Drifting for Lakers on the Niagara River

[zippyfx]

Me and my buddy had a good time when we went in the fall so we went back on Friday. We hired a guide and fished a number of drifts from the Lake Ontario through to the Devils hole. My friend has a boat but this stretch of the river is not for the timid. We were hoping for browns and stealhead as well but only the Lakers seemed to be biting.

The bites were light and we missed a couple until we dialed them in. We landed 7 fish and an OOS smallie; We lost about 7 or 8 fish; I lost a beast on our last drift. Would likely have been the biggest for the day but the line got cut on some rocks. All fish were caught on UL rods; the fight the fish gave aided by the current meant each fish landed was a real challenge. The UL rods really helped with the light bites. Detecting light bites when your drifting downtream and your lead bounding off the rocks is really tough to get the hang of but determination pays off.







Really got a chance to knock the dust off of all off my rusty fishing skills and get back into fighting shape in a hurry.

For those interested the smelt run is full swing.

[Kerrazy]

Great report ZippyFX!
Glad you got on some fish.

[Out4trout]

Great report Zippy!! Fine looking lakers, Niagara sure is a treasure chest for adipose fins...

[Lvace]

Very NICE!

[fatluke]

Awesome stuff..

Something I have always wanted to, but haven't make the trip yet.

[baz fish]

Great report Zippy.

[lapointeric]

Too bad you lost the beast, but sounds like a fun trip regardless!

E

[RJ]

Easily in my top 3 places I've ever fished. Love the river.

Thanks for sharing!

RJ

[Moosebunk]

Trip worth taking dood! Seven greasers in the boat is a great days worth of fishing. Love them lakers.

[jjcanoe]

Nicely done! Grew up on the banks of the upper Niagara and have fished just about every inch between Fort Erie and Queenston from shore. My pb walleye, musky, Chinook, coho, and Rainbow are all from the lower river either from the whirlpool, the glen, queenston, or the Maid of the Mist (when you were still allowed to ride your bike down there) Got my pb perch from the upper, as well as a couple of golden trout, and palomino trout ( I think Pennsylvania stocked both at one time) . Always enjoyed fishing the lower even though it was a good hour bike ride to get to the whirlpool. So much variety in that river it's unbelievable. The power of the fish that live there, fighting the current all their lives is amazing to experience.

[Tip-up]

Nice lakers Zippy!