Where Canadian Bluegrass Maestro Chris Coole Goes to Wet a Line

For our 2016 Fishing Special issue, Outdoor Canada recruited a supergroup of acclaimed Canadian recording artists, who also happen to be hard-core anglers. And these fishin’ musicians agreed to sing about their favourite Canadian fishing holes—74 in all. For the full list, see The Fishin’ Musicians.

Toronto’s Chris Coole got his first banjo when he was 17 years old, after falling in love with the sounds of early country music. Today, Coole is an acclaimed bluegrass musician and considered one of the finest clawhammer-style banjo players in North America. He’s recorded several albums (his latest, Tumbling River, was slated for released in February) and has appeared as a sideman on more than 50 CDs by other Canadian recording artists, including Jim Cuddy and Sylvia Tyson. Renowned as a skilled music teacher, Coole is also a lifelong angler. His hot spots reflect his passion for tradition and beautiful locales.

Learn More: www.chriscoole.com

Favourite Fish: Brown trout, yellow perch

Favourite Type of Fishing: Fly fishing

Favourite Fishing Song: “It’s My Lazy Day” by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard

Algonquin Park, Ontario

GPS: 45.539, -78.701

Fish: Brook and lake trout, splake

Why: Many canoe-accessible lakes with world-class fishing, camping and magical beauty

Best Time: May and June

Best Lures: Blue Fox spinners, Rapala Original Floater

Belmont Lake, Ontario

GPS: 44.505 -77.816

Fish: Smallmouth bass, walleye

Why: Four generations of my family have fished here, making it a hot spot to me

Best Time: Mid-May to September

Best Lures: Jig and minnow, Shad Rap

Lake Simcoe, Ontario

GPS: 44.358, -79.363

Fish: Yellow perch

Why: World-class ice fishing for jumbo perch near Sutton (photo at end)

Best Time: Early- and late-ice

Best Lures: Slab Grabber, tube jig

Sparwood’s Elk River Tributaries, B.C.

GPS: 49.740, -114.895

Fish: Cutthroat trout

Why: Superb dry-fly fishing in a perfect mountain setting

Best Time: Late June to September

Best Flies: Royal Trude, Klinkhamer Special

Upper Credit River, Caledon, Ontario

GPS: 43.814, -80.016

Fish: Brook and brown trout

Why: Catch-and-release fishing for wild trout on a beautiful freestone creek, an hour from home

Best Time: Late May and early June

Best Flies: Bivisible, Ausable Wulff