Rigs by species

Pick the fish, get the rigs, seasons, gear and bait that work for it in Canadian water.

Sander vitreus

Canada's most-fished species. Light-biting, light-shy, and best at dawn, dusk and after dark.

Micropterus dolomieu

The hardest-fighting fish in Canadian fresh water, pound for pound. Rock, current and clear water.

Micropterus salmoides

The weed-and-wood fish. Shallow, warm, cover-oriented and the reason weedless rigs exist.

Esox lucius

The apex predator of nearly every Canadian lake. Aggressive, toothy, and the reason you carry wire.

Salvelinus fontinalis, Salmo trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salvelinus namaycush

Cold, clean water fish. From brook trout in a beaver pond to lake trout in 100 feet.

Oncorhynchus mykiss (migratory), O. tshawytscha, O. kisutch, Salmo salar

Migratory fish running from the Great Lakes and the Pacific into rivers. Float fishing, drift fishing and fly fishing.

Perca flavescens

The best-eating fish in the lake and the most fun on light tackle. Schools, so find one and stay.

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Spring shallow-water fun on tiny jigs under floats; deeper brush and timber the rest of the year.

Ictalurus punctatus

Big, strong river fish that pull hard and taste great. The Red River is world class.

Lepomis spp., Ambloplites rupestris

The first fish for most Canadians. Docks, weeds and a worm under a bobber.