shallows when one gets used to knowing what, when and where to look.

Where I am living whilst working BC/AB (1.5 hrs east of Vancouver- Fraser R.) there are subtle differences but by and large one looks for the same type of conditions and timing.
Regards
Don Stokes

PS As a gentlemans bet....I hope someone confirms about when the fish are sited. It usually takes about 3-4 days for the word to get out. I am curious.

was out in napanee sunday, I looked good and hard, did not see fish yet, although combat fishing has begun already

I was into salmon (no browns or steelhead) at steelhead yesterday and today. Unfortunately the fish are on the very dark side with not much fight. It is interesting to watch some individual trying to fake people out into thinking that they are fishing ligit, but that are big time snaggers. The power plant has been holding fish for the last two weeks. Mitch

Alrighty then Mitch....good to hear about the plant. I didn't see any but maybe it was way too rough.

Are you catching them and...ahem, can you give some insight?

I just came back from Kingston Mills...none there either. 1 dead one but gutted for it's eggs and left (eggs and fish)...dirty PIGS!

Don, I'd agree with your date. I keep forgetting that Thanksgiving was early this year. I guess I gotta get a calendar

CHEERS!

It's stuff like that which puts my wife and I off of salmon and steelhead, going out and finding hoards of loogans lining the walls and shores littering and snagging fish, when I'm fly fishing for bass I see only the good anglers around (regardless of fly or spin) and we are ALL fishing legit (like you can snag a bass anyhow haha yeah right). I may be putting my rods away for the winter, waiting for trout to open to get out and practice for bass season.

chucking hardware such as 3/4 oz cleos and crocodiles are your best best. Dusk and dawn are good times and even better if you use glow in the dark colours charged up by a second hand camera flash unit.

No water from Kingston Mills power station to speak of this fall and the numbers at this spot have been dwindling for the past 5 years. Mitch

Thanks for the update, Mitch.

........It's looking like the rain will be around for a while.

Don, Saturday will be the 15th and by then, the rivers should be perfect. I'm sure just as you perdicted....wanna give us some lotto numbers

Cheers!