SE Side of Duck Islands, 3 days trolling for salmon, Aug. 3, 7, 10, 2025

[RC36]

Apologies for the long report.

 

We usually spend most of our trolling time on Canadian NW side of Ducks, close to the shipping channel from the St. Lawrence towards distant Toronto.

 

But haven't been able to hook any salmon there yet this summer (still lots of lakers).

 

Since we keep NY permits,  time to try the other side of Ducks along the "Wall"  trench line that runs about halfway between Ducks and Gallo Island.

 

Saturday 3rd:  7am - 1pm... about 10 boats there all morning, most looked like charters.   I was out solo,  so was happy to go 3 for 6 (1 brown + 2 nice sized salmon). 

Always a little precarious ''solo'' netting and releasing unhappy salmon in a moving boat,  but I always wear an inflatable vest with a remote for the autopilot, and  both a remote engine kill switch and a satellite beacon in case I fall overboard.     Pretty calm seas,  saw lots of other boats catching fish.  Good day for everyone.

 

Note of caution:  that trench line looks like a pretty reliable drop off from about  50-60 ft falling down to 100 ft.   Running both Navionics and CMAP chips on side by side screens.   They are just ''shxt", especially in this area.

Donated a 15 lbs downrigger shark to the bottom when a 54ft hump appeared in 90ft on the chart.   Fortunately, the weight's snubber broke,  and no other damage.   All this happened with a fish on !

Now that I have about 15- 20 hrs in that area this week,  I have marked a lot of the humps and ledges.   If you are new to that area,  either stay further out in deeper water,  or all gear at 50ft and above if you are close to the drop off, cause the bottom comes up fast.

 

Thursday 7th:  very wavy.   The 3 of us bounced and rolled around from about 6am until noon.  We intended to put out a bunch of lines, but settled on only 5 lines:  2 riggers + 2 divers, and a distant Chute planner with Leadcore,   to avoid tangles and for our  safely handling lines.    We marked some fish and bait,  but strangely we found the only Sheepshead at 60 ft over 100 fow.    Only saw one other boat.  That was it, and we bounced our way home.   

 

Sunday 10th:  3:30-7:30pm.  My buddy and I saw lots of marks and bait  all the while  sweating to death, very calm, no breeze, hot sun.   4 salmon + 1 laker hitting 4 rigger rods and 2 dipsys.   Only lost one fish, as something hit one of our flasher-fly- meat rigs cutting the line, after a brief yank.   Well at least we got the flasher back.     Good success with Carbon 14 spoons,  black on glow.  Two other boats out.   Stunning sunset and a very fast run home on flat water.

 

Mostly, we troll about 2.5 mph or 4-4.5 kph.    While we tried all depths from up high, to 90ft.,  most hook ups were in the 50-70 ft range.   Lots of aggressive followers on the graphs this week, which keeps everyone excited.

 

Last year, we tried one day stacking 2 rods per downrigger,  and far from beginner's luck, we just made tangles anytime we caught a fish.     But this time,  better organized, especially clearing lines and gear quickly,  perfect.

 

Interesting range of sizes and ages,  best guess,  2 to 4 years olds.  All released for next time.

[Kingfisher06]

Great report, thanks. How were fleas on Sunday night?

Edited August 12, 2025 by Kingfisher06

[RC36]

Very few fleas over the past week.

Most flicked off, hands free.

50 lbs braid on the  dispys probably helps a bit.

[Kingfisher06]

Thats great news, they were awful before that huge blow we had two weekends ago. Thanks again. 

[RC36]

You're welcome . 

Hoping to get out again Friday or Saturday.

[lost a lure]

I was at "The Wall" 2 weeks ago prospecting. Lots of bait balls. Only marked a few fish 

[RC36]

Hoping it last another 10 days,   

but the salmon will probably head towards the Toronto area tributaries, 

or maybe the Salmon river soon.

Then it's wait until next year LOL