Avoiding bad Salmon river fishing practices

[MuskieBait]

Here's what I personally believe...

I fish for spawning steelhead because when they are spawning they will continue to feed to some degree. Some steelheads spawn in the fall, but a majority of them spawn in the fall. The steelheads that are in the rivers in the fall are of two possible populations - fall/winter spawners and spring spawners. All of them will spend some time in the river before and after the spawn to recover. You will often find unspawned fish and spent (spawned out) fish at any time of the year.

Brown trout will do so as well, but they usually return to the lake after spawning in the fall time. They also recover in the rivers somewhat but they seem to vacate the spawning streams much sooner. I don't think to many people catch migratory brown trout beyond January.

Since spawning Pacific salmon rarely bites, I fish for them less and less over the years. The only ones I try to concentrate on are staging fish at the river mouths.

I often fish the rivers during the spawning runs for steelhead and brown trout. They often sit behind spawning salmon to feed on loose eggs.

Nottawasaga gets a good run of steelheads. You should try for it. I'm not sure about the brown trout in that river though.