I know that there is at least one of you out there somewhere.Heres my story.I live in Chicago with my lovely wife Cheri and two sons Karl and Frank.Cheri was born in Stratford Ont.and has family members scattered throughout that area of Canada including her parents who run a B&B in Niagara on the Lake.Our two sons will be spending much of the month of August with their grandparents in NOTL.It is incumbent upon me as their father to drive to NOTL and pick them up at the end of Aug.After consulting many charts maps and atlases I have concluded that the most direct rout to my final destination would put me right through Fergus and the Grand River Valley.The bottom line is that I get to spend a day fishing in the area and also looking at the possibility of buying land for an eventual retirement house.So,if there are any FAOLers that could help me out with directions suggestions, secrete spots( I will swear a sacred oath of silence on the future grave of Iron Mike Ditka)it would be much appreciated.My email addy is in my profile.Thankyou very much for your consideration. Harold
Here’s some help: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/canada/can89.html:70f9c]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/canada/can89.html[/url:70f9c]
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
I’ve been living in Guelph for the past year now. Its about 20 minutes south of Fergus. Fergus is one of the most amazing places I have seen in Ontario. Great food, nice people, excellent scenery, far enough from Toronto that its not a traffic mess ach day but close enough that you can get in for cultural events. And the fishing…
The fishing.
The Grand River flows right through Fergus with the best brown trout waters being in the town and the surrounding miles of river. Big wary browns and medium sized stockers from the tail waters of the dam to about 25 kilometres downstream. Then you get into nice sized river small mouth bass and pike in between. There is good access on the river from the brown trout tailwaters to the stealhead sections near lake Eire.
Many lakes near-by hold good populations of Largemouth, smallmouth, pike, carp, and other gamefish. There are also little brook trout streams around… but most are secret 
.
Within an hour to 1.5 hrs you can fish the widest variety of species in Canada. Browns, rainbows, brookies. Steelhead and pacific salmon runs from the great lakes. The occassional Atlantic Salmon. Big carp on marsh flats. Tons of sunfish. Muskey and pike. And catfish, drum, gar, and other less commonly flyfished for species.
Fishing the Grand. (Under 2 hours from NOTL)
Hwy 6 through Fergus (flyshop on the east side of hwy 6 at the south end of town). Head east from hwy 6 on hwy 18 (south of river)towards Belwood Lake. The road follows the river and there are numerous access points all the way to the start of the tailwater at Shand Dam (Belwood Lake). special regulations apply for much of the river here. The link that ladyfisher posted has excellent river info, written by a very knowledge able resident of the Grand.
These other sites should help:
[url=http://www.hipwader.com/:39abc]http://www.hipwader.com/[/url:39abc] has maps of the Grand and advise. Lots of easy access to the river.
[url=http://www.grandrivertroutfitters.com/:39abc]http://www.grandrivertroutfitters.com/[/url:39abc] this is the flyshop in Fergus. There are a few others within an hour drive.
[url=http://www.grandriver.ca/:39abc]http://www.grandriver.ca/[/url:39abc] This is the site for the organization that regulates much of the fisheries on the Grand River. They have maps and fish species information.
[url=http://www.friendsofthegrandriver.com/:39abc]http://www.friendsofthegrandriver.com/[/url:39abc] This is a group of like-minded users of the Grand River. Great flyfishers, great volunteer work. Lots of knowledge!
[url=http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/fishing/:39abc]http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/fishing/[/url:39abc]
Fishing Regulations found here!!
Chars,
Paul H.
“Whiskey is for drinking; Water is for Fighting over.”
I’ve been stopping to fish the Grand on my trip to northern Ontario 5 out of the last 7 years. Well worth taking the “direct” route to NOTL. First, couple of times I fished the 2nd and 3rd line accesses. After attending a clave of another list, I started fishing the river closer to and south of Fergus and had better luck. One spot, you might want to consider is below the old rail road bridge. You should be able to get directions at the fly shop. By the way an excellent shop, I’ve always found the folks to be helpful and honest in their information.
Now I haven’t caught any of the big fish, though I’ve rolled a few, mainly on baitfish patterns.
If you’ve got the time and enjoy fishing for brookies, then get directions to the
Upper Credit, about a half hour drive from Fergus. Try a CDC and Elk in size 12 or 14.
Check your email.
How’s the new son doing Andrew?
You seem to be still finding time to go chasing fish!
Chars,
Paul H.
“Whiskey is for drinking; Water is for Fighting over.”
Paul,
My son is growing like a weed (he’s four months old now)…it won’t be long until he is joining me on the stream. My wife is awesome, I still get out fishing about three times a week (however, I’m not gone nearly as long.)
I think I’m going to fish the Grand again next Thursday. I’m trying to convince my dad to come along.
The Maitland is about to get one #@$$@# of a hatch! It’s either green drakes or hexes, I’m not sure. Last year this hatch landed me two dozen trout in a single evening (heck, probably in about 75 minutes!).
Cheers,
Andrew
Thanks so much to everyone for the emails and replys;I knew that I could count on the FAOL family.
With all the relitives and inlaws we have located in that part of Canada you would not believe how many times I have driven the 401 past Fergus and not stoped. Well,thats about to end.
I
should be there on or about the first of Sept.Again,thanks for all the great info and I will report back after the trip.
Harold