Great spots to fish in the Thames River

Debora Van Brenk
Sun Media
 
August 18, 2008  
A seasonal series about the waterway that defines us.

Chris Pfohl demonstrates fly-fishing recently on the Thames River in London. Pfohl won a silver medal this year at the Commonwealth fly-fishing championships in Hastings, N.Z. (MORRIS LAMONT/Sun Media)





Bait shop owners and others weigh in with their top places to fish the Thames and its tributaries, home to 18 kinds of sport fish.

1. Delaware, near the bridge: For the variety and the solitude, says Randy Bailey of Thames Rivers Anglers Association."All through there, you never know what you'll catch." The year-round fishery has it all: smallmouth bass, walleye, migratory salmon and rainbow trout.

2. Near the Kilworth bridge: The area has "good access" to the river and a wide variety of fish, says Steve Plaskett, owner of Lambeth Rod and Tackle.

3. Wildwood Dam, St. Marys: "It's a good, deep lake," but choosing just one spot is tricky, says Archie Lovell of Archie's Stop 'N' Go Live Bait, who supplies bait from his Emerson Street home in London. He's also a fan of the water at Fanshawe Dam and Delaware. Oh, and downtown London at Ridout Street.

4. Dutton-Dunwich Conservation Area, near Dutton: This rural area in Elgin County is a "fishing hot spot," says the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority.

5. Lighthouse Cove, leading into Lake St. Clair: OK, so we're stretching the Thames connection a bit -- the Cove is at the river's mouth -- but how could you pass up mention of the giant muskies that swim around here? Habitat for the big fish is perfect: "Plenty of food and shallow water," says Debbie Van de Wauwer of Rampage Sports Fishing Charters in Lighthouse Cove. Biggest fish caught from their operation this year was a 52-inch, 38-lb. muskie, landed by a Londoner.
Debora Van Brenk is a Free Press reporter.

E-MAIL: Debora Van Brenk

Last edited on Tue Aug 19th, 2008 12:51 am by dokdok