Spring Fishing forecast 2023
Hey there, my fellow Northwest Ontario anglers! It’s been a rollercoaster of a spring so far. We’ve had a couple of warm spells followed by freezing temperatures and some snow. But the good news is that the frost is finally gone, and we’re about to kick off the spring fishing season.
As you know, we’re in that in-between time, waiting for the ice to fully clear and the waters to warm up. The recent snowfall is starting to melt away, thanks to the sun and rain we’ve had. This means the rivers will soon be ice-free and ready for the arrival of our finned friends.
Email: ghart@nwoutdoors.ca
Spring Fishing forecast 2023; what’s coming
As the waters rise and get a bit murky, keep an eye out for those fish heading into the rivers and streams for their spawning runs. It won’t be long until everything clears up, and we’ll be in prime fishing conditions!
I know many of you are itching to get out on those smaller inland lakes. Patience, my friends! It might take another week or two for them to thaw out completely. But trust me, it’ll be worth the wait.
Those of you who love a good smelt fry will be happy to know that smelting season is just around the corner. Although it’s usually in mid to late April, this year, we’ll have to wait until the second week of May. It’s happened a few times in the past decade, so it’s not unusual.
The rainbows are also gearing up to spawn in our local rivers and streams. They’ll get going once the water flushes through and the ice clears from the river mouths. So keep your eyes peeled because we should have a strong run of rainbows soon.
As we finally say goodbye to winter and welcome proper spring weather, be prepared for a quick, intense season for both smelt and rainbows. They’ll come and go fast, so you’ll want to be ready to get out there and make the most of it.
Now, let’s talk about the May long weekend – when we all hope to have ice-free lakes. Even though the ice should be gone by then, the water will still be quite chilly. If you plan to chase walleye, you might find them still spawning or recovering from the spawn. So be prepared to look for them in some different spots this year.
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