Fishing for Trout in the Maitland River

The game fishing season in Southern Ontario opens with the trout season – Rainbow, Brown and Brook trout. Running over 150 kilometers through South Western Ontario, the Maitland River is a large waterway and all three species of trout can be found here.

The main challenge to fishing in this river is the fluctuating levels of water. Sometimes you have to wait for good rains before you go fishing. Patience, whether it is waiting for the rains to fall, or patience while fishing can never go wrong in the trout game. Be prepared to wait for the right water temperatures, find the right fly or bait and your persistence will definitely be rewarded when fishing on the Maitland.

The spring Rainbow trout run is very good in this area. You may also catch returning Steelheads at the Maitland River mouth with some good worms or spawn as your bait. These Steelhead trout weigh in at about six to eight pounds. However, ten pounders are fairly common, while on the rare occasion in the right year, you may even bag one of the twenty pounders that pass through the Maitland river mouth.

Because of the size of the Steelheads, you must be appropriately equipped if you intend hauling in some of the larger fish. Choose a longer rod when fishing in a large river. A rod of around nine foot six will suit most anglers. A graphite handles are good on a longer rod which will allow you to float a jig or drift spoons early in the season. Later you can move on to roe as bait. Two-handed rods are also a good choice for Steelhead fishing in these waters.

When there are many fish biting, you will have to catch and release, so use single barbless hooks where possible and handle the fish carefully so as not to damage their skin or gills.

The Lower Maitland River Valley is part of a larger conservation area where regulations have been designed to protect the ecosystem and various rare species. This Valley plays an important role in protecting biodiversity in the Great Lakes Basin. This area is at risk as a result of the encroachment of cities and the pollution that accompanies them. If we want to continue to enjoy great trout fishing, we need to respect these attempts to preserve the best of the environment.

There are, fortunately, many other spots along the 150 kilometers of the Maitland River in superb wild and picturesque settings where you can fish according to your preference.