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Post by troutinturnie on Mar 6, 2018 11:54:08 GMT -6
Good day folks, counting down the days till open water season and am super excited about taking the venture to Lockport and try for some of these cats everyone has posted about. I've been reading through the forums and still have a couple questions.
I have about a 2 hour drive to Lockport and I have 2 days away from teaching I have to use up before the end of June. If a guy was going to take a day and drive out would it be best to leave super early and take advantage of the morning or is the afternoon into evening the better time? Thinking I want to take one day in May and one in June. I assume during the week may be a little less busy, I'm hoping anyway.
I know it's early, just trying to get my ducks in a row before hand and I'm too excited to not start planning.
All the best and hopefully everyone has a great last few months of ice fishing.
Kyle
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Post by lockport1850 on Mar 6, 2018 21:13:59 GMT -6
Well, Tuesday evenings the fly club guys are usually out there at Lockport, so you being there for a Tuesday as your first day would be wise to get some intel.
From my experience, the cats are active in the fast water at all times of day. There are also mega sized carp and freshwater drum that will keep you entertained between catfish. Those other fish seem like they are all active for fly fishing at all times of day, although I usually fish there in evenings, after work. However, these fish become active at twilight, so I would start fishing even before sunrise... and go all day, right to dusk, when you can't see you fly any longer.
A weekday is generally better due to fewer anglers being around, of course.
As someone else indicated, water levels can be variable, changing your location and tactics. This varies from year to year, based upon spring run-off and over-all winter precipitation/snow levels.
I checked my records, and I would have to say the "best" times I could suggest would be the first 4 weeks of open water season, right until mid June. Perhaps there are other opinions on it though.
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Post by troutinturnie on Mar 7, 2018 8:35:38 GMT -6
That's great, thank you for the info!
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Post by sedgehammer on Mar 7, 2018 9:37:59 GMT -6
I will agree with lockport1850. I suppose many of us are located near or in the city, so the drive is less of a consideration.
If you are driving out 2 hours, it may be worth it to do a full day. Not sure it makes a difference if you aim for dawn or dusk, dawn will likely have thinner crowds. Myself, I aim to be there for the afternoon/evening, because I typically only go to Lockport on weekdays, and mornings don't mesh with work. If I get held up late at work or errands afterwards I don't fret too much. I am always more confident in hooking up with cats as it nears dusk and into the pitch black.
Water levels may influence where you choose to fish. The spillway area, or the main channel below the St. Andrew's dam. Once we see water levels at the start of May ask again, or wait for an update.
I too have found May and June to be the best months for fishing the spillway, for cats and some other species. Around the end of June and start of July I think the cats will be into spawning/migration mode. But, I think into summer (again depending on levels) you can still get into the cats. I feel at that time of the year it may be more crucial to be fishing at dawn and dusk. A lot of night fishing is done at that time of year by the bait crowd, like the midnight shift.
Fall too can be a great time to go (typically the spillway area will not have much water, but under the dam should be wade-able). By that time, many flyfishers have forgotten about the river at that point for some reason...
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Mar 7, 2018 13:07:32 GMT -6
At their peak they are active during the whole day. Having said that, I recommend going weekday mornings to avoid the $#!t show.
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Post by brianrap on Mar 8, 2018 8:32:33 GMT -6
What Rob said. Much less of a gong show weekday mornings and the cats are definitely still around and eating. I have also had my best success with drum in the morning and then they tend to disappear around midday, but then return later in the day i.e. evening (during the gong show).
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Post by troutinturnie on Mar 8, 2018 11:43:48 GMT -6
Awesome thank you. I'm not picky, a fish is a fish and from I've seen the drum get a nice size to them. Planning on heading out sometime during the first week of the season, probably wait out the first couple days and wait to hear a report or two on water levels then drive in early in the morning.
when they say the floodway or main river system is there some spots to fish better then others? Not looking for anyone's spot I just have literally never been there before. Is it easy finding parking? And spots or can you just wade into the water and start fishing?
Again I appreciate all the help, this site has been awesome.
Kyle
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Post by lockport1850 on Mar 8, 2018 22:59:00 GMT -6
Parking is easy, just south of the A&W restaurant.
Some spots are better... they are unlikely to be posted here for general consumption.
If you're going at sunrise, I could meet you and orient you to a a few things to get your day started.
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Post by troutinturnie on Mar 10, 2018 8:05:51 GMT -6
That would be great Lockport, thank you!
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Mar 11, 2018 15:17:13 GMT -6
when they say the floodway or main river system is there some spots to fish better then others? Not looking for anyone's spot I just have literally never been there before. Is it easy finding parking? And spots or can you just wade into the water and start fishing? Again I appreciate all the help, this site has been awesome. Kyle I am not sure there are any secret spots...just favs that are conducive to wading and fly fishing. Flood way up and down either side are good. But the very nature of the area has 'spots' influx each year and through the season.
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