Lake Ontario Salmon Run

[wetman]

Hey,

I was just curious if anyone here has dove with salmon or if its even possible. We're coming up on the fall salmon run near port hope and i'd imagine several other places. I know where they come in in a couple places but was wondering if anyone has ever dove with them out in the lake at this time of year near these inlets or if its even possible? Do they hang around these inlets or just come in quickly from the deeper spots of the lake directly into the inlet? Would they spook easily? I have no clue but i'd love to be able to take some pics if its possible cause i really haven't seen many pics of them around. Any thoughts are appreciated.

steve

[Marvintpa]

Sure, it's possible to swim with salmon. Be very cautious, however: being run into by a sizeable horny salmon that is biologically programmed not to care what is in its way, is like getting hit by a baseball bat.
If you dive in the shallows at the mouth of a known salmon stream you will likely find them everywhere. We usually encountered them laying/resting in the weeds, well hiddin, preparing to make their next mad dash. Oftentimes, moving the weeds to find them successfully triggered that dash - scared the hell outt me.

[wetman]

Tom,

Do you have any pics of those? I'd think if anyone did you would.

steve

[deep_ocean]

That sounds interesting. If you decide to go for it, let me know.
When do they come around?

[Marvintpa]

Sorry, no pics.
The first salmon (which looked like a whale at point blank range) snapped the strobe off and flooded the camera.

[wetman]

Its usually spring (not sure when) and fall near the end of august and during september. We sometimes fish for them right in port hope but apparently there are many places they come in. They are huge fish so it would be interesting to be in the water with them.

steve

[wetman]

Tom,

Where did you dive with them?

steve

[Marvintpa]

It was in Colpoys bay, on the way to Toby. It makes for one helluva night dive.

[deep_ocean]

Can you also do salmon dive during the day?

[Marvintpa]

Yes, you can do it during the day... they just seemed to be a little more skittish when the sun was out.

[Groundhog246]

Marvintpa once bubbled...
It was in Colpoys bay, on the way to Toby. It makes for one helluva night dive.

We dive Colpoys frequently. Can you give a more specific location? Colpoys is quite a few sq. miles. Boat or shore? And how late in the season?

We dove Gilboa last fall and they have quite a few salmonids (not sure if they were trout, salmon or hybrid) that are used to "handouts" from divers (you can buy trout pellets at the front gate). They were quite large and very friendly. One of our group, with quite short red curly hair, dove minus hood and had them picking at her hair. There was a distict thermocline around 32 feet and they did not come above it.

[Marvintpa]

This was several years ago that the dives took place, but I recall it was directly beside the large dock (to the left of the dock as you look out onto the water, if I remember correctly). I don't recall what time of year the dives took place.