Lake Ontario trout and steelhead near St. Catharines.

Lake Ontario is a world-class trout fishery, and the water off Port Dalhousie holds rainbow, brown, and lake trout most of the season. For a lot of crews, this is the better first trip: steady action, calmer water, and fish that fight without the long hunt of a king-salmon morning.

The trout species

• Rainbow Trout (Steelhead). Acrobatic and hard-running, with strong spring and fall runs. The spring steelhead bite is one of the best beginner windows of the year.
• Brown Trout. Nearshore and willing through spring and fall, a reliable early-season target right off the piers.
• Lake Trout. The year-round workhorse, taken deep on the troll or by jigging, and a good bet when other species go quiet.

A good option for a first-timer

Because trout charters fish closer to the harbour and the action is steadier, the trout trip is the one most captains point new anglers and families toward. The water is usually calmer, the bites come more often, and there is plenty of time to learn the gear without the pressure of waiting all morning for one big fish.

When the trout fish best

Steelhead and brown trout run strongest in spring (April through June) and again in the fall, while lake trout stay catchable year-round. The season guide breaks it down month by month. Pricing for a trout trip is on the cost guide.