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There are moments where blogs seem to write themselves in my mind while an experience is taking place. The sun shines a little brighter, the cool water swirls around my wading boots.. ducks taking off just downstream and flying feet overhead. It sounds to be straight from a book, but no – it’s fly fishing. This weekend was truly one of those times, and as I am writing this I am smiling while reliving it all over again.

Usually my blogs start off as a story and I save the best photo for last… but this time I am going to lay it on you right away. CHECK OUT THIS FISH:

My first ever brown trout caught yesterday here in Ontario, Canada. (Yes, mud on my nose! haha)

Brown trout are officially the most beautiful fish I’ve seen here in Canada. This one was spotted during a steelhead mission on a Lake Ontario tributary with my usual fly fishing partner, Mikey Fitzgerald. We made quite a trek down stream towards the big lake and began fishing when we spotted a couple trout.

Mikey:

“The area we found the two brown trout holding is what I would classify as a classic holding location. It was a deeply cut pool with wood on the steepest bank very close to an undercut bank. Migratory brown trout are literally suckers for areas like these. Two or three fish will stack up under the wood, and spawn at night at the tailout. We struck out with finding a spot like that.”

I stood on a high bank and casted down to the log that the trout were holding under. I was out of sight for the fish, and Mikey stood back enough to see what was going on. I could see my fly, but he had a better view of the fish. They were down low and tucked under a small log sticking out from the bank. The log was at the edge so the current swirled by the log, which was a perfect path for a “Pink Crystal Meth” fly. The fly caught the current and drifted right in their face. A few practice casts and tips from Mikey to get in the right spot and I was set. Now cast… cast… cast… and FLASH, SPLASH, FISH ON!

“Ashley, that is a HUGE brown!”

His words made me panic.. in a good way. Never had I been hooked into a brown trout! The battle lasted a few minutes and then the fish freed itself. A good story always has some heartbreak. I was really let down… but somehow I felt it wasn’t over yet. The fish moved into the stream and held beside another brown facing upstream. Mikey suggested letting the fish rest before trying for it again, and trying a different fly.

The next item on the menu - a "Fresh Fly".

This fly was larger and imitates rotting salmon skin… tasty eh? The smaller brown went at the fly first but missed and then after a few more casts…it happened. That big brown inhaled it… and the real battle began! I immediately backed off my drag and jumped in the stream and made my way across to a larger flatter area where it would be easier to land the fish if I had that opportunity.

“The fish generally tried to keep itself buried in the submerged logs, really bulldogging it and staying on bottom. It made a couple of really desperate runs to the back of the pool then back up to the head of the pool. What they love to do is try to wrap around anything they can find first thing and that’s exactly what it was looking to do. If Ashley’s flyrod had of been one weight lighter, she might have been in trouble, but she wrestled him really well.”

(I use a 7 weight G Loomis Eastfork with a Venture reel, by the way). As you will notice in the pictures, there is a walking bridge in the background. As I was fighting the fish, a small group of people that were walking the trail stopped to watch. I noticed a couple at first but I became so focused on landing the fish that I couldn’t hear anything except the fish splashing, the line peeling out and Mikey talking me through it. When the fish finally gave up the group of about 6-8 people were cheering and clapping. I asked if one of them could come down and take our picture. (Thanks hiker-man!) We didn’t have a scale on us, or a tape measure, but I am all about catch-photo-release anyway. It was THIS big!

Mikey, myself and the most beautiful fish I've had the chance to meet.

After a few photos on my iPhone and Mikey's camera, the fish was back in the water to be released.

After this incredible moment, we climbed back up on the bank and just sat there to take the whole experience in. The trout layed low in the stream for awhile, and finally took off which felt really good to see. We stuck around for a bit and Mikey landed the other brown! After that we made our way upstream and searched for steelhead. I definitely smiled the rest of the day.. even after hooking steelhead and losing them!!!! The mission for my first steelhead continues… but the adventure has been worth it so far. Hopefully next time. Thanks Mikey!

This post was written by Ashley Rae of SheLovesToFish.com

And yes, for the record, KokeMachine sounds exactly like he does in his videos. OH YEAH!!

Here is our guide Dave, no he’s not a real guide, but he’s willing to take people out and teach them float fishing. Which is every bit as good. If you’re interested in float fishing in the Toronto area join our forums and let us know. Unfortunately there is no photo of the rainbow trout I caught, but I can tell you that having finally caught a fish on my float rod I’m hooked! Check out the full gallery after the break!

Continue to the “Trout Fishing in Cobourg” Gallery

Don’t forget about our new contest where you and a friend could win some fantastic gear from Water Gremlin! Here is a simple breakdown of the contest details.

1. Register for our Forums
2. Post in our Member Introductions Forum

Refer a friend to Fishing Fury Forums by having them and you could win! Winners are chosen every month for the rest of the year, with the year-end winners receiving a full weight set from Water Gremlin!

Continue Reading the Salmon Fishing Report

The day started with extraordinarily high hopes. The boats captain, A.J. Francis of Tuna Adventures had called me late the day before. I could hear the excitement in his voice. He told about the days events, “One of our best days yet!” Seven tuna hooked and four of them brought boat side before being gently released back into the depths. The biggest fish was an estimated 900+ pounds, while the smallest was a measly little 400 pounder. Hardly worth the trouble I’m sure.

My original plan was to make the three-hour drive up to Cape George early in the morning and have a quick nap before the sun came up and our adventure would begin. I was way too excited to sleep. Instead, I climbed the rocks near the marina and sat quietly, watching a bright red sun rise from the sea. A.J. arrived shortly after and greeted me with a big smile and firm handshake. We climbed on board his boat the Fisher’s Grant, a 45 foot fiberglass boat built by Doucette for one purpose, catching big fish. The first mate John Gavin arrived and within minutes we set off.

Continue reading Tuna Fishing Adventures…

Check out the updates to our Gallery!

In typical Fishing Fury fashion, we met up shortly after midnight to begin our 4.5 our voyage to Fredericton, New Brunswick. The drive went surprisingly fast thanks to good company and energy drinks and we got to our destination about 40 minutes before sunrise. I gave the boys a few tips, setup a few rods and gave them a crash course on casting big lures with heavy gear. They both caught on quickly and we all began casting out as far as we could searching for the fish of ten thousand casts.

Within two hours, we had covered some serious shoreline. For reasons unknown, the city of Fredericton thought it would be a good idea to to line the shores of the river with the most jagged, tipsy, slippery rocks they could find. Incredibly, we managed to balance on the rocks in just the right place and Aaron hooked into something mean. Two hours into the trip, Aaron had his first muskie, and biggest fish of his life!

After a few quick photos and some cut hooks, this beauty muskie, estimated to be about 38×16 inches, was on its way back into the river. Shortly after getting some new hooks ready for Aaron’s new favourite lure (the Rapala Super Shad Rap), Jarrod decided to take full advantage of the situation and manage to hook into another big fish before I had even had a chance to cast. The result, Jarrod’s first striped bass, and biggest fish of his life! Aaron decided to lend a helping hand and earned the assist on this one after the striper made a run and crossed his line.

After the lads caught some pretty serious fish, I was able to relax and go after my own. My chance came a few hours later when a I saw a good size muskie chasing my lure toward the dock. I executed a figure 8 at the side of the dock and watched in awe as the muskie lunged at the lure not once, not twice, but three time – missing each time and retreating into the darkness below.

After 10 hours of fishing the boys each lost a solid fish, most likely muskie. Worrying that they were losing interest, I told them we could switch to lighter gear and look for some smallmouth bass, to which they magnanimously agreed that they did not want to do. We fished until darkness, casting big lures in search of another muskie, but in the end I was the only one without a single fish.

We spent the drive home recapping the excitement of the day. A day in which we witnessed bald eagles soaring, massive sturgeons leaping, and Double Downs inside of Baconators. After an epic 24 hour marathon of fishing and driving, we all agreed that we would return for round two as soon as possible.