Blue Knight

If they're regular customers I'll run solo & let them steer while I set lines or net the fish. They don't have a problem with that. Some have been coming out with me for over 20 years. If they're new guys I always have a mate with me.

Hi everyone, my name is John Foley & I've been operating Blue Knight Fishing Charters out of Port Credit, Ontario for the past 25 years. I'm a member of the Ontario Sportfishing Guides Association & the Pro Staffer for Hot Spot Lures & Fishing in Ontario. Port Credit is located on Lake Ontario & prides itself with a sign as you enter as the Salmon Capitol of Ontario. If I may say it's an honour to be included in your group.

I've been running cut bait for a good number of years now & wouldn't leave the dock without it. I've found Rhys Davis strips to be the best. They hold up well & I've used them all day & thrown them back in the freezer & used them again without any problem. As for heads well since I'm the pro staffer for Hot Spot I use their Roller Baiter. Actually I think they're great. No need for toothpicks or tuning them to get the right roll. Just throw them over the side & they're ready to go.

I don't think there are too many of us who fish Lake Ontario are convinced that 52% of the Chinook are as a result of natural reproduction. They have to make room in the hatcheries for the Atlantics which will be about 5 or 6lb when they mature. By the time we'll be able to prove them wrong our present Minister of Natural Resources will probabely looking for another job. Won't be able to help him out because I doubt if too many people will be booking charters to catch a bunch of shakers so I won't need a first mate. Sorry Mr Ramsey.

When they're done send them up to Ontario please

I always run a meat rig as my deepest rod. I start off with an 11" Hot Spot Bullfrog trailing a rollerbaiter with Rhys Davis cut bait. Tried another brand last year & threw it out. It fell apart in the water. With the Rhys Davis cut bait I've caught fish on the same strip & kept using it the whole day without having to replace it. If I'm running two cut bait rigs my other rig starts off with either an 11" Yote or White Lightning Hot Spot then when the sun comes up the #37 11" goes on. Those are some of the top Hot Spot flashers on this side of the lake.

Well the old saying was start small & work up & that used to work great. The last few years it's been mags especially this year since the mild winter. Lake Ontario Kings must have been gorging themselves all winter because this spring they're much bigger. The biggest caught in the Spring Scotty was 27lb. I usually run regulars on the sliders & mags on the main lines. We never used to run Mags on the north side of LO until mid or late July but that's gone by the wayside now.

I was one of the first if not the first to use cut bait & a flasher on the Cdn side of Lake Ontario some years ago. Since the first time I used it I don't go out on the water unless I've got at least one down & it's usually my deepest rod. As for bait holders I use Hot Spot rollerbaiters. They may not look as pretty as the Teaser heads but you don't have to tune them to get the right roll because of the rudder. Use the #3 head for the regular cut bait strips & your in business.

I quite enjoy telling my customers what I'm doing to get fish. Usually the only ones that don't come back are the ones who went out & bought their own boat & tackle. We have to be careful on the north side of L Ontario for booze. It's a no no & the ticket's expensive. Usually I tell them what I do for the other part of my income & suggest they do there partying after they get back to the dock.

Just thought I'd introduce myself. My name's John Foley & I've been fishing Lake Ontario for over thirty years on the Canadian side. For the past 25 years I've been running Blue Knight Fishing Charters out of Port Credit, Ontario. I'm the Ontario Pro Staffer for Hot Spot Fishing & Lures & a member of the Ontario Sportfishing Guides Assoc. I've been in law enforcement for 37 years which gives me a bit of an advantage as I can take the whole summer off to fish. Just like being back at school. I hope I can pick up a few tips from members on the south shore. You guys always seem to be ahead of us Canucks at coming up with new ways to fish.