[Hog Johnson]

Hey guys my names John, I just moved to Barrie from North Bay, my daughter loves to eat Trout, especially Brown and Speckled...

Does anybody know where we can fish for Brown and Speckled around Barrie, ON?

Thinkin of trying the Matheson, Willow, and Bear Creek, also not sure when the best time is to fish for them, if anyone knows some hot spots it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys,

John

[Luke]

I have seen the same question from other people on other forums and those that know where to catch speckles are pretty tight lipped about it because they are not very abundant in southern ontario.

I have always heard to fish the forks of the credit and the upper portions of the rouge river but have never ventured out myself. Both are supposed to hold residential browns and speckles.

In the end I think some reg reading and bushwhacking is in order to get specs, or drive to algonquin and do more of the same?

[salmotrutta]

Sounds like you are already familiar with trout fishing and just need some specific info on the area. I've never fished there so I can't help you out, but I can offer some general trout fishing advice for anyone who is interested in learning a bit during the off season.

When hunting for brook trout and brown trout, never overlook any stream, regardless of how fickle the trickle.

Use Google maps and just follow creeks that you are familiar with towards headwaters. Densely wooded is a good thing. Streams in wild forests are a good thing. Seek permission from landowners. I've risked my life before and had close calls with guard dogs. Not fun, funny in retrospect perhaps, but not fun!

One way you can "cheat" is by drifting underneath bridges. Wherever a back road crosses a creek, you can usually stop on the shoulder and drift underneath the road. Seldom will you get skunked. If the stream holds trout, believe you me, some will be hiding out underneath roads. This is like "cheating" because there's usually plenty to catch and it's quite easy to sneak up on them. Just walk carefully up to the upstream part of the bridge, let some line out and have a worm or insect on your hook. Let it drift, wait a bit and observe your line. You'll quickly figure out the current and be able to judge if something is swallowing your offering. You can also drift downstream of the bridge into any structure that may be present - rocks, beaver dams, undercut banks.

You can think of it as hunting. Underwater hunting. With insects, real or imitations. This includes flashy spinners and lures. I'm not saying "fishing is only about catching", but if you're serious about catching, then switching to an "underwater hunting" mindset can be beneficial.

MNR stocking info can guide you onto trout territory. For better or for worse, your favourite trout honey hole may be just a Google search away. It's fun to drive around and explore, but a little bit of research beforehand can go a long way in pointing you in the right direction.

The first trout is the toughest. Once you get your first one, you'll have no problem repeating your success. They're beautiful and if you choose to keep some they taste great and are usually caught out of water so clean you can drink it. The off season is kind of a blessing, because it rejuvenates your passion. Resident trout fishing can be very peaceful and tranquil. It's nice to have a few spots that you know you can always visit for a relaxing outing.

[Blair]

GREAT ADVICE!
Very well said.


Have not been in awhile .... but the "Credit" by Erin ... used to have lots of Specs.

Always used just a little piece of worm ... dropped anywhere near stumps or downed trees (In THICK BRUSH).

Dont even THINK ABOUT BRINGING a rod longer than 6Ft. (Unless you want to spend the whole day in tangles with trees)

*SMILES*

[NADO]

culverts all the way for nice small table fare specks.

There arent too many members on the forum who live out that way so you might have a bit of trouble getting spots from anyone.

[Alfiegee]

Well said salmotrutta. Fishing resident Specks, Browns and Rainbows is my favorite fishing. I call it "combat fishing," a name I got from a cousin.
John I have sent a PM. Although most of the places I visit are on roads or logging roads and streams I don't even know the name of, hope it is useful.

Alfie.

[Hog Johnson]

Alfiegee, on 23 January 2012 - 05:10 PM, said:

Well said salmotrutta. Fishing resident Specks, Browns and Rainbows is my favorite fishing. I call it "combat fishing," a name I got from a cousin.
John I have sent a PM. Although most of the places I visit are on roads or logging roads and streams I don't even know the name of, hope it is useful.

Alfie.

You guys are awsome, can't wait til April 28th, normaly I use a spinning reel, but this year I'm gonna alternate and try some Stoneflys, Egg Sucking Leech Wooly Buggers, Mayflys, Parachute Adams, and my favourite, the Hemorhoidal Mouse.

This year is also gonna be very memorable, it's my daughters first year fishing, she'll be 3 years old April 10th. She already knows the difference between a Salmon, Pike, Bass and a Rainbow Trout which she has a plush replica of from Bass Pro Shop in Vaughan Mills...should see her devour a rainbow filet, can't even wait for me to take it out of the pan

[NADO]

Very nice, I wish I kept at fishing when I was that young. Make sure not to feed her Rainbow from Lake Ontario tribs as many areas are listed as not suitable for consumption by children in The Guide to Eating Ontario Sportfish.

[Hog Johnson]

NADO, on 23 January 2012 - 11:08 PM, said:

Very nice, I wish I kept at fishing when I was that young. Make sure not to feed her Rainbow from Lake Ontario tribs as many areas are listed as not suitable for consumption by children in The Guide to Eating Ontario Sportfish.

I hear ya, got a copy last year, guide sure does come in handy, better to be safe then sorry...

[Hog Johnson]

NADO, on 23 January 2012 - 11:08 PM, said:

Very nice, I wish I kept at fishing when I was that young. Make sure not to feed her Rainbow from Lake Ontario tribs as many areas are listed as not suitable for consumption by children in The Guide to Eating Ontario Sportfish.

I hear ya, got a copy last year, guide sure does come in handy, better to be safe then sorry...

[Madriverfisher]

There are some Brookies around Barrie but alot are really small but fun to catch just thought I should point out I saw some one say something about the forks of the credit. Its catch and release only single brabless and artificial only to keep the the fishery in tact. Good luck I'm always looking for new spots around Barrie for trout

[Hog Johnson]

Madriverfisher, on 25 January 2012 - 08:54 AM, said:

There are some Brookies around Barrie but alot are really small but fun to catch just thought I should point out I saw some one say something about the forks of the credit. Its catch and release only single brabless and artificial only to keep the the fishery in tact. Good luck I'm always looking for new spots around Barrie for trout

(Sorry bout the double post guys, my connection blows)

GET THIS!

I was visiting the inlaws with my wife and daughter the other day, while in the middle of reading a reply to this post my father in law comes up to me and says, "Browns & Speckles HUH?".

Now you have to understand, we don't talk much, I knew hes got like almost 30 years of fishing under his belt, fishing all over ontario and everything, but I always thought he was only into Salmon and Rainbow trout because thats all he ever talked about, not to mention how much he hates lake fishing, but meh, to each their own right...

Now, after countless minutes of reasuring promisses of never repeating what he tells me today, well...to make a long story short, he sat me down, poured himself a coffee, and gave up all the goods about Browns & Speckles, Creeks & Rivers, Dynamite Tackle, spilling his guts about hot spots and honey holes all around Simcoe County, even has an album of proof of 10+ pound Browns, 20+ pound Bows, and 30+ pound Salmons he got and where, he showed and told me everything!!!

Says to me, "when the snows gone, make sure you got a full tank of gas and a couple of hours to spare because, WE'RE GOING FOR TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE"

I didn't even know how to react, was absolutely speechless...

[Alfiegee]

John Maclean, on 25 January 2012 - 07:16 PM, said:

(Sorry bout the double post guys, my connection blows)

GET THIS!

I was visiting the inlaws with my wife and daughter the other day, while in the middle of reading a reply to this post my father in law comes up to me and says, "Browns & Speckles HUH?".

Now you have to understand, we don't talk much, I knew hes got like almost 30 years of fishing under his belt, fishing all over ontario and everything, but I always thought he was only into Salmon and Rainbow trout because thats all he ever talked about, not to mention how much he hates lake fishing, but meh, to each their own right...

Now, after countless minutes of reasuring promisses of never repeating what he tells me today, well...to make a long story short, he sat me down, poured himself a coffee, and gave up all the goods about Browns & Speckles, Creeks & Rivers, Dynamite Tackle, spilling his guts about hot spots and honey holes all around Simcoe County, even has an album of proof of 10+ pound Browns, 20+ pound Bows, and 30+ pound Salmons he got and where, he showed and told me everything!!!

Says to me, "when the snows gone, make sure you got a full tank of gas and a couple of hours to spare because, WE'RE GOING FOR TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE"

I didn't even know how to react, was absolutely speechless...

Right on John. Does your father-in-law have a brother with a single daughter???

Alfie.

[Alfiegee]

Or sister with a single daughter.

Alfie.

[Hog Johnson]

Alfiegee, on 25 January 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:

Or sister with a single daughter.

Alfie.

Uhhh hahahahehehe, unfortuanetly that's a negative to both