Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

#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.

Spring is here!

Slam fest Muddy River Fishing^

Caught my first brown on this little run off of Lake Ontario 🍂🐟

Thought I'd throw a few casts after work today, next thing I land this guy.