City slickers love fishing too

By JEFF MORRISON
Sun Media

Most Canadians would be surprised to know of the fabulous fishing opportunities that exist in their own back yards, a stone's throw from some of the county's busiest metropolitan areas.

Many of people dwelling in downtown Toronto, Montreal or even Ottawa have no idea of the untapped fishing opportunities available around the cities they call home. Some folks falsely believe that in order to catch large stringers of walleye, trout or even northern pike, you must fork out an ungodly amount of money and drive several hours to a far off destination in the north. It may be a surprise to most that some of this county's most productive fishing can be had smack dab in the heart of our major cities, and people don't even realize it. A few of greatest honey-holes in the country, believe it or not, are even accessible through the use of our urban public transit n a short walk from the hustle and bustle. Let's take an opportunity this week to explore the great urban fishing opportunities we have in central Canada.

Toronto

With a myriad of fishing opportunities available right at your doorstep, the city of Toronto epitomizes the urban angling experience. The waters around the Pikering Powerplant, for example, are inundated with fish life; prime for the pickering, I mean picking. Freshwater drum and carp may not seem appealing to some, but try saying that after you've battled a beefy 25 pounder for 15 minutes. The east outflow is said to be especially productive for these scaly specimens, where monsters over 30 pounds have been reported. The mysterious Grenadier pond, a small inland lake which feeds directly into Lake Ontario, is another productive water body for several fish species. Bass, crappie, bowfin, perch and a variety of other critters can be hauled from the pond, and if you sense that someone is watching while you fish, you're not alone. Hundreds of visitors to Grenadier pond report the feeling of being watched by something from below the water, although with all that water life on hand, it's no surprise. Toronto is also the place to be if salmon and trout tempt your fancy, with dozens of charter boats more than willing to bring you out for an exciting day on the water. Some of the best salmon and trout fishing is, in fact, in plain sight of CN Tower. The Scarborough bluffs and the Toronto Islands are two more productive area worth investigation this week, and with this much water at your door, how can you go wrong.

Ottawa-Gatineau

The Nation's Capital is another metropolitan area with some considerably under-utilized fishing resources available. The Rideau Canal, for example, is a hotbed of fish activity boasting miles of pike, bass, walleye and even muskie fishing on a scenic waterway which meanders throughout the city. Just find a spot on the shore to set up your rod, and away you go. At the foot of the Parliament Buildings on the Ottawa River is another great location to catch any number of fish species and many of the best holes are accessible from shore. The odd thing is that even though die-hards regularly cast their lines in downtown Ottawa, many still cannot fathom that anything more than bureaucracy goes on in this part of town. The unassuming little Dow's Lake, located just west of centre town is another "honey hole' which, during the summer months, is crawling with fish life - pike, bass, muskie and pan fish abound in this weedy wonderland. Even if the National Capital Region has a reputation for being red-tap burdened, there are certainly no strings attached when if comes to its' angling opportunities.

Montreal

For the avid angler, this cosmopolitan city will provide a wide range of great fishing opportunities in several areas around the island. Off the West Island on Montreal in the vicinity of the Ile aux Tourtes Bridge, offers acres of fabulous muskie and walleye habitat. Vaudreuil Bay in particular is a thriving and productive area with scads of shallow water muskie opportunities. High speed trolling with buck-tails and spinner-baits in mid-summer is especially effective on those toothy predators. Lake Saint Louis and Lake St. Francis will also provide solid fishing action for walleye, bass and pike. For the trout enthusiasts, the stretch of the Lake Saint Louis around the Beauharnois dam offers some excellent brown trout fishing for those who want to put the time in. The ministry has carried out supplemental stocking of trout in different areas of the Island to keep fish stocks strong. You should be prepared when casting a line in these waters, however, as any portion of the St. Laurence River around Montreal could potentially hold a mighty sturgeon. These prehistoric creatures can also be seen jumping during the summer months, and to witness a 4 or 5 foot fish clearing the water like a shark is something to behold.

Regardless of where to choose to cast a line, you must keep the overlooked urban area in mind. Staying close to home may be just the ticket to some great fun on the water this summer.