The Ultimate Guide to Fishing the Thames River and Ontario’s Great Lakes

Southwestern Ontario is an angler’s paradise. Straddled by three massive Great Lakes (Huron, Erie, and Ontario) and veined by productive river systems like the Thames, this region offers some of the most diverse freshwater fishing on the planet. Whether you are chasing the “fish of ten thousand casts”—the legendary Muskellunge—in a murky river or trolling for king salmon in the vast blue expanse of Lake Ontario, knowing when and how is the key to success.

This detailed guide breaks down the best times to fish, the top species available by season, and the specific tackle and lures that will give you the winning edge in both the Thames River and the Great Lakes.

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Crucial Note Before You Go: Fishing in Ontario is governed by strictly enforced seasons and catch limits designed to protect fish populations during spawn. The Thames River generally falls under Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 16, while the Great Lakes have their own specific regulations (Zones 19, 20, etc.). Always consult the current Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary for exact opening/closing dates, size limits, and sanctuary areas before heading out.

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Part 1: The Thames River multi-Species Fishery

The Thames River is one of Ontario’s most diverse waterways. Flowing through Woodstock, London, and Chatham before emptying into Lake St. Clair, it changes character from a shallow, rocky stream to a broad, murky, slow-moving river. This diversity supports everything from cold-water trout to warm-water giants.

Spring: The Great Migration & Opener

Spring on the Thames is defined by two major events: the conclusion of the spring Steelhead run and the highly anticipated “Pickerel Opener.”

1. Steelhead (Migratory Rainbow Trout)

• Best Time: Late March to mid-April. The run depends entirely on water temperature and rain. A few days of rain followed by warming temps will trigger the “drop-back” of fish that spawned upriver.
• Where to Fish: Look for faster water, riffles, and deeper pools adjacent to current, particularly in the upper reaches near London or Komoka.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Float Fishing: The standard approach. Use a centerpin or spinning reel with a long rod (10–13 ft). A 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader is essential in clearer water.
  • Lures: Pink, orange, or chartreuse roe bags (real or synthetic) are deadly. Also effective are beads (8mm-10mm in natural roe colors) and small jigs tipped with wax worms under a float. In murkier water, small silver or bright orange spinners (like a #2 or #3 Mepps or Blue Fox) can provoke aggression bites.

2. Walleye (Pickerel)

• Best Time: Second Saturday in May (Opener) through June. Early season is best, as fish are active after spawning and hungry.
• Where to Fish: Deeper pools, especially where smaller streams enter the river. The section from Chatham down to Lake St. Clair is famous for its spring walleye fishing. Murky water requires finding “holes.”
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Jigs: The most effective technique. A 1/8 oz to 3/8 oz lead head jig tipped with a 3–4 inch soft plastic grub (white, chartreuse, or pink work well in murky water) or a live minnow.
  • Pickerel Rigs: A standard two-hook bait rig weighted at the bottom. Bait with live minnows and fish along the bottom in deeper sections.

Summer: Bass, Catfish, and Giants

As the water warms, warm-water species become the primary targets.

1. Smallmouth Bass

• Best Time: Late June (Opener) through August. They love the warming water and become highly aggressive.
• Where to Fish: Rocky bottoms, submerged logs, and around bridge pilings. They are excellent targets for shore anglers near bridges.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Soft Plastics: 3–4 inch tube jigs in natural colors (green pumpkin, crayfish) are a staple. Senko-style stickbaits wacky-rigged are also devastatingly effective.
  • Crankbaits: Shallow-diving crankbaits in crayfish or perch patterns.

2. Channel Catfish

• Best Time: All summer long, especially night fishing. The Thames is teeming with them.
• Where to Fish: Deeper holes and slower-moving, muddy sections.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Bait: Heavy spinning gear with a slip-sinker rig. The best baits are “stinky”: cut bait (sucker or chub), chicken liver, or commercial dip baits. Nightcrawlers are effective but will also attract non-target panfish.

Fall: The Trophy Musky Hunter

Fall is when serious anglers target the river’s true apex predator.

1. Muskellunge (Musky)

• Best Time: September until freeze-up. While the season opens in June, fall is the best time to catch a true trophy as they feed heavily before winter.
• Where to Fish: The lower Thames (Chatham area) is known for hosting large musky that enter from Lake St. Clair. Look for weed edges and drop-offs.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Gear: Heavy-duty baitcasting rod (8 ft+), 80–100 lb braided line, and a high-quality steel or heavy fluorocarbon leader are mandatory.
  • Lures: Massive baits are the rule. Use large bucktail spinners, giant jerkbaits (like Suicks or Grandmas), or large soft plastic swimbaits (Bull Dawgs) retrieved slowly as the water cools.

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Part 2: The Great Lakes (Huron, Erie, Ontario)

Fishing the Great Lakes is a vastly different experience, often requiring larger boats, specialised equipment, and a focus on open-water trolling. These lakes offer world-class fisheries for trout and salmon.

Spring: Nearshore Action

In early spring, the nearshore waters warm faster than the deep center, attracting baitfish and predators.

1. Chinook (King) and Coho Salmon

• Best Time: Late April to early June. Focus on Lake Ontario and western Lake Erie (where they mirror the Lake St. Clair migration). Coho arrive first, followed by the larger Chinooks.
• Where to Fish: Inshore, often in 20–60 ft of water along the shoreline or near river mouths.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Technique: Trolling is standard. Use downriggers to control depth, or planer boards to spread lines away from the boat noise in shallow water.
  • Lures: Small 3–4 inch trolling spoons in bright colors (pink, chartreuse, “orange crush”) or silver/blue combinations that mimic alewives. Trolling body baits (like Rapala Husky Jerks or J-Plugs) can also be highly effective for nearshore Coho.

2. Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)

• Best Time: May and June.
• Where to Fish: Often found higher in the water column than salmon, chasing baitfish near the surface in open water.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Lures: Small, bright trolling spoons fished off planer boards or “slide divers” just 10–30 ft down. Pink, orange, and “wonderbread” patterns are popular.

Summer: The Deep Water Troll

As surface temps rise, salmon and trout retreat to the preferred cold water temperatures found deep in the lakes.

1. Chinook Salmon & Lake Trout

• Best Time: July and August.
• Where to Fish: This is deep-water trolling. You may be in 100–300 ft of water, looking for the “thermocline” (temperature break) where the fish hold. Lake Ontario is the epicenter for summer trophy Kings. Lake Huron offers strong Lake Trout action.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Technique: Specialized trolling gear is required: downriggers, wire line, lead core line, and “dipsey divers” to reach depths of 60–120 ft.
  • Lures: Flies and Flashers/Dodgers are the summer standard for Chinook. An 8–11 inch flasher (UV or chrome) followed by a 3-inch meat rig or trolling fly (green, blue, or white patterns). For Lake Trout, use massive magnum spoons (5-inch+) or wobbling spoons (like the Williams Wabler) trolled slowly right along the bottom.

2. Smallmouth Bass (Lake Erie)

• Best Time: July and August. Lake Erie is a globally renowned smallmouth fishery.
• Where to Fish: Underwater reefs, shoals, and rocky drop-offs in 20–40 ft of water.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Technique: “Drop-shotting” is the king of Erie bass techniques.
  • Lures: Small 3-inch soft plastics like Gulp! Minnows or flat-worm style baits (brown, green, or baitfish colors) on a drop-shot rig. Tube jigs fished along the bottom are also excellent.

Fall: Staging Giants

Fall means one thing in the Great Lakes: the return of the giants to their birthplace to spawn.

1. Chinook and Coho Salmon

• Best Time: September and October. This is “staging” season.
• Where to Fish: The fish congregate in massive numbers at the mouths of major tributaries (like the Credit River, Bronte Creek, or Niagra River) preparing for their final run.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Technique: Aggressive trolling or casting from piers.
  • Lures: J-Plugs and massive magnum spoons trolled aggressively can trigger strikes from these non-feeding, aggressive fish. For pier anglers, casting heavy spoon baits (like a Cleo or Krocodile in chrome/blue or neon colors) or glow-in-the-dark spoons at night is highly popular.

2. Steelhead

• Best Time: October until freeze-up. As the salmon run concludes, the Steelhead arrive to feed on salmon eggs and prepare for their own spring spawn.
• Where to Fish: Similar nearshore areas and tributary mouths as the staging salmon.
• Top Tackle/Lures:
  • Lures: Brightly colored trolling spoons are still effective, but as the water cools, egg imitations fished under a float from shore become the go-to method.

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Final Pro-Tip for Success

In both the Thames and the Great Lakes, weather is everything.

• On the Thames: Rain is your friend in spring (triggers runs) but your enemy in summer (makes the river too muddy).
• On the Great Lakes: Wind dictates where the cold water is. A strong “offshore” wind will push warm surface water out and bring cold, fish-filled water nearshore (“upwelling”), completely changing the fishing dynamic in hours. Always check marine forecasts before venturing onto the Great Lakes.