If I were canoeing in Algonquin Park during August, would there be good fly fishing opportunities?
Diane,
In 1972 I fished it and there were fish. Hopefully somebody can give you a more up to date report.
:lol:
jed
Diane - Algonquin is on my list of ‘to do’s’ … in the park you’re looking at Lake trout, brook trout, splake, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, and yellow perch.
In August … definately you’d have a great time on the fly rod(s).
If were talking about Algonquin Park in Canada, I was just there last summer during August for a canoe trip. Lets just say that the FF left a little to be desired. Most of the upper lakes (like Big Trout) had deceptively exciting names. We portaged to a number of different lakes during that trip. Most of the fish caught were small mouth bass, in the lower lakes, by those who brought spinning gear with them. I caught a bunch of ?other? fish on my fly gear (pumpkin seed, weird still unidentified silvery fish, etc.) Apparently during the early summer, the fishing is phenomenal. Everything heats up though, and that sends the fish deep down into the lakes. They were just out of range for my sinking tip. I also probably didn’t fish it very well, or very hard, since it was a scout trip and I spent a lot of time making sure the boys enjoyed themselves. There are apparently a ton of huge lake trout up there, but they usually need to be trolled for.
It is absolutely beautiful up there though, one of the best trips I have ever taken.
Here is what I would suggest:
Sinking line?full sink if you have it.
Fish outside of the Tribs leading into the lakes. (you can also grab some beautiful little guys in these streams this time of year).
Most of the small mouths we caught were off the points situated around the lakes. Look for points formed by cliffs since they tend to gain depth much quicker.
Here?s a picture of a little brookie that I caught up there.
I?m sure you will do better on your trip that I did on mine. It would certainly be worth a few phone calls to some lodges up there to get some more information on how to catch fish, as opposed to me just letting you know that I didn?t.
Diane, Algonquin is just an hour north of me and one of the prettiest places you could visit. Early season trips are likely more fish productive being less populated with people at that time and certainly better for viewing wildlife close hand. June/July would be a better time having less people, but you may battle black flies and closed seasons on Bass depending on when you go. If planning on a trip in August you would be going in the most populated time for the park. Camp site spots are by reservation only and should be done a year in adavnce. Best fishing is in the outback lakes that require extensive travel and portages, but you can reserve a camp site or cabin at those spots easier, for not as many folks travel there in early season. Lake Opeongo is known for quality Smallmouth Bass in large numbers. There are strict regulations in the park…no live bait, no gas powered motors, etc, but a canoeists paradise and that’s what makes it such a beautiful place. Many species of fish to catch and many moose to be seen via canoe, well marked portage routes, great campsites, lots of out back lakes to travel to and the farther you travel, the less people you run into. August is very very busy with canoe groups travelling thruout the park so you’ll have lots of company at that time of the summer. Here are some links to check out: www.OntarioParks.com for info on the park
www.mnr.gov.on.ca - Ministry of Natural Resources
www.mnr.on.ca/MNR/fishing for info on fish and fishing licences - non-residents lic fees vary from 7 day lic = $24 to $41 cdn to annual lic $39 to $64 cdn
www.themnrstore.mnr.gov.on.ca - for maps
or contact info Algonquin Park (division 13)
Box 219, Whitney K0J 2M0
613-637-2780
All I can say is do it early and plan your trip to be assured of getting there when you wish. Either early season or mid summer, Algonquin will provide you with a trip to remember for years to come.
Hope this info is helpful to you and if I can be of further help, please email me directly. I would be more than happy to help you get there.
Catch your limit but limit your catch!
Thanks so much! This info is absolutely perfect. I’ve got some friends who are trying to talk me into joining them for a week or two next summer. Now I have a lot more info to work with.
Make sure you book your site(s) as soon as they let you. They have instituted some new reservation rules that will hopefully correct the problems encountered over the past several years.
As for fishing in August, plan on bass, pan fish and the odd pike. The trout are holding deep and are not holding in the rivers for the most part. The Specks here are in the streams and shallows in the spring and maybe in late Sept, otherwise they make a beeline back to the lakes. I’m not saying you can’t get them, but if you want to go for them, take a sinking line. If you want to go for Lakers…a fly rod is not your best friend in August.
David gave you good info. It’s a beautiful park and there is a lot to see, especially if you work hard for it. The best of everything is often at the end of a gruling portage. For Specks…try to get there in May. It’s cold but the black flies haven’t come out in full force. June is just plain nasty for people and other mammals. It’s the famous black fly season (and mozzies) but it’s good for specks. Unfortunatly, they will be holding where the black flies are at their worst. Moving water! If anyone wants to brave them, a bug suit is just about the only solution. DEET doesn’t work very effectivly on flies.