While I and my buddies were in northern Quebec on our fly-in fishing trip there were Lake trout in the shallow bays but my buddies, well except Kerry, were blind to their presence. The proper sunglasses was made the difference. Kerry and I could look out over the water and see the Lake trout swimming around, just below the surface. I was out on my own using my Hummingbird fish finder to finds some big Lake trout when I thought I saw a splash in a little bay. Thinking it was a brook trout I headed in to make a few casts with my flyrod. BAM!! The first cast. It wasn’t a brook trout at all, as it turned out it was a Lake trout at about 6 or 8 pounds. As I was fighting this little surprise I was looking around and saw that he wasn’t alone, there were dozens of them in this little bay. I had to make a decision, keep fishing and tell my buddies later or stop fishing and take the 20 minute boat ride back to the camp to tell them. Well I love fishing with friends so I stopped, after two more fish, and headed back. Would have been a great time to have a two-way radio. When we returned I was the only one with a flyrod but both Kerry and I had on polarized sunglasses. Unfortunately the other 3 guys didn’t. But like I said I like to fish with friends and I like us all to be catching fish. I told Kerry it was time for him to migrate to one of the other boats and we would fish three to a boat for a while. That way I could direct those casting from my boat and Kerry could do the same in his boat. I little trick we both tried was to switch glasses with a buddy that didn’t have a fish on. That way they could see where they were while we were fighting our fish. It is so important to have the right gear when you go out on the water.
Tying your own flies can be very rewarding and relaxing. It also has another benefit in giving you something to do if you are unfortunate to live where the rivers are frozen in winter, or fly fishing is closed for some months each year. The tools are simple. You could make most of them yourself, however it would be best for beginners to buy at least a fly tying vice. There have been over the years quite a number of different vice types manufacturered. In my opinion, the cam type of vice is the easiest to use. This is a vice that has a cam lever to open and close the jaws. It’s adjustable to various angles and hook sizes. Quick and easy to open and close. The next thing to get your hands on are some hackle pliers. These are also a cheap spend, but really worthwhile. They are a little difficult to make a pair yourself. Apart from these items, you’ll need a pair of curved scissors with sharp points and another set with small straight blades. You probably could also do with a needle that is pushed into a stick. This is for fixing hakkles that have been inadvertantly wound under. You can also use it for putting laquer onto the finished head. What sort of hooks should you use? My advice is to not fall for the trap of using any old hook. Buy proper fly hooks. These have a tapered shank and are usually hollow ground. These are lighter than normal hooks, a real advantage in dry flies. The tapered shank lets the head, especially the eye of the fly be tied tighter and smaller. When you consider the work involved in tying a fly, why waste effort on the wrong hook. If you make a mistake, all you need to do is cut the fly off the hook and start again. Something you could consider these days is the opportunity of actually buying a complete fly tying set. These sets cost only around $50 or so. They have vices, scissors, pliers, hooks and all the feathers and fur you need to get started. Some even come with videos or DVD’s. Whichever way you go, it is a cheap way to spend many an hour, in preparation of catching your next bag of fish. The satisfaction of catching your next trout on a fly you tied yourself is imeasureable.
General salmon information and fishing tips: Fly fishing tips: Chuck-n-duck is the most familiar and easiest, method in using a Fly rod to fish for salmon. Popular four line formulas for chuck-n-duck: The River Guide 100+ yards of 30 pounds backing The Simple Set-Up 100+ yards of 30 pounds backing The simple and cheap Set-up 100+ yards of 30 lb. backing The combo 100+ yards of 30 pounds backing
20 feet of Amnesia line
100 feet of shooting line
3-6 feet of Maxima monofilament (6-8 lb. test)
20 feet of Maxima monofilament (12 lb. test)
Swivels and weight
10 feet of Maxima monofilament (12 lb. test)
100 feet of shooting line
Swivels and weight
3-4 feet of Maxima monofilament (6-8 lb. test)
100 feet of Amnesia line (15 lb. test)
20 feet of Maxima monofilament (12 lb. test)
Swivels and weight
3-6 feet of Maxima monofilament (6-8 lb. test)
100 feet of shooting or Amnesia line
3-12 feet of Maxima monofilament (10-20 lb. test)
Swivels and weight
4-10 feet of Maxima monofilament (2-12 lb. test)
It really doesn’t matter where you are going on your fishing trip you don’t want to get there only to realize you have missed something important. My first fishing trip I contacted a number of people to get their getting ready trip list and I would have been leaving some things behind if I had not.
Getting ready for a trip of a lifetime? Don’t mess it up.
1. If you’re bound for a fishing trip to the North Country, expect to spend much on transportation, your outfit, licenses and permits. For a lot of people, the trip’s highlight will be fishing. For this reason, you should get yourself a new line on your reel.
2. Protect your eyes while fishing and you should only invest in a good quality pair of polarized sunglasses, as it will not only aid in protecting the eyes, but will also provide superior visual penetration into the water.
3. Keep mosquito repellent as well as plastic worms in a separate compartment, making sure it is out of the tackle box as both items do contain lacquer solvent that can soften the paint of any metal, plastic, or wood lure and the soft paint may never harden.
4. Always keep a small file or a small stone handy to be used to keep the hooks needle sharp.
5. Learn how to tie good knots. Practice carefully until such time that you are already certain that they will hold.
General fishing guidelines:
1. Don’t fish with any bait in just one spot for more than 10 casts. If, by those casts, nothing changes, it’s time you change location.
2. Properly position the canoe, not too close or too far from the fish. If you are too close, you will frighten the fish. If you are too far, you can not accurately place the lure in position.
3. When doing top water fishing, do not set the hook until you can really feel that the fish is on the lure, being very careful not to surprise the fish. Just keep on working the lure cautiously towards you.
4. Be very patient. Just be certain that you know you are in a suitable fish-producing area.
5. Always be quiet, as sound can travel through the water better than through the air.
6. Release carefully, instantly and safely any fish that you do not plan to eat. Preservation of Ontario’s fishing resources is essential and needed for fishing to continue thriving.
7. While waiting for your catch, or when you do catch anything or none at all, look at the scene behind you, take a deep breath and enjoy the only lakeland wilderness in the entire world!
Fishing Regulations: Carry your license on your person.
Residents of Canada should have a fishing-version Outdoors Card and must have a fishing license tag that is attached to it so that it can be considered as valid.
Non Canadian residents should have their basic license form signed and have the correct license tag fastened in order that it can be considered valid.
Keep in mind always that a Outdoors Card or non-resident license card is non-transferable; it grants privileges to you alone. It should be carried with you each time you go fishing.
Note too, that whenever a Conservation Officer requests to see and examine your license, the law requires you to show it.
State and District Regulations
Provincial and District rules control angling in Ontario. The key and major Provincial law with regards to fishing is the Ontario’s “Fisheries Act”; this defends guards and takes care of and save fish and its habitat. Likewise, it controls the fishing seasons, limits to catch, possession, and size, and the gears allowed as well as fish sanctuaries. On the other hand, the “Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act” is the major provincial law that regulates fishing. It is stated in this decree, that fishing licenses are issued.
Wildlife Protection and Preservation Officers
Wildlife Protection Officers have the authority to inspect, search, arrest, and seize under the different act they carry out, together with Ontario’s “Fish and Wildlife Preservation decree” as well as the “Fisheries Regulation and Act”. During the Conservation Officers duty, they may do the following:
1. Ask important questions that are in relation to the inspection they are conducting;
2. Review and examine buildings;
3. Stop and examine a boat, vehicle, or aircraft;
4. Confiscate certain items which are related to the offence that an individual may have done;
5. Search and investigate having a warrant to legalize such search;
6. Search and investigate having no warrant to support the search in situations that require immediate attention and action;
7. Arrest anybody that the Wildlife Preservation Officer supposes and believe has committed, or is on the act of performing, or is about to perform a violation or offence.
Open Seasons
The opening and closing dates of fishing season changes and is determined by the species on the area. It is illegal to try catching a fish for which the season has already been closed, even if one is going to release it after. Do understand that closed seasons protect the fish at time of the year when they are most susceptible especially during spawning.
Unless specially stated, species that are not on the list have a year-round open season.
I haven’t been around the world fly fishing, yet, but mostly because I have experienced so much enjoyment fly fishing in Canada because we have so many rivers, ponds, freshwater lakes, saltwater and streams. There is a never ending supply of great places to fly fish. When I am done that I will move on to the rest of the world.
Freshwater and saltwater fishing are the favorite pastimes of Canadians and many tourists but the real excitement comes when you take up flyfishing in Canada. Canada offers a lot of first-class fishing trips that are well worth your time and money. The memories last a life time and the desire to return is always in the back of my mind.
Canada has the ideal water where a variety of fish species are abundant and can be enticed by a fly and good presentation. Some of my favorite fish to fly fish for are trout, salmon, bass and even pike, pickerel and musky.
There are also plenty of shops and establishments that sell fishing gear and supplies. Fly fishing in Canada is divided in two groups, the fresh water fishing and salt water fishing.
The most famous fishing in Canada is the Salmon Fishing, which is both enjoyable and rewarding. Our Salmon varieties in Canada are the Coho, Sockeye Salmon, Chinook and the chum and of course my favorite, because I live on the east coast of Canada is the Atlantic Salmon.
Salmon are known for their size and beauty and awesome fighting power. Many fishing guides in Canada specialize in the adventure of Salmon Fishing, especially fly fishing.
Canada is also known for fly fishing. Fly fishing, which is an older type of sport fishing, is about catching a fish using an artificial lure called a “fly.” Many resorts and establishments in Canada offer great packages on fly fishing trips.
