Quinte Fishing

Just wondering of any rivers/creeks in the Belleville area that hold steelhead this time of year? Are they good to eat?

Thanks!

Most major inflows in the Quinte area have anywhere from a few days to say a two month steelhead....window of opportunity. The numbers are not big, but the conditions are far more uncrowded than most major runs in western Ontario. Here are a few:

Trent R.- smallish run- I am not sure about whether it is open or closed at the present time

Moira R- ditto as above.

Napanee R.- should be closed

Millhaven Creek by the ferry- should be open

Bath Hydro plant area- should be open

PE County- the trickiest given the limited amount of time; if you do not have a day to day handle on temps here ....and understand it....forget it.....it is very very priveate.....and only for those that have done their homework......

Edibility- this is a matter of preference and interpretation. I am spoiled to a fault through traveling and fishing various locations in North America and very fussy when it comes to my fish and the size, quality, etc. I will personally not bother with anything over 3 pds (my target is 1.5-3), with my own feeling that the quality has been lost. I prefer different waters and different conditions and strive to have excellence in this regard.

* Most people have no idea about taste let alone have experienced enough to know the difference.....apologys about being so harsh in this regard. One can mask it, but that is defeating the purpose ....imo.

Donald Stokes

Don,
It's great to get some different angles on the fishing oportunities in the quinte area. Keep up the good work!...Larry

The comment is appreciated HayBay Larry, with me actually always being very selective in any words chosen. Heck....I might be working far away from home.... but am a local..... and pay full respect to the many people that assist me, usually with information regarding many outdoor matters.

I make a conscious effort to assist in the lesser known fisheries, given that it is my belief that displacing species specific fishing pressure is generally a good thing.

Our area remains, in my opinion as the most varied and interesting inland fishery in Canada. Finding the diamonds in it..... that is where the homework begins. I remain very involved with the outdoors on assorted levels.

Donald Stokes

all waters in this area (division are open right now, until april, then bay of quinte and tribs will be closed for the month until walleye opener. Trent river dam 1 is moving just too quick and high, you could try up at the dam in Belleville on the eastern side, although that is moving quick as well. We don't get good runs of steelhead in our area, if you want them, you will have to work hard from them, plan on getting to the water really early. As for eating them, they are not normally a fish I hear about people keeping, but I have seen steelhead being sold in the grocery stores, so guess they probably don't taste bad, unlike chinooks, they come in more than once to spawn, so if you find one sticking around mid may in a creek and acting kind of funny, probaby its last run and I wouldn't want to be keeping it. but I really wouldn't know, I can barely stand the taste of fish, really strange for someone who is obsessed with fishing.

I was at Trenton today and landed 2 bo's both where males. Looks like I'm going west next time thought until the river opens again. I can only fish on sundays.

really???????????!!!! and I didn't go cause I though the water was too fast, damnit, I stayed home. *sigh* I knew I should of went. congrats on the catch!! yeah, west of brighton and south of the tracks will be a good idea for the next month.

Any suggestions for bait, lures etc?

I'll be heading out to the Bath plant and probably stop by Millhaven too.


Cheers

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The fishing was so good........I thought I was here yesterday!

roe, worms, flys, flat fish, I tried everything but landed them on roe. I was only out for 2 hours, dam family things. Ya the river was moving faster, but nothing like last fall.

Thanks Bassman1234.

I just picked up some of that putty like stuff at C.T. and single eggs in a jar. Speaking of which, anyone ever try that putty stuff?

I guess I'll try to float some of that......roe I don't have

Cheers

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The fishing was so good........I thought I was here yesterday!

that putty stuff (berkley power bait trout dough) works way too good, you should do fine with it. just have to check it once in a while, has a habit of falling off the hook.

Thanks Hoser.....I feel better about it already

Cheers

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The fishing was so good........I thought I was here yesterday!

This is a good thread. As an avid steelheader from durham region, its good to know i have another option of fish species to catch when im visiting my parents.

Thanks

just make sure to check the regs. Some of our local rivers will be closed or sections will be closed due to spawning areas. as of April 1

that's true, right from murray canal all the way to the glenora ferry, will be closed as of this sunday, will have to start checking out the tribs east of here, I'll have to check the regs again, they use the cn or cp tracks as a boundry as to how far upstream you can go as well.