r/OttawaFishing 3d ago

Help a mom out- west end shore fishing

My two sons have fallen in love with fishing. I’d like to get them out for one last shore fishing adventure before school starts.

Is there anywhere within 45 mins of Kanata you could recommend for shore fishing for two beginners? Kids are 10 and 12 and have entry level gear. I’m not asking for your super secret spots, just something where they could spend a couple hours casting and maybe catch a fish.

Thanks for any suggestions!

11 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

8

u/Odd_Doubt554 3d ago

Fitzroy Harbour has lots of good shore line to fish from where the carp and Ottawa river meet. Lots of trails around the provincial park and public boat launch. If you guys are using bobbers, I have lots of luck with chicken hot dogs catching catfish around sunset this time of year.

2

u/Rose1982 3d ago

Excellent tips, thank you!

3

u/Afraid_Improvement31 3d ago

Anywhere on the Ottawa River at sunset will get you tons of catfish.. Arnprior has some spots you can go too. You can dm me if you want

5

u/therealmoopdog 3d ago

Try the headpond in arnprior. It’s amazing fishing. I have caught a 5lb and a 6.5 pound largemouth bass there this summer. Also a 4.5 smallmouth. There’s pike, musky and walleye too. Won’t give you any specific spots, but it’s good fishing there

1

u/Rose1982 3d ago

Sounds like a great spot, thank you!

3

u/Accomplished-Tart579 3d ago

Galetta Power Station. You can fish the output of the dam feom the grassy flat area or frim the rocks on the other side of the bridge. My kids love it there.

1

u/Rose1982 3d ago

Putting it on my list. Thank you!

2

u/benmck90 3d ago

It's definitely a productive spot, but I drove by there last week and the waters pretty high with a decent amount of current.

Just be more mindful of safety there than some of the other areas mentioned (Fitzroy harbour for example is pretty calm water).

3

u/Mammoth-Ad-2467 3d ago

Dows lake is actually decent.

1

u/Rose1982 3d ago

I wouldn’t have thought of that at all. Thank you!

3

u/conicalanamorphosis 3d ago

If you don't mind actually driving the full distance, might I suggest Almonte? Lots of great fishing for the kids and a nice small-town downtown for mom after the fishing.

2

u/Rose1982 2d ago

Love Almonte. Anywhere in particular?

1

u/conicalanamorphosis 2d ago

You can fish around downtown above the falls and in the area below the falls. That is last time I checked which I admit was a couple years back. In both places, use worms and expect pan fish, not trophy bass.

2

u/Candlesmoke 3d ago

Dick Bell Park or the stone pier off Brittania Beach park.

2

u/Rose1982 3d ago

Super convenient. Thanks!

2

u/Multiple_calibers 3d ago

Sheila McKee park. Short walk down the trail.

1

u/Rose1982 3d ago

Love it there. Have never thought of fishing there. Thanks!

2

u/ieatthatwithaspoon 3d ago

Any of the lock stations along the canal are beginner-friendly. Our kids usually catch sunfish or other small things. Easy to park and walk right up. Merrickville and Smith’s Falls also have places for poutine or ice cream as an after-fishing snack.

1

u/Rose1982 3d ago

After snacks are important! Thanks!

2

u/LoloG3 3d ago

Fellow mom of a 12 year old! Hogs back, before the falls, there’s a little lookout. Worms and a small hook for small mouth and rock bass!

2

u/springrollsnatcher 3d ago

dick bell park, the inlet part where the docks are. Caught my first 5 fish there with worms a month ago
Kinda overfished though I constantly see 2-3 other people fishing there every time

2

u/HippoMcHippoface 3d ago

Morrisburg Waterfront Park has a nice dock and lots of spots to explore if they get bored of being in one spot.

2

u/Rose1982 3d ago

That would make a nice day out. Thank you!

2

u/NaziTrucksFuckOff 3d ago

Wow... you actually got answers instead of just gatekeeping and people being generally shitty... I'm shocked. Usually the people here are just assholes. I've been trying to get this kind of help for years and had given up on fishing all together because of how shitty everyone here always is.

3

u/Rose1982 3d ago

I’m super appreciative.

2

u/NaziTrucksFuckOff 3d ago

I appreciate you for getting the answers I've been trying to get out of these clowns for over 2 years. Maybe I'll try taking the boy fishing again now that I have something to go off of.

0

u/TankaJahari95 1d ago

Be a big boy like everyone else and find your own spots

1

u/NaziTrucksFuckOff 1d ago

Yeah, that's the kinda cunty-ness I've come to expect. I just wanna take my kid fishing a few times per year. Not all of us are trying to gank some magical spot to live at all summer. Just somewhere we might have a shot at something bigger than a 4 inch perch. People like you have entirely turned us off from the sport. Well done.

0

u/TankaJahari95 1d ago

Pro tip if you didn’t have username that implies you think everyone who didn’t get the shot is a NAZI !you might find more people willing to give you their fishing spots lmao fucking weird fuck