Niagara River

#catch26 #catch2026 Incredibly sorry for the late post and wasn’t active in FishAngler plus incredibly busy but it’s here! This was from last Sunday (July 19th) morning after sunrise by dawn. After a slow and near horrible failure at Mazinaw Lake in Bon Echo last week by losing more lures, bait, rigs and set up over catching fish (although a great last minute canoe off shore experience with a recent PB giant rock bass), followed by a horrible experience with wildfire smoke atmosphere in the weekdays after, surprisingly, decided to go try Niagara River for the second time of the year to redeem myself to catch a smallie while also in the hunt for a potentially bonus first ever walleye. Stayed for three hours since 6am today (Sunday Morning) and honestly it was a bit slow and almost terrible at first with all the snags and all. Just then, after figuring out another way to do a dropshot and sticking to the natural smelt color of my recent 3 inch Powerbait twitchtail smelt, as the clouds show up, action starts to kick in. Not my first smallies of 2026 (since last time in May I accidentally caught a bigger one on a spoon aiming for trout and walleye), but for sure legally and of the season. First caught a less than a half pounder, then shortly after, a one and a barely half pound football (perfect timing too given it’s FiFa/World Cup finale today with Spain against Argentina 🏈 🏆). Thankfully unlike FishBrain, I was able to share some meta footage and honestly clearer than expected. Overall, Niagara River rocks hard and I’m forever sgrateful for it, even if a tire monster smallie or walleye wasn’t caught. However, gonna try one more attempt on Tuesday to Wednesday at Muskoka to seek any potential walleye or otherwise more smallies to be caught (maybe bigger).

#catch2026 *IMPORTANT NOTE: The fish in the video was accidentally caught on a Cleo spoon while fishing for Niagara walleye or trout. He has been released asap and with care.* First post of 2026. I apologize for how inactive I have been. Fishing has been tough in both availability (schedule) and even trying to catch a fish this spring. I started in late March at lower Duffins Creek yet it was just chocolate milk. Then at the end of April, although I was originally gonna go for steelhead again for opener, I sadly never got the chance or time. I however went to Rice Lake on that weekend for perch and crappie, yet it was ridiculously busy and the Seadoo Vehicle scare every fish off given the nice warm spring weather. I was also originally gonna fish at Lake Rosseau but no fish were prone at the time plus there it was barely ice out. By May 8th, I tried again on Duffins creek but upstream for any remaining dropback steelhead yet the creek for the start of a By May 8th, I tried again on Duffins creek but upstream for any remaining dropback steelhead yet the creek for the start of a weekend surprisingly dead and void of any anglers or sizable fish. It turns out that Duffins really had a bad run this year for multiple reasons. Finally, as of recently, for walleye opener, I went on last Sunday morning at Lower Niagara River as early as possible before any boats and long weekend crowds get in the way. My dad sadly lost a very big yet unknown species on a dropshot (definitely not a smallie), but once I used a Cleo spoon I recently received as a gift after sunrise for any aggressive trout or walleye nearby, caught my first fish of 2026 and I was not targeting this species, which is a bizarre way to start the year (as you can see the video capturing the accident). Released it asap and not a big fan of promoting out of season fish so it was for the better yet unfortunate that I ended up catching the wrong species while targeting trout or walleye, only then to catch my first fish of 2026 and I was not targeting this species, which is a bizarre way to start the year (as you can see the video capturing the accident). Released it asap and not a big fan of promoting out of season fish so it was for the better yet unfortunate that I ended up catching the wrong species while targeting trout or walleye around the river banks of any. If anything, the second biggest smallie (roughly estimated to be 2-3lbs) I ever landed (but for sure not a PB compared to St Lawrence River monster from last year). Overall, not a bad start but for sure not in 2025’s level. Hopefully I could catch something legal this time before summer warmth such as a northern pike or any species of trout (like a brookie), or even a first ever walleye to target as the new goal and challenge for the year.

Slam fest Muddy River Fishing^

Which one of you was a this? Dirty bastards