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
(Brook Trout)

BROOK TROUT
Fortress Lake, B.C. Fish the creek mouths of this remote fly-in (or hike-in) lake with streamers or Panther Martin spinners between early June and late September. More info: Fortress Lake Wilderness Fly Fishing Retreat, (403) 346-1698. –Jim M.

Piprell Lake, Saskatchewan During late afternoons and early evenings in June and July, slowly work small spinners or tiny jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or earthworms while moving parallel to shore. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Gull Lake, Manitoba The west and south ends of Gull Lake are best in the fall. PowerBaits or dew worms under slip bobbers are favoured, though trolling trout-patterned crankbaits produces bigger fish. More info: Childs Lake Lodge and Outfitters, (204) 546-2746. –B.F.

Algonquin Park, Ontario Early in the season, cast a March Brown Nymph or Flashback Hares Ear Nymph toward shallow shoreline cover and strip it back slowly. The trout will look after the rest. More info: Bluetree Flyfishing, (705) 768-7573. –G.P.

Nipigon River, Ontario The best hatches on the Nipigon are in July. Launch below Alexander Dam, and cast to the rocky shoreline with shooting-head fly line and #2 weighted streamers. Heavy spinning gear also works. More info: River’s Edge Fly Shop, (807) 983-2484. –T.A.

North Washagami River, Ontario In July, any of the rapids or riffles produce fish. Light spinning gear and Mepps, Little Cleos and Mister Twisters work, as do the standard mayfly, caddis and stonefly imitations. More info: Canoe Frontier, 1-866-285-8618. –T.A.

La Réserve Beauchêne, Quebec In mid-summer, very slowly troll a full sinking fly line with a 30- to 40-foot leader and a nymph, such as the Beauchêne Bug, around the edges of deep holes. More info: La Réserve Beauchêne, 1-888-627-3865. –G.P.

Lac Perdu, Quebec In late May and most of June, use small streamers and Woolly Buggers, or small spinners, off the inlet of the stream located 100 yards northwest of the launch. More info: Zec Rapides-des-Joachims, (613) 586-2635. –T.A.

Lac du Club, Quebec In June, this is a great spot to pursue trophies. Look for depths of 13 to 23 feet, and troll a Mooselook Wobbler tipped with a worm. More info: Réserve faunique Papineau-Labelle, 1-800-665-6527. –P.C.

Lac Manitou, Quebec The action is really good from the season opener to mid-June. Fly fishing with streamers in back bays and along the beaches is hard to beat. More info: Mabec Outfitters, 1-866-366-6660. –P.C.

Mistassini Lake, Quebec During afternoons and evenings in June, July and August, cast dry flies, streamers or small Mepps at cruising lunkers in the rocky delta at the mouth of the Rupert. More info: Cree Nation of Mistissini, (418) 923-3253. –T.A.

Rivière Ste-Marguerite, Quebec At first light in July, swing Muddlers over the surface at the heads of pools to connect with the largest and wariest sea-run travellers. More info: Association de la rivière Ste-Marguerite. –P.M.

Fortune River, P.E.I. A couple of hours before or after high tide in June, drift a mummichog or small gudgeon under a float. Fly fishers can do damage with shrimp patterns. More info: CJ Flies, (902) 687-2808. –P.M.
Morell River, P.E.I. Both flies and bait will fool this river’s small but plentiful trout. June is excellent for dry-fly fishing near the village of Riverton. More info: Going Fishing, (902) 367-3444. –P.M.

Anne Marie Lake, Labrador On summer evenings, cast #12 to #16 dry flies to the numerous five- to eight-pounders in the channel at the upper end of the lake. More info: Coopers’ Minipi Camps, 1-877-266-7377. –T.A.

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