Does anyone go fishing here in Canada on a regular basis?

I used to be big on fishing back in the UK but never really took it up once arrived in Canada.

I`m having some thoughts on trying my hand at fishing again.

Freshwater fishing over here is very different from back in the UK. Mention coarse fishing to a Canadian angler and you will likely get that wtf look.

Anyone care to share some tips on techniques and gear that I can use for trout and other freshwater fishing? I see the rods are much shorter and lures are popular, worms also get a mention around here for trout. Over in England is was nothing to carry around a whole car load of gear for a days fishing! Here it seems one rod and reel, a bunch of lures and a bottle of booze!

A nightcrawler with an egg (or slide sinker) or a half-decent spoon (yellow or orange stripe) is all you need.

As far as I can tell MOH walks down to the river with a cheapo rod and some metal wiggly bait things, he stands on the dock for an hour or so and catches several fish. Usually perch. I think they just swim up to the hook and jump on.

Bob Izumi has a fishing show thats on TV on Sunday mornings I think. I've been told that everytime Bob mentions a product you have to take a drink.....

i've been told i'm going fishing soon as one of our new friends is one of those pesky fishing inspectors and he wants to teach me lol , i just hope it includes beer and a BBQ

mmm I agree with the difference in fishing. Back in the UK before my grandad passed away he took me all the time and taught me lots about rod and pole fishing.

Mention a pole out here and they think you've gone mad.

Its mainly fly fishing and that doesn't interest me in the slightest, oh, that and ice fishing (which you need a big corkscrew and a rod the size that a 5 year old would be comfy with) - oh and beer.

I am going fishing with Ray Winstone tomorrow morning. Hopefully it doesn't piss hard too much. Fishing has been good lately. It.s saltwater salmon fishing (coho mainly) and it should be a right East End knees up.

Just got back fishing with Ray we caught four fish. A top, lad although I brought a case of beer and he isn't drinking because he's doing a new film here in Vancouver. But we're going for a piss up as soon as he finishes his latest movie.
And, he said he was good friends with Paul Weller, who now might spend the winter olympics at my place.

You vicious name dropper you! Well I would too if I could...

Back to fishing .... my husband is a mad carp fisherman in the UK - hence why we have a cottage near the st lawrence river. Most Canadians think he is mad "why dont you just spear them?" but some are beginning to get it. We are on the Rideau Canal system and asked on a fishing forum if there was any carp there - was told absolutely not! This year we have had carp in the bay right up to our dock - but can he catch one in our own back yard ... NO!

Living where I do I should probably give fishing a try, but the penalties for getting caught without a license are pretty heavy, and Im not prepared to fork over the ($75?) just on the off chance I take to it.

Too many MNR inspectors lurking around here to take the chance They should have a few try out days a year when you dont need the license.

I might be wrong but..........I think the Midnight Madness fishing from the bridge thing in Hastings is license free. Just that one night.

Also, I've seen the OPP checking the documents of the people on the bridge. Can one assume that this was the Outdoors Card?

I think its probably safe to assume that.

People drive out from TO to fish from the bridges over the Trent in our sleepy hamlet. I dont really get it, is there nowhere closer to home? It can get pretty crowded with Scarberians...very odd if you ask me. Some BIG fish in there though!

Dont know about the midnight madness thing...is it just a Hastings thing? Not sure how they would get exemption. They have occasional exempt days days for kids I think, but nothing for adults that I am aware of

I found this:
Family Fishing weekend
July 10-12, 2009. For those three days only (12:01 a.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday), Canadian residents can enjoy the fun of fishing in Ontario without a licence during the annual Ontario Family Fishing Weekend.

So you just have this weekend to give it a try.

Re the bridges, Hastings bills itself as the only bridge in Ontario that you can legally fish from. There is a lock for the boats to go through and the bridge is over the dam/weir so it's safe to do so. Which bridges do they fish from near you??

Cheers for that, karma on its way (if possible)

They fish from the road bridge and old abandoned rail bridge on the back road towards Frankford. There is nothing to indicate its illegal?
There is no boat travel on that bit of river as the canal takes them around the shallow "rapids". It can get pretty crowded (by local standards!)

The thing about Hastings being the only bridge you can fish from is probably some of that Ontario hype!

Hope you and the girls can try out some fishing this weekend. Seems to be a great family outing, especially if you pick somewhere with a swimming hole and picnic tables too.