With over two million lakes and rivers that flow into five major ocean drainage basins, Canada is well-known for its recreational fisheries. Fishing has historically been one of the country’s popular leisure activities for both Canadians and visitors alike. Every year, anglers from all around the world come to visit and participate in sport fishing activities across Canada.
The important socio-economic contributions of recreational fishing are felt in all of Canada’s provinces and territories, articularly in some of the more remote areas of the country. Recreational fishing is popular with Canadians and tourists, and an estimated 3.2 million people participate in this leisure activity each year, generating approximately $7.5 billion for various local economies. Canadians also enjoy the social benefits of recreational fishing. Recreational fisheries management promotes public awareness and community stewardship for the conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources.
Recreational Fishing Regulations:
Managing Canada's recreational fisheries is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial and territorial governments. While roles vary between different provinces and territories, generally:
A 2005 survey showed that Canadians spent an average of one hour per day pursuing various sports and active leisure.1 Recreational fishing was certainly one of these activities, particularly among the older generation. However, recreational fishing participation rates have been on a downward trend in most provinces and territories.
Resident anglers continued to make up the majority of the active angler population in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. Most Canadian non-resident and foreign anglers travelled to either Ontario or British Columbia (tidal waters) for their recreational fishing activities.
The population of active adult anglers continued to age. More than half of Canadian anglers, for example, were in the 45-64 age group whereas only 26% of the general Canadian population fell within the same age range. The average number of days fished per angler remained relatively unchanged at 13 days since 1995. Canadian non-resident and foreign anglers made over 2 million trips within Canada in 2005.
Overall, walleye was the most predominant species caught in 2005, surpassing trout for the first time since the conduct of the first survey. Brook trout, however, continued to be a dominant species caught by resident anglers, particularly in the eastern provinces and Quebec. The Territories had significant catches of lake trout, arctic grayling and northern pike.
Anglers contributed a total of $7.5 billion to various local economies in Canadian provinces and territories in 2005. Of this amount, $5 billion were in the form of investments and major purchases of durable goods related to recreational fishing activities. The remaining $2.5 billion covered direct recreational fishing expenditures during fishing trips, such as transportation, food, lodging, fishing services, and fishing supplies.
source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada - www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
With over 400,000 lakes, rivers and streams and over 30 species of fish, Ontario is undoubtedly one of the marquee Canadian fly fishing provinces. With so much to offer, ranging from wild brook trout and Great Lakes steelhead, to world-class smallmouth, and the biggest muskies in Canada, Ontario appeals to cold water and warm water fanatics alike.
#1 Grand River
Difficulty Rating: 2 to 3
Species available: Brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, carp, steelhead, mooneye.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Guelph, Fergus, Elora, Kitchener, Caledonia
No official Ontario Top 10 list would be complete without the Grand River—a true blueribbon tailwater fishery. The Grand almost bisects southwestern Ontario, flowing over 290 km south from just below Georgian Bay to Lake Erie. Most fly fishing activity takes place around Fergus and Elora (Upper Grand) where watershed protection and restoration efforts have created a superb habitat with plentiful 8” to 16” brown trout and specimens as large as 26” or bigger, which can be taken on dries, streamers and nymphs during the trout season, from the 4th Saturday in April through to the end of September.
And if big browns aren’t enough to make the Grand live up to its name, resident rainbows and a few warmwater species offer plenty of variety! Steelheaders frequent the Grand below the dam in the town of
Caledonia (Lower Grand), where Lake Erie fish arrive during spawning migrations in the fall and spring.
There is plenty of accommodation available alongside the Grand River, including campgrounds, making a quick overnight trip feasible and easy. With more than four fly shops within an hour’s radius, you’re never far away from friendly and helpful advice either.
Note that the Grand River’s flows below Belwood Lake are controlled by the Belwood dam. Be alert for changing water conditions at all times and always wade only within your comfort zone. Also, special regulations apply to most of the trout waters, including catch-and-release with single barbless hooks only.
Please check current provincial regulations for details.
#2 Whiteman’s Creek
Difficulty Rating: 2
Species available: Brown trout, rainbow trout. Tiger trout and palomino rainbow specimens have also been reported but could not be fully confirmed by CFF.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Paris, Brantford
Whiteman’s Creek is a more intimate, lessfished tributary of the Grand River which flows cold enough to support native brown, rainbow and migratory steelhead populations within its many log-jams. The creek
pours into the Grand between the towns of Paris and Brantford and has been popular with fly fishers. Dries and nymphs will fool the browns and resident rainbows, but some of the best steelheading can be had with egg patterns.
While most of the co-operative resident trout average under 12”, much larger browns are caught every year, especially on swing streamers.
The vicinity of Whiteman’s creek to some major urban centres, including Toronto, makes it a great day trip destination. Please refer to the official provincial regulations under Division 4 for special regulations, including fish sanctuaries.
#3 Algonquin Provincial Park
Difficulty Rating: 1 to 5
Species available: Brook trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and muskie.
Nearest Town/Communities: Whitney, Barry’s Bay
Algonquin Provincial Park has been a long standing icon of Ontario’s majestic wilderness. Spanning over 760,000 hectares of lakes, forests, streams, bogs, and glorious cliffs, Algonquin offers a unique adventure, from park and camp facilities along the Hwy. 60 corridor to week-long portaging trips into the interior.
Known for their cool, deep waters and native strains of brook trout and lake trout, interior Algonquin lakes offer some of the best trophy brook trout fly fishing in Ontario. Shortly after ice-out (which typically occurs in mid to late May) brookies can be taken fairly shallow on streamers, leech patterns and nymphs, especially along any remaining ice edges or steep drop-offs near cover. This is prime time for float-tubing or pontoon boats. Make sure to bring plenty of bug dope, though, as the blackflies are almost as famous as the brook trout themselves.
Summer in Algonquin is a favourite with many bass fly fishers and a few tight lipped fanatics, who focus on the mid-sized rivers connecting Algonquin lakes, which also have concentrations of brook trout in localized, oxygen-rich, coldwater upwellings.
Whether you plan to sleep in the truck, bring the RV, or go out on a multi-day paddle and portage adventure, always taking a safety-minded, common sense approach is highly recommended. Be mindful of awakening black bears in the spring, and always travel with a first aid kit!
#4 St.Mary’s Rapids
Difficulty Rating: 3
Species available: Atlantic salmon, steelhead, pink salmon, chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, whitefish, walleye and smallmouth bass.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Sault St.Marie
Connecting Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the St. Mary’s River flows between Ontario and Michigan, splitting the twin-cities of Sault Ste. Marie. Immediately below the river’s outflow from Lake Superior lie the St. Mary’s rapids, which are wadable only from the Canadian side.
Migratory fish species, such as Atlantic salmon, pink salmon and steelhead are amongst the most sought after on the rapids. Due to the cooler waters of Lake Superior, salmon runs can begin as early as mid summer and last through to the end of fall.
While the huge pink salmon runs and big-water steelhead would be an attraction on their own, the St. Mary’s rapids are considered one of the only places in Ontario where a fly fisher can hope to catch Atlantic salmon consistently!
Please exercise caution when wading the St. Mary’s River, as strong currents and dam fluctuations can occur at any time. A wading staff and PFD are highly recommended.
#5 Forks of the Credit
Difficulty Rating: 1
Species available: Brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Orangeville, Brimstone, Cataract
The Forks of the Credit region is perhaps one of the most picturesque sections of flowing water a fly fisher could ever hope for in Ontario. Nestled between rolling hills and kettle lakes carved out by glaciers many years ago, the Credit River runs through The Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, about 24 km northwest of Brampton, between Brimstone and Cataract.
These precious headwaters are home to impressive trout populations, including browns, rainbows and brookies. Fly fishers have been visiting this stretch for quite some time. However, the quality of the fishing has improved over the past 20 years and continues to improve, mostly due to the many river restoration and conservation efforts spearheaded by such groups as TU Canada, to special regulations, and to catch-and-release minded anglers.
Trout season opens on the 4th Saturday in April and runs through the end of September, with prolific mayfly and caddis hatches throughout its course. While, dry flies, emergers and nymphs tend to be the most popular with fly fishers, large browns can be tempted by over-sized streamers.
The Forks of the Credit are only an hour or so from Toronto, and there are a number of friendly fly shops within a 30 minute radius, all of which would be more than happy to help you enjoy the Credit River experience.
#6 Niagara River
Difficulty Rating: 4
Species available: Brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, smallmouth bass, muskie, carp.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara Falls is already known worldwide as a great place to visit with plenty to see and do. With shopping, night life, casinos, golfing, restaurants and wineries, fly fishing doesn’t always necessarily come to mind, but it definitely should!
Flowing north approximately 56 km between the southern tip of Ontario and New York State, the Niagara River flows out of Lake Erie, pouring over the Niagara Escarpment at the falls and into Lake Ontario. Fly fishers can target an impressive array of species year-round from a boat or from shore along the river, including sections above and below the falls. The river is best known for its incredible steelhead and smallmouth bass fisheries, with 20+ fish days a common occurrence. Steelhead action starts to pick up in late October and can be hot through the winter until early June, while the best bass fishing is from late April until November. By accessing Lake Erie through the upper Niagara by boat, fly fishers can reach NY State waters which have no closed season for bass, but do require a NY State license. Those who wish to stick to Canadian waters, including accessible shorelines, must fish bass between the last Saturday in June through December 15th.
The Niagara River is also accessible by foot via the Niagara Gorge, which features hiking trails down to the river and the Whirlpool from the top at several access points, which also feature parking. Be very careful, as the hike down can be slippery, especially during fall and winter when snow and ice accumulate. It’s strongly recommended that you take your time getting used to the trails, and always carry plenty of water, some protein snacks, a whistle, and a flashlight or headlamp. Once you reach the river, you’ll find plenty of water to drift or swing flies through, but be mindful of changing water levels from April through November, as the river can fluctuate as much as 16’ in a single day, depending on hydro-electric generating activity.
Safety should be in the forefront of every angler’s mind when fishing the Niagara. While do-it-yourself success is very achievable here, hiring a guide for your first visit is highly recommended. You’ll not only learn what techniques work best, but also which areas of the river to watch out for, especially with the fluctuating water levels.
#7 MaitlandRiver
Difficulty Rating: 2 to 3
Species available: Smallmouth bass, steelhead, chinook salmon, coho salmon.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Goderich, Benmiller
Flowing through some of Ontario’s most unique ecosystems and woodlands, the Maitland River runs some 150 km before pouring out into Lake Huron at the town of Goderich. Besides being a favourite destination for fly fishers looking to hook steelhead on Spey gear, the Maitland also boasts an action-packed summertime smallmouth bass fishery.
There are many parks and conservation areas, as well as public access points along the Maitland, including the Falls Reserve Conservation Area, where anglers can chase smallmouth bass from mid June through August with great success, especially on streamers and poppers. The steelhead season typically begins in late September and lasts until May, depending on water conditions.
If you’re up for countless hours of smallmouth bass action in the summer, or getting as close as possible to West Coast steelheading without leaving Ontario, then the Maitland River is the place for you. There are a number of excellent B&Bs in the area, as well as campgrounds. Top fly fishing guides in the area can also take you on a dr i f tboa t adventure, getting you into runs and pools inaccessible to walk-a n d - w a d e anglers.
#8 Aurora TroutLakes
Difficulty Rating: 3
Species available: Aurora trout.
Nearest Towns/Communities: North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins
Originally found only in Whitepine and Whirligig lakes, both located in Lady Evelyn Smoothwater Wilderness Park north of Sudbury in northeastern Ontario, the super-rare Aurora trout (Salvelinus timagamiensis) is a species of char, closely related to the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). These beautiful char resemble brook trout, but without any vermiculations or dots on their bodies. Although the species was thought to be extinct, due to some ingenuity and a stroke of luck, a brood stock was protected by Hill’s Lake Hatchery. Today, a handful of Ontario lakes are stocked with Aurora trout each year.
In 2000, the Aurora Trout was designated an endangered species at risk by Environment Canada. The 12 original lakes that were stocked with Aurora Trout have been deemed fish sanctuaries. Fishing is prohibited in the original lakes, as well as in three of the stocked lakes. However, limited licensed fishing can be enjoyed in the nine other stocked lakes. The open season rotates through these nine lakes, with only three opened each year to angling.
The Aurora trout season is only open from August 1st through October 15th each year. Fly fishers looking to chase this unicorn of trout should come prepared with either a float tube, pontoon boat, or canoe, as fishing from shore isn’t too effective. Techniques for catching auroras are very similar to brook trout techniques, with leeches, Woolly Buggers and small streamers as top picks, especially in August.
It is recommended that you check all provincial regulations thoroughly before heading out for Aurora trout. Also, pop by a municipal tourism office for information about which Aurora lakes are open on any given year.
#9 BigheadRiver
Difficulty Rating: 2
Species available: Steelhead, brown trout, chinook salmon, smallmouth bass.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Meaford, Bognor, Massie
The Bighead River is a relatively small watershed, running from the Niagara Escarpment near Chatsworth and pouring into Georgian Bay at Meaford. The river intersects the renowned Bruce Trail in the valley between the Spey River Forest Area and the Walters Falls Conservation Area. Seasonal migrations of steelhead, browns, and salmon have made the Bighead a popular destination with anglers.
While much of the upper stretches of the river are fished only by locals and seasoned vets—primarily private land makes access difficult—the lower stretches offer great fish-holding pools and runs which are particularly attractive to fly fishers. Salmon runs have been known to start as early as late August, with steelhead starting to show up in late October and sticking around until the end of their spawning cycle in May.
Drifiting egg patterns or small nymphs are effective techniques in clear water situations on the Bighead, while larger patterns such as egg-sucking leeches and bead-headed buggers can really pay off during coloured water conditions.
As the Bighead is prone to sudden water level changes due to its high gradient, it pays to check the forecast before and during your trip.
#10 Ottawa River
Difficulty Rating: 3
Species available: Brown trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, carp, and of course, gar.
Nearest Towns/Communities: Ottawa
The Ottawa River has a number of tourist attractions, including some of the best whitewater rafting and kayaking anywhere. Angling opportunities on this huge watershed are also abundant, especially for warmwater species such as large and smallmouth bass, giant muskie, pike and gar.
With plenty of public access from both Ontario and Quebec, the Ottawa River feels more like a big lake than a river in most cases, and watercraft are essential for exploring much of its length. There are, however, moving water stretches which are excellent for wade fishing.
There is a mile-long stretch of river from the base of the Parliament Buildings east to the Prime Minster’s residence, where fly fishers can enjoy some of the finest bass fishing from shore or boat, although a canoe or float-tube is highly recommended.
If muskie on the fly is the name of your game, then the Bronson Bridge is the place for you. Monsters, some well over 30 pounds, can be seen on a hot summer day just below the bridge and can be tempted to chase over-sized Deceivers and other muskie patterns. Don’t forget your wire leader though!
There are even localized populations of brown trout, especially at the Deschenes Rapids at Britannia Bay, where specimens up to four pounds can be taken—thanks to the stocking efforts of the Champlain Run Trout Club.
Visiting anglers should also consider fishing the Rideau River, which features warm-water action in the summer in a much more intimate setting.
source - www.grandriver.ca