Algoma Country 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE algomacountry.com HOTEL & Conference Centre QUATTROAn Ascend Collection Hotel by Choice Hotels Complimentary hot continental breakfast, Free WIFI, salt water pool, hot tub & sauna, in-room microwave & fridge, keurig coffee machine, premium bedding & upgraded amenities ONSITE RESTAURANT AND FULL SERVICE SPA $20 OFF 10 % OFF Regular Room Rate when you book Spa services at The Greenhouse Spa directly with Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre in Sault Ste. Marie 229 Great Northern Road www.greenhousespa.ca Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 1.800.563.7262 or 705.942.2500 [email protected] www.quattrossm.com “THE ULTIMATE CANADIAN WILDERNESS FISHING & HUNTING VACATIONS BEGIN HERE.” White River Air, is the first, and still the only, fly-in outfitting air service out of White River. In this vast area of Northern Ontario spanning ten thousand square miles north and east of Lake Superior, operating since the 1950’s our commitment to our customers has always been to provide the highest quality fly-in fishing and hunting experience possible. PO Box 220, White River, ON P0M 3G0 1-807-822-2222 • [email protected] • www.whiteriverair.com 2020 ALGOMA Travel GUIDE Contents 23 07 19 33 Inside the Guide 05 FISH & HUNT 22 TOURING 37 36 NATURE & OUTDOORS Features 48 CITIES & TOWNS ACCOMMODATIONS Fish AlgomA, it’s thAt good 66 07 by karl kalonka 71 AttRACTIONS FAMILY FLY FISHING 19 by MARK MELNYK SHOP & DINE 73 FIND YOUR ROAD 23 by MIKE jacobs EVENTS 76 we’ve got you covered 77 TRAVEL INFORMATION 33 by MARTIN lortZ ALGOMA DAY HIKES 82 BUSINESS DIRECTORY 37 by JAMES SMEDLEY Photo Credits: Photographs owned by Algoma Country & Destination Ontario Cover Photo Credit: Ontario Parks Photo Contributions by: James Smedley Outdoors Photography & Writing, Martin Lortz, Rob Stimpson Photography, Ontario Parks, Fish’n Canada Show, The New Fly Fisher Show, Virgil Knapp, Karl Kalonka, The Ontario Experience, Travis Favretto Photography, Dan Grisdale Photography, Sheri Minardi Photography, Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing Show, Canada in the Rough, Colin Field, Lindner Media, Brad Morley, Wilderness Journal, Gary McGuffin, Cory St. Pierre & Rob LaRue. This publication was produced and designed by the Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. For more information on Algoma Country visit our website www.algomacountry.com or call toll free: 1-800-263-2546 CONNECT WITH US SHARE YOUR ALGOMA EXPERIENCE #algomacountry #algomathatreal Printed in Canada by Millenium Printing Inc. Production Director: Heather Bot Design & Production: Rob LaRue algomacountry Editing: Heather Bot & Cassidy Lowen Advertising Sales: Cory St. Pierre algomacountry algomacountry That remote. Fish & Hunt. Welcome to pristine wilderness with thousands of lakes, rivers and streams in a natural forest habitat that makes up much of the 28,000 square miles of Algoma. We are known for some of the best gear fishing, fly fishing and hunting opportunities in Ontario. Fly-in, train-in, or drive to one of the many lodges or resorts. Your trip to Algoma Country will be unforgettable. 5 2020 ALGOMA TRAVEL GUIDE Fishing Land a Trophy That Big ith 28,000 square miles bordering on two Great POPULAR FISH SPECIES WLakes, plus countless waterways, you’ll never have to fish the same place twice. Not only can you take your pick of sport fish species, you can pick your mode of travel to our fishing lodges, resorts, outposts, and cottages. Fly-in, train-in, or drive-in; just like in the movie Planes, Trains and NORTHERN PIKE YELLOW PERCH Automobiles. Literally. Our hundreds of lodges, resorts and outposts offer a huge variety of services, so you can customize your vacation. Whether it’s a wonderfully woodsy cabin or a luxury lodge with delicious cuisine and upscale cottages, pick MUSKELLUNGE WHITEFISH your experience and book it—it’s that simple. Many lodges and resorts offer boat rentals, fishing supplies, and guided services. Create lasting memories and enjoy an unforgettable experience LARGEMOUTH BASS SMALLMOUTH BASS WALLEYE / PICKEREL in Northern Ontario by learning to fish! Perfect for families and those new to fishing. Receive hands-on professional instruction in a safe family-inclusive environment. For more information on RAINBOW TROUT LAKE TROUT SPLAKE TROUT Experience Fishing visit www.experiencefishingon.ca Remember, you need an Outdoors Card and a Fishing Licence to fish in Ontario. For more information about seasons, licences COHO SALMON CHINOOK SALMON BROOK TROUT and creel limits visit www.ontario.ca/fishing ALGOMACOUNTRY.COM 6 Fish Algoma, It’sBY KARL KALONKA | EXTR EMThatE ANGLER TV Good have one of the best jobs on planet Earth. My number one Bordering on two of the Great Lakes, Superior and Huron, I job is fishing. I provide for my family by fishing. I can virtually Algoma Country has countless rivers, lakes and streams with fish anywhere I want. When I am deciding on a location, region or breathtaking wilderness landscapes and sunsets that will take lake to film a show for my television series Extreme Angler TV or your breath away. The clear, clean fresh air and tons of things shoot a series of segments for our digital platforms, catching fish to do and see make for some of finest vacations in Northern is the number one priority. Ontario. This region has world class fishing for both bass and walleye that keeps us coming back year after year. This region is Simply going fishing for the sake of going fishing is really not a home to so many species of fish, it would virtually take years to big consideration when it comes to ensuring we get the video explore all that is available from every kind of trout and salmon footage we need to keep putting bread on the table at home and to all of the favourite fresh water species such as northern pike, keeping our partners happy with exciting, action packed shows whitefish, yellow perch and much more. The opportunities are that inspire our audiences. I need to catch fish, period. astounding. When it comes down to choosing a Northern Ontario location Since my very first visit to Algoma Country six years ago, I have that we can rely on to provide all kinds of fish catching, action- never been disappointed in our success rates in terms of size packed video, regardless if its spring, summer or fall, that region and numbers of bass and walleye this region has produced is Algoma Country. With no disrespect to other southern and for us while filming shows, or just visiting with friends or fishing northern regions that offer excellent angling opportunities, it is vacations with the boys. Algoma also boasts a variety of the Algoma experience that brings us back all season long, year angling challenges whether you want an easy drive-to location, after year. a wilderness fly-in adventure, a remote lodge island with not 7 2020 ALGOMA TRAVEL GUIDE another soul in sight or some of the world’s finest fishing for trophy brook trout and salmon. The opportunities are endless. Some of the finest smallmouth bass fishing of my entire life has occurred in Algoma Country. Days with multiple six-plus pound bass are in the double digits. Trips with over one hundred bass caught and released are the norm. The walleye fishing is a huge attraction for visitors in the U.S. Catching a shore lunch limit of “eaters” is the norm rather than exception in Algoma with many lakes and river systems producing trophy sized walleye over the thirty-inch range on a weekly basis. Practicing responsible catch and release or harvest is the key to keeping these fisheries world class for generations to come. Algoma has an abundance of quality lodge operators who specialize in offering these world class fisheries for both bass and walleye to a world-wide audience, its simply up to you where you want to go and how adventurous you want it to be. As for the best times and techniques to catch these higher sought-after bass and walleye, I would suggest reviewing the areas you wish to plan your trip or vacation, talk to the lodge operators in that region by email or phone and ask them when is best for them as some locations can be different than others based on the size of the lakes or river systems, water temperatures and clarity. Spring is usually prime time and the bookings fill up fast, so early birds usually get the worm or reservations. Summer can provide excellent fishing for bass and somewhat limited times to early and late in the day for walleye, again, based on the location you choose. Fall is again prime for both species putting on the feed bag for the cold season ahead. Stories of non-stop action from sunrise to sunset are not rumor, I have personally experienced it myself. If I had to choose a certain number of artificial baits and techniques for Algoma smallmouth bass it would consist of topwater baits that make lots of noise, soft plastic baits such as tube jigs, stick worms and drop shot baits for those deep-water trophies. Loud rattle crankbaits and jerk baits would round out my picks for bass. As for walleye, a lot of operators and guides utilize the slow troll or drift presentation for walleye with blade and bead spinner rigs with either nightcrawlers or minnows. Ball head jigs with curly tail grubs are also popular as is a plain jig head in pink, chartreuse or purple with live bait is hard to beat for deep water walleyes across Algoma. Whether you fish for bass, walleye or any other species that calls Algoma home, remember what I said earlier, because of my choice of career and livelihood, I can virtually fish anywhere in North America I wish, and I still return to Algoma Country, year after year, season after season.