A dream fishing trip for most anglers would be catching salmon in Alaska. Of course, the ultimate thrill would be to hook and land a Chinook salmon. Chinooks are also called king salmon for obvious reasons. They grow to prodigious proportions and are powerful. The instant they feel the point of a hook, they become freight trains that peel line from a fishing reel at thumb scorching speeds. Because of the cost and distance to Alaska, many anglers never get the chance to tangle with these once in a lifetime fish.
Well, a giant king salmon is waiting for you and it is only a four or five-hour drive.
In September and October, the Niagara River becomes the destination point for Lake Ontario salmon. Years ago Niagara Falls was the destination for honeymooners. Well, it still is for king salmon in the fall.
Every year we go to the Niagara River to tangle with these hard fighting monsters. The average Lake Ontario salmon may not equal the size of some of its larger Pacific Ocean cousins.
However, I have no trouble getting excited when a 20 – 30 pound fish literally tries to rip the fishing rod from my hands.
Best of all, the fishing method for catching them is simple. No planer boards, no downriggers, no Dipsy Divers are used. The salmon anglers fish’s with a 7 -8 foot bait casting rod and reel. A three-way swivel is tied to the main line and a size one Gamakatsu octopus hook is tied to a six-foot leader. A two-ounce pencil lead is the sinker. A clump of salmon eggs, the size of a 50 cent piece, completes the outfit. The bait is drifted right along the river’s rocky bottom. When a hit occurs, it’s mano vs mano or womano vs womano. The rush of the fleeing fish matches the adrenaline rush felt by the angler.
Niagara River fishing occurs in open bowed 18 –20 foot crafts, with 150 to 200 horsepower outboard motors. Lund Pro V’s are the boat of choice by many of the river guides.
The best fishing spot is at Devil’s Hole. It is aptly named because of the turbulent waters above and below this fishing Valhalla. This stretch of the river is a great reason to hire a guide. They know how to swiftly and safely get their boat to calm waters.
This past season we went up when the water clarity was a tad too muddy. The fish made us work for them. Once we found them and enticed them into hitting, they were determined to free themselves from the hook. We were able to set the barb into five giant kings. Unfortunately, they won three of the five matches. However, the ones that we managed to boat would have been a fish of a lifetime for many anglers.
Oh, yes let’s not forget the day after the fishing trip. Cook a fresh wild king salmon on a grill, and you will throw stones at farm raised salmon fillets.
If you’re looking for a chance to tangle with one of these brutes, book a trip as soon as possible. Some Niagara River Guides are booked almost a year in advance. We fished with Joe Cinelli, who knows how to find and catch Niagara River fish.
To book a salmon trip, contact Joe Cinelli at 716-583-1228 or 716-773-7910 or at cinellijoe@aol.com. For information on the river fishing, rooms, hotels, etc. visit the Niagara County Tourism Web site at www.niagara-usa.com or 1-877-FALLS US.
