LAKE LOGIC
Tried-and-true tactics for catching stillwater fish on the fly
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This country is home to a series of magical fishing realms that are rarely touched by fly anglers. In these places, called “lakes,” the fish are large and plentiful, and they eagerly bite flies. And while Canada has better lake fishing than almost anywhere else in the world, most fly anglers avoid stillwater. That’s understandable. Fly fishing evolved on rivers, after all. And on lakes—waterbodies at least a kilometre or two across—fly fishing usually isn’t the most efficient way to catch fish.
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It’s often reasonably effective, however, and enjoyable, especially during summer. For many of us, lakes are also closer to home and less crowded than popular rivers. For the last decade, I’ve primarily fly fished on stillwater, and the quality and variety of action across the country has been a revelation. So, if you’re looking for more chances to use your fly gear, here’s a primer on fly fishing in lakes.
Fly-fishing boats don’t have to be fancy#1 USE A BOAT
From time to time, you’ll happen upon a spot with good fly fishing from shore, but that’s the exception. Stillwater fish move around more than river fish, and you usually need a boat to find them. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, though. You can fly fish from any vessel, paddled or powered, that’s stable and safe for the waterbody at hand. You need to make a few adjustments when fly fishing from a boat, but nothing very difficult. Boats also make it easy to follow the first rule of lake fishing: If you’re not catching fish, change your location, not your fly.