Shore Casting, Late post

Had a free morning last week to get out for some shoreline casting on Lake Ontario. I'm relatively new to casting from shore, I've had some success for chinook in late summer/early fall. At the least, a good excuse to get out and enjoy a coffee by the water with the possible chance of hooking into something.


The first place I tried casting from was near a river mouth and around 7am I could see several fish breaching the water on the far shore just beyond my casting range. My first thought was rainbow trout however with the sun up at this point, any fish would have likely appeared as a bright silver reflection.

As the morning passed, the wind picked up and with that the waves. I decided to move west towards a breakwall and fish from the sheltered side of the rocks. I tried everything I brought with me: krocodile spoon, orange jointed Rapala J11, perch pattern EGB, blue/silver Little Cleo, a variety of lipless crankbaits and heavy tube jigs- no takers.





Packed it up around 11am, no bites but a beautiful morning to be out by the lake. Open to any tips or suggestions, hoping to get out there again at some point. I've seen reports of people catching brown trout and lake trout casting from shore (location, depth, temperature and timing dependent).

Beautiful sunrise. That's why I was out yesterday. Unreal to be out on or by the water this time of year. Great picture

Yes lots of browns and lakers being caught, very shallow in casting range. Sounds like they’re all out by Niagara/ st Catherine’s still…

I've been out the past few mornings before work... trying to land one last entry for the derby LOL

Where - I fish from a pier on Lake Ontario where I know the trout stage before making their run up the river. Most river mouths will have trout stage in the "frog water" adjacent to the entrance.

When - Timing is everything!!! It can be very hit or miss, depending on the conditions and stage of the run. Many factors affect this but I mainly focus on looking for a steady wind or previous rain that will cause the water clarity to muddy a bit. A broken-up surface from the waves and stained water color help camouflage your tackle. Calm and clear water is the worst.

How - Casting works but most common is float fishing using roe bags. Simple float with some weight to keep it upright and a small hook off of some floro. Fish the bait close to the bottom depending on how deep it is where you are, for me it's 6-8'.

Goodluck!

Thanks for the replies- will take this all into consideration the next time I’m out!

thanks for posting......as mentioned timing is often everything.


Myself, I prefer some stained water when casting from shore and if using any crankbait, it has rattles in it for sure

as for the Bar, the action has been great for browns , bass and walleye plus lakers


can't go wrong with any 3 way rig with minnows, swimbaits or kwickfish for drifting. trolling is with something like a Smithwick


look for water temps 40-43 degrees

Thanks for the input Longshank! Still have yet to catch a brown, hoping to change that soon.

Send me a pm and we can talk about trolling sometime in the near future. I have a small 16 foot boat which does the job on a calm spring day in the shallows

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the report and pictures.

As people said, shore casting can be hit and miss depending on many factors.

Not sure where you are located.

if you are interested in shore casting for pike and bass around Toronto and vicinity shoreline, send me a PM and I can give you some pointers and tips.

Good luck on your next outing.

I only know Smithwicks as a beer. Lures too?

I have had some luck with bows trolling crankbaits. I have hit a couple while casting but have never landed one.

I assume you mean drifting with a boat not somehow from the shore.

I only know Smithwicks as a beer. Lures too?

I have had some luck with bows trolling crankbaits. I have hit a couple while casting but have never landed one.

I assume you mean drifting with a boat not somehow from the shore.

You should have seen the one I caught on a can of Canadian last year

I only know Smithwicks as a beer. Lures too?

I have had some luck with bows trolling crankbaits. I have hit a couple while casting but have never landed one.

I assume you mean drifting with a boat not somehow from the shore.

either boat or shore as long as there is current.......no current then just straight casting


just for you I will change that from smithwick to rogue

Stevepod/Jerkbaiter, thanks for the replies. I’ll reach out!

If their lures are as good as their beer I'll give them a twirl.