Best Brook-Trout Destinations by: Tom Adamchick 1. MINIPI, LABRADOR Almost every world-record brook trout for fly-fishing has come from the Minipi watershed, 1,600 kilometres southwest of Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Labrador. Nobody knows for certain why the squaretails here are so big—averaging five-pounds-plus—but prevailing wisdom says it may be a result of the incredible abundance of insects.       The best of this fly-in fishing is in the lake system that forms the headwaters, such as Anne Marie, Petch's Pond, The Nursery, Johnny Lake, Minonipi and Little Hairy. From mid-June to mid-July, your flies should be small, size 10 to 16. Work the inlets and outlets of small streams and count on high water. Mid-July to mid-August brings out the medium-sized insects, size 8 to 12, including brown and green drakes, caddis and stoneflies. Try stalking cruising schools of brook trout as they porpoise on the surface.       Mid-August to mid-September brings the insects to a close. Large flies like Mickey Finns, Grey Ghosts, bass bugs, mice, Madame Xs, leeches, Marabou Streamers, Muddlers and Woolly Buggers tempt brookies that are looking to store energy for the long Labrador winter. Minipi bruisers move more slowly, with a deliberate purpose, so pause briefly before setting the hook. •Contact: Derek Stewart, Newfoundland Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-5604. 2. HUDSON/JAMES BAY WATERSHED, ON The names Sutton, Winisk, Asheweig, Fawn, Drowning, Ekwan, Ogoki and Albany have a special place in the psyches of squaretail fanatics. And no wonder. The brook trout in these northern fly-in rivers average more than 2-1/2 pounds, and a stealthy angler will sometimes see up to 100 brookies in a pool. You can even expect a few brookies in the 4-1/2- to 7-pound range.       The landscape here is undisturbed and the natural productivity of these rivers is enhanced by the migratory nature of some of the fish, which spend time in the nutrient-rich sea. During May, June and September, the fish lurk close to the surface in the deeper waters, immediately up and downstream from shallow riffles and rapids. Brookies at this latitude are not overly fussy. Small spoons, Little Cleos, Dardevles and spinners such as Rooster Tails, or size 2, 3 or 4 copper-headed Mepps will work. Flies such as size 8 black Woolly Buggers, minnows, Zonkers, Black Nosed Dace, Casual Dress and dark stonefly nymphs are safe bets throughout the season. Give large size 8 to 12 dry flies like Humpys, Wulffs, Irresistibles, Stimulators and caddis patterns a serious workout. •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Cochrane, (705) 272-4365. 3. UNGAVA PENINSULA, QC This is the edge of the brook trout's territory, and extreme isolation has left these northern red-bellied beauties at world-class levels. The eastern territory around Rivière aux Feuilles produces great brookies, and to the west, from Kuijjuarapik down to the Whale River around the tree line, you'll find 2- to 4-pounders with the occasional lunkers of about 7 pounds. Lower down, the headwaters of the Caniapiscau, as well as the watershed of the Grande, the Roggan and the Seal, regularly produce fish of over 4 pounds, and sometimes 8-pounders fall prey to an enticing dry fly, a big Muddler Minnow or a shiny spinner or spoon.       Climate obviously delays the start of this great fly-in fishing so the best times are from the beginning of June to early September. Other places to check out: George River, Clearwater Lake, Barmoin River, Great Whale River, Lake La Ronciere, Lake Wa Wa, Craven Lake, Julian Lake, Lake Ternay and Diana Lake. •Contact: Quebec Tourism, (800) 363-7777. 4. THE NIPIGON SYSTEM, ON Both Lake Nipigon and the Nipigon River have been famous for their huge brookies ever since Dr. W. J. Cook landed the 14-pound, 8-ounce world-record along the river's banks 84 years ago. The lake's brookies average 4 to 5-1/2 pounds and anglers periodically take fish over 9 pounds. In the lake, specks generally mill about rocky reefs and shoals around the Virgin Islands, Gros Cap, East Bay and the north-central islands. Heavy-bodied spoons like brass and red #2 Blue Fox torpedo spoons and Dardevles, and #1 Mepps Double Cross spinners often produce impressive results.       The monster river brookies and their coastal brethren tend to loiter off the sides of fast water protected by back eddies, and lurk hidden among drowned tree branches and roots. Spinning gear works well for these conditions. A sink-tip fly line with a streamer cast to the shore, current stream or downstream of a sheltering rock can also bring dramatic results. Effective streamers include Strip leeches, crayfish patterns, Woolhead sculpin patterns and of course Woolly Buggers. For dry-fly action, try caddis, Stimulators, Comparaduns, and Mayflies (Hexagenia Limbatas and Brown Drakes). Key into the last two weeks of June and first two weeks of July. After that, late August and September can provide tippet-busting brookie action. •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Nipigon, (807) 887-5000. 5. PARK LAKE SYSTEM, LABRADOR Roughly 185 kilometres southwest of Happy Valley-Goose Bay lie the fly-in headwaters for the famous Eagle River. Brookies in the 3- to 4-pound range are common in the area's large, flat, slow-moving lakes such as Crooks, Parks, No Name and Osprey (which currently holds three line-class records for brook trout).       This area hosts well over a dozen different mayfly hatches. Along with the mayflies, clouds of caddisflies and stoneflies emerge from mid-June to mid-August. As a result, buggy air traffic is concentrated into a span of about two months. Brookies, being opportunistic feeders, will nail whatever looks like a good meal. Trolling smelt-like streamers, large gaudy bucktails, black and white Clouser Minnows, green and yellow Deceivers and Muddlers will entice specks looking for a protein fix. Woolly Buggers in shades of brown, green and black are sure hits. •Contact: Derek Stewart, Newfoundland Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-5604. 6. ALGONQUIN PARK, ON Only a three-hour jaunt north of Toronto, Algonquin Park has over 230 brook-trout lakes. That's about one-third of all the self-sustaining brookie lakes in Ontario.       Most of Algonquin's brookies are found in the park's lakes, rather than its streams. But after the spring runoff, the phenomenal blackfly hatches concentrate trout at feast areas below rapids and riffles. Brookies also hold over in streams with deep, cool holes and those that have spring-fed tributaries.       The best success on the lakes comes in May and June after ice-out, when hungry fish seek out the warmer water close to shore. By summertime, the lakes have warmed up and the brookies are dispersed and deeper. Lakes like Westward, Scott Bena, Little Minnow, Cat, Dickson, Redrock, Little Crooked and Hogan deserve attention. The right fishing spots are easy to locate. Cast or troll rocky shorelines, islands, shoals and loggy bays. Streamers that imitate smelt, like the Grey Ghost, Black Ghost and Edson Tiger, work well. Muddlers and Woolly Buggers are also effective when trolled. •Contact: Algonquin Provincial Park, (705) 633-5572. 7. MISTASSINI LAKE REGION, QC Lake Mistassini, located some 800 kilometres north of Montreal, is the largest natural lake in Quebec, and it consistently grows lunkers in the 4- to 6-1/2-pound range. It's the centrepiece to a fly-in area that includes the fabled rivers Broadback, Assinica, Cocomenhani, Eastmain, Martin and Rupert. The lake's tributaries—the Cheno, Papaskwasati, Little Papaskwasati and Temiscamie—round out this brookie hotspot. The Temiscamie River, which has impassable waterfalls at the north end, has evolved a unique strain of fish that lives longer and grows faster.       Mistassini's size and depth make finding the monsters difficult. The best trophy hunting begins in August as the brookies start migrating into the rivermouths and streams prior to spawning. Most of the bigger specks caught are taken during this time. The big fish lurk near powerful riffles and deep pockets, or simply mill about side creeks or rivermouths. Streamers, bucktails, Muddler Minnows, Grey Ghosts and leech patterns work well. •Contact: Tourism Quebec, (800) 363-7777. 8. GODS RIVER, MB Gods River flows out of Gods Lake, a big body of water that sits about 560 kilometres north of Winnipeg where the Manitoba-Ontario border bends east. Not exactly a central location—you have to fly in—but if you go, you'll be rewarded with brookies averaging 4 to 4-1/2 pounds. The area has also produced some double-digit fish.       The fish hang out in rapids like Shorty, Allan, Twelve-Mile, Okemow and Pine. During the early and late part of the season, the speckles stick to the water just above and below rapids and waterfalls or other areas of broken water. Check out the boulder-strewn stretches, and wide channels near rapids or waterfalls.       Summer hatches will signal where to fish dry flies for some hot action. These gorgers are not selective, so throw the big stuff: sizes 8 to 12 to match large mayflies and stoneflies; Wulffs, Comparaduns and Stimulators will also do the trick. Caddis and the medium mayflies call for scaled-down versions, like Deer Hair Caddis and Comparaduns. When there's no dry-fly flurry, try large streamer-type patterns and nymphs. •Contact: Manitoba Natural Resources, Fisheries Branch, (800) 214-6497. 9. FRASER PAPER FISHERY, NB Imagine more than a million acres of privately owned land—including forests, streams and about 40 spring-fed lakes—intensively managed to ensure that an accessible, high-quality fishery is developed and maintained. The Fraser Paper fishery, in New Brunswick's Plaster Rock/Green River watershed, is such a place.       In 1993, Fraser Paper (owned by Nexfor) established conservation restrictions on two rivers and about half of the 80 lakes on its property in an attempt to prevent the overfishing usually associated with increased access due to logging.       Both fish and anglers are thriving under the new regulations. Most fish are in the 1-1/2- to 4-pound range. Fishing occurs between mid-May and mid-July. The flies of choice are Mosquitos, Green Drakes, Black Ghosts, White Wulffs, Bombers, Muddler Minnows, Grey Ghosts and Black Woolly Buggers. Effective spinning gear includes Little Cleos, Dardevles, Five of Diamonds, and Rebel Creek Creatures. •Contact: New Brunswick Tourism, (800) 561-0123. 10. LA RESERVE BEAUCHENE, QC Not far from the town of Temiscaming, Quebec—it's about an hour northeast of North Bay, Ontario—lie 21 privately leased clear, deep lakes that offer some terrific brook-trout fishing. Thanks to ideal natural conditions matched by strict conservation management, the lakes of La Reserve Beauchene consistently rear brookies in the 2- to 4-1/2-pound range, and often fish from 6-1/2 to 8 pounds turn up.       Barbless hooks are required in all of the Reserve's brook-trout lakes and a slot limit protects valuable spawners. Ten of the lakes are fly-fishing only. Guests are encouraged to modify their spinning tackle by bending in or removing extra treble hooks, or better still, replacing a treble with a single Siwash-type hook.       Dry flies matching the various mayfly and caddis hatches guarantee early-season action. Sink-tip lines and full-sinking lines attached to dragonfly nymphs, leech patterns, Grey Ghosts, Mickey Finns, Restigos and Beauchene Bugs are consistent fish-getters when there's little surface activity. •Contact: La Reserve Beauchene, (888) 627-3825. 11. THOMPSON-OKANAGAN LAKES, BC  •Contact: B.C. Fisheries Office, Okanagan Region, (250) 494-6500. 12. LAKE SUPERIOR PROV. PARK, ON  •Contact: Lake Superior Provincial Park, (705) 856-2284. 13. INDIAN BAY WATERSHED, NF  •Contact: Derek Stewart, Newfoundland Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-5604 14. BLUE LAKES SYSTEM, ON (Near Elliot Lake)  •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Blind River, (705) 356-2234. 15. RESERVE FAUNIQUE DES LAURENTIDES, QC  •Contact: Reserve Faunique des Laurentides, (418) 848-2422. 16. SUPERIOR SHORELINE, NIPIGON, ON  •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Nipigon, (807) 887-5000. 17. YELLOWHEAD LAKE, AB  •Contact: Travel Alberta, (800) 661-8888. 18. NEPISIGUIT RIVER, NB  •Contact: New Brunswick Tourism, (800) 561-0123. 19. UPPER HIGHWOOD RIVER SYSTEM, AB  •Contact: Travel Alberta, (800) 661-8888. 20.  SHUBENACADIE RIVER, NS •Contact: Central Nova Scotia Tourist Association, (902) 893-8782. other species destinations