Northern Ontario Fishing Handbook An angler’s guide to the Canadian wilderness Edited by Cynthia Ord Northern Ontario Fishing Handbook An angler’s guide to the Canadian wilderness Edited by Cynthia Ord Copyright © 2016 Wilderness North Published by Horizon Travel Press PO Box 9531 Denver, CO 80209 http://horizontravelpress.com/ While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all advice provided in this guide, the reality is that any travel information is liable to change at short notice. We strongly advise that you verify any important details prior to your trip as we cannot be held responsible for errors or information that has since become outdated. Edited by Cynthia Ord Layout & design by Simon Ross-Gill Northern Ontario Fishing Handbook: An angler’s guide to the Canadian wilderness Contents About the Authors 6 Foreword 8 Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome to Northern Ontario 12 Northern Ontario Highlights 14 Fishing With the Next Generation 16 Birth of a Fly Angler 22 The Therapeutic Powers of a Fishing Holiday 26 Chapter 2: Angling in Northern Ontario The Fish of Northern Ontario 32 Beginner’s Guide to Fly Fishing 36 The Fly-In Fisherman’s Fundamentals: Travellin’ Light 38 G G N Finding Fish in Strange Waters 42 N Any Old Mickey Mouse Rig Will Work 44 Low Water 101 48 Pro Tricks for the Walleye Opener 50 TARIO FISHI TARIO Walleye Not Biting? 52 FISHI TARIO ON ON Early Summer Pike 56 N N Brook Trout 101 60 Chapter 3: Other Activities Canoe and Kayak Paddling 66 NORTHER NORTHER Photographing the Wilderness 68 Birding 74 Moose Hunting 76 Aerial Tours 78 Resources Northern Ontario climate and fishing seasons 82 Eating and drinking on a wilderness fishing trip 86 Fishing Equipment And Packing List 89 The Northern Ontario Tackle Box 92 Northern Ontario angling FAQs 96 About Wilderness North 100 4 5 About the Authors James Smedley James is an award-winning outdoors photographer and writer who has contributed over 400 articles and almost 1,000 images Chris Clemmons to US and Canadian books, magazines and newspapers. James is Chris has competed locally on the Masters Walleye Circuit for Travel Editor at Ontario Out of Doors Magazine. James has fly several years, nationally for one season, and qualified for the fished for brook trout and arctic grayling in far northern rivers World Walleye Championship in 1992. Although, he now only and continues to cast for trout, bass and steelhead near his home competes for fun in the occasional local tournament, he makes it in the northern Ontario town of Wawa. You can follow James at his website, a point to get out on the water as much as possible and continues jamessmedleyoutdoors.com. to learn and experiment with techniques and gear and even invent new products for the industry. Scott Earl Smith Gord Ellis Scott is an outdoor writer and photographer living in Thunder Bay, Gord is a lifelong resident of Thunder Bay who makes a living Ontario. Scott was first published in 1991 in Fly Fisher magazine and writing and talking about his biggest passion: Fishing, hunting, since then his work has appeared in most fly fishing publications in G camping, outdoor tourism and resource conservation. You can G N North America and many general outdoor magazines. You can follow N read more about Gord and his work at gordellis.com. Scott on his website, scottearlsmith.com. TARIO FISHI TARIO Mark Melnyk FISHI TARIO ON ON Toronto based Mark is host of the World Fishing Network’s Guided N show, an insider’s look at what it takes to become a professional N fishing guide. He has spent 18 years in television broadcasting as a producer, writer and director. You can follow Mark on his website markmelnyk.com or on Twitter: @MarkMelnyk. NORTHER NORTHER 6 7 Foreword Alan & Krista Cheeseman Wilderness North In 1990, John J. Mark bought a small outpost cabin in the wilderness of Northwestern Ontario, and opened its doors to visitors: Wilderness North was born. Since then, the network of remote cabins and lodges has grown to become the ultimate fly-in wilderness fishing experience. For us, Wilderness North was the love story that brought us together. We met on staff! Now, 17 years and two daughters later, we’re running the business as a family, driven by that same passion for the lodges and their environment that attracted us irreversibly to this place. Today, with bases in Thunder Bay, Armstrong and Nakina, we are able to make adventures more accessible for those who reach us by flying or driving. Yet the G absolute uniqueness of the experience remains. The pure vastness of our boreal G N forests and clean clear rivers surrounds each lodge and single-cabin lake. N Yes, our adventures are centered on fishing. And true fishing sportsmen will not be disappointed. Beyond the fishing, though, these little hideaways in the Canadian wilderness are a stage for thrills, memories, and bonding – whether TARIO FISHI TARIO you’re a family, a group of buddies, or even colleagues on an company retreat. FISHI TARIO We hope you enjoy the tales and wisdom in these pages, hard earned by some ON ON of Wilderness North’s dearest friends and favorite guests. N N Welcome to the wilderness! NORTHER NORTHER 8 9 10 ON ON I I INTRODUCT INTRODUCT I C N HA G G N N TR PT O TARIO FISHI TARIO FISHI TARIO ON ON DU E N N R 1 C NORTHER NORTHER T ION 11 Welcome to because ﹘ as I wrote in my book, Ontario Blue-Ribbon Fly Fishing Guide Northern Ontario ﹘ the population of these animals far exceeds the population of humans in by Scott Earl Smith the far north. In the past twenty-odd years I’ve Fishing these remote waters also fished a lot of places. The Florida Keys, means that the fish are not “educated.” ON the California coast, the Hawaiian This term is bounced around a lot in ON I I Islands, and most of the Canadian fishing circles, but it simply means that provinces and territories. But my the fish are not habituated by human favorite place remains the far north interference. A lot of people planning of Ontario. There is something truly fishing trips to Northern Ontario ask INTRODUCT special about casting a fly to the edge me about the necessity of live bait. My INTRODUCT of a weed bed where a pike as long as answer is, “Heck, you can catch fish on your leg is lurking. bubble gum if you like.” In other words, If big brook trout is your game, then leave the live bait at home. It’s not G look no further. It’s one thing to catch necessary. G N a 20-inch brook trout, but it’s another One of the things unique about the N to catch a half-dozen, or more, of that northern environment is the insect size in one day on a fly rod. I guess I’m life ﹘ something fly anglers are always spoiled because a 20-inch brook trout interested in. What is interesting TARIO FISHI TARIO to me is a “nice fish”﹘ not a trophy of a about insects (mayflies, stoneflies and FISHI TARIO lifetime like it is for most people. caddis particularly) is that most of the prolific and the season for hatching good and ready ﹘ without having to ON ON One of the things I really cherish species you are familiar with in the may not be as long, but the individual compete with the masses. This is an N N about fishing the far north is the Lower 48 or more southern areas of insects are larger. This means you can awesome way to spend a vacation. solitude. It’s a treat to go fishing on a Canada are present in the far north. have more fun dry fly fishing. No need Don’t forget your camera because, lake or river system with not a boat But get this: they are larger! For some to fish minuscule size 16 and 18 flies. beyond the fish you’ll catch, you’ll have NORTHER or other angler in sight. You actually reason insects, such as the Hexagenia Just tie on a size 8 Stimulator or Royal the best sunsets, the northern lights, NORTHER have a better chance of seeing a bear family of mayflies, are larger in the Trude and let the games begin. and all kinds of northern wildlife to or moose than another human being, north. Their population may not be as Most, if not all, of our far north photograph on your trip. I’ve seen lakes are part of one of several river caribou, moose, bear, timber wolves systems. This provides a current in and many other stunning animals on most narrows and channels between my northern travels. Fishing in the far lakes and various bays. This means north of Ontario really can’t be beat. that walleye are not as deep as you’d expect in more southern waters. I’ve caught many walleye in these areas with current. The combination of big, eager, prolific fish, and the solitude of the north means that you can enjoy a full night’s rest, have a great breakfast, and then head out on the water when you’re 12 13 Miles 0 20 40 Northern Ontario Highlights Kilometers 0 17 34 51 68 SITE LOCATION FISHING OTHER ACTIVITIES Canoeing, SUP, kayak, Miminska Miminska Walleye, pike & brook hiking & interpretive Lodge Lake trout. tours. River trips down the Keezhik river. MIMINSKA LAKE ON ver ON I Makokibatan Makokibatan Trophy walleye, pike River trips on the Ri I y n Lodge Lake & brook trout.