OC Online - Hot Spots 2006

text by Tom Adamchick, Mark Anderson, Ken Bailey
Patrick Campeau, Brad Fenson, George Gruenefeld
Jake MacDonald, Paul Marriner, Jim McLennan
Wayne Phillips, Gord Pyzer

Simply the Best

From coast to coast, our field editors share
their favourite 201 Canadian waters

Combined, the Outdoor Canada field editors who contributed to this special guide have fished for hundreds of years, all across the country. No doubt, then, they’ve collectively visited the best fishing holes Canada has to offer. But what are their favourites, the places they’d visit again and again? Of course, we asked them to only choose waters with big fish and/or good numbers (and that can sustain plenty of angler pressure). The result: 201 awesome destinations for an exciting range of sportfish. Read on as our field editors tell you where, when and how to tackle some of the best waters in Canada. With all this experience and expertise, you’re sure not to be disappointed.

Here they are, listed in alphabetical order according to the fish on offer, our field editors’ favourite hot spots.

Brown trout hot spot: Bow River, Alberta (Jim McLennan).

AMERICAN SHAD
Annapolis River, Nova Scotia The shad run peaks in late May/early June. Cast shad darts on medium spinning gear into any area below an obstruction, or with deep water. More info: Fishing Fever, 1-877-617-3474. –P.M.

ARCTIC CHAR
Hopedale, Labrador On the rising August tides, fish around stream- and rivermouths with spoons or sand eel fly patterns. More info: Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, 1-800-563-6353. –P.M.

ARCTIC GRAYLING
Lake Laberge, Yukon Fish creek mouths and the inflow and outflow of the Yukon River through summer and fall. Spinners, small jigs and your favourite fly patterns will always produce. More info: Sports North, (867) 667-7492. –B.F.

Kakisa River, N.W.T. Drift nymphs or small spinners into soft spots behind sandbars or rocks during the May spawn. Work up- or downstream from the road bridge. More info: N.W.T. Tourism, 1-800-661-0788. –P.M.

McKinlay River, N.W.T. August is best for excellent fishing above the rivermouth. Irresistibles or Prince Nymphs behind a casting bubble do the trick in fast water and along current seams. More info: N.W.T. Tourism, 1-800-661-0788. –W.P.

Stark River, N.W.T. In August and September, cast #10 to #14 dark dry flies along current seams and at the heads and tails of pools. Spin anglers should use casting bubbles to effectively present flies. More info: Frontier Fishing Lodge, 1-877-465-6843. –K.B.

Kazan River, Nunavut Late summer, when the flies dissipate, is best. Cast small spinners or greenish nymphs into riffles near shore. Grayling spook easily, so walk a short distance after fighting a fish. More info: Kasba Lake Lodge, 1-800-663-8641. –Jake M.

Little Smoky River, Alberta August to September, wade upstream casting small spinners into pools, along cut banks and through riffles. Or, toss #12 to #16 dries with a dropper nymph one size smaller, 18 inches below. More info: Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, (780) 944-0313. –K.B.

Cree River, Saskatchewan Begin where the Cree River drains Cree Lake. While drifting with the current, work tiny spinners and jigs near the surface to attract large grayling all season long. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Fond du Lac River, Saskatchewan Work the fast water, current seams and pools during July and August. Quartering dry flies, such as Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams or Goddard Caddis, upstream produces the most action. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Hunter Creek, Saskatchewan This Cree River tributary is packed all summer with gigantic grayling. Holding in pools and faster runs, they’ll attack dries such as Elk Hair Caddis and Irresistibles. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

MORE HOT SPOTS