Quinte Fishing

Live to Fish,

Welcome! I suspect that this year's derby is going to be well attended (given the cancellations the past few years due to the pandemic). That means that the river could be jammed full of boats...which always makes for a fun time trolling. I remember one boat last year (or maybe it was the year before) trolling the river mouth area with planer boards running out each side like they owned the river...absolutely ridiculous! But, depending on the location...traffic...and time of day/night...you may be able to do some trolling.

When the season first opens at midnight, I know that many folks immediately head up river to the spawning beds just north of the tall railway bridge...this water is shallow and fast moving...and although it produces some great fish, it is nerve-racking because of the number of boats and the fast water. You have to be on top of your movements at all times.

Folks will also be trolling the east and west channels south of the railway bridge all the way to the mouth...but there will be lots of folks drifting/jigging these tracks as well. I have had great success in the east channel as most of the water flows through the west channel so there is less jigging traffic.

A lot of folks drift fish (jig) the mouth of the river south of the first bridge through to the second set of markers. I normally fish this area as I find that the boat traffic up river has a tendency to flush out a large number of fish. I have done very well over the years in this zone. My go to is simply dragging a worm on a plain old jig head on the bottom (make sure you have a healthy stock of jig heads as there are lots of interesting things to get snagged on).

Fish can normally be found all throughout the river...but if it's an early spawn, the numbers of fish in the river subsequent to opening day could be minimal...at that point you then need to go hunting out into the bay...and that is a different ball game all together.

Shoot me a PM if you would like to discuss further.

Good luck!

TRR