Species
Bass, Muskellunge
Location: OntarioSurface area: 1,100 km²
In 2012, ranked #28 in all-time hot spots
Unlike the classic Canadian smallmouth lake, southwestern Ontario’s Lake St. Clair is flat, shallow and largely featureless. Even though it’s regularly dredged to accommodate Great Lakes shipping traffic, the lake is only 10 feet deep on average. Nonetheless...
Species
Bass, Catfish, Pike, Salmon, Trout
Coordinates
44°59′N 79°49′W
Location: OntarioSurface area: 535.48 km²
In 2012, ranked #20 in all-time hot spots
Covering 15,000 square kilometres, Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay is almost as big as Lake Ontario, and the fishery is nearly as varied. Over the years, we’ve suggested trolling off Owen Sound for salmon...
Species
Salmon, Steelhead
Location: British ColumbiaLength: 570 km
In 2012, ranked #39 in all-time hot spots
Salmon or steelhead? Take your pick on northern B.C.’s mighty Skeena. This broad, powerful river has it all: bar fishing, deep pools and pockets to dredge with lures and flies, plus summer-run steelhead up to 25 pounds. And...
Species
Pike, Trout, Walleye/Pickerel, Whitefish
Location: OntarioSurface area: 4,848 km²
In 2012, ranked #27 in all-time hot spots
The towering cliffs and green-black sand beaches of this almost 5,000-square-kilometre lake provide a backdrop as dramatic as the fishing. Long known for its oversized brookies, Nipigon has appeared six times in our pages as a...
Species
Salmon, Trout
Location: Nova Scotia
In 2012, ranked #35 in all-time hot spots
The Margaree River on the west coast of Cape Breton Island ranks among the country’s best salmon waters, and while the Atlantics can be elusive, virtually all of them are big. Really big. The Margaree is also fully public water...
Species
Bass, Carp, Catfish, Crappie, Perch, Pike, Sturgeon, Walleye/Pickerel
Location: Manitoba
In 2012, ranked #5 in all-time hot spots
When it comes to channel cats, there’s the Red, then everywhere else. This muddy, unhurried river is renowned for its giants, including the Canadian record: a 44½-pound tiger. But it’s also among the country’s best...
Species
Mackerel, Salmon, Trout
Location: Newfoundland & Labrador
In 2012, ranked #23 in all-time hot spots
Originating in western Newfoundland’s Long Range Mountains, the Humber flows southeast, then jogs southwest through Deer Lake, past Corner Brook and out to the Bay of Islands. While several species can be found between the remote headwaters and...
Species
Bass, Carp, Catfish, Crappie, Perch, Pike, Salmon, Steelhead, Trout, Walleye/Pickerel
Location: Ontario
In 2012, ranked #6 in all-time hot spots
Surprised to see this Great Lake rank so high? Don’t be. It’s full of big, healthy fish. For starters, the 450-kilometre Canadian shoreline has tremendous trout and salmon fishing, both offshore and in...
Species
Bass, Crappie, Walleye/Pickerel
Location: Ontario
In 2012, ranked #37 in all-time hot spots
In the heart of Ontario’s popular Kawartha Lakes, Rice is shallow, fertile, weedy and a three-season, multi-species hot spot. In the spring, the north shore gives up good numbers of slab crappies, while summer means largemouth; although the wild rice...
Species: Salmon Coordinates: 54° 18€² 43.9€³ N, 130° 19€² 37.5€³ W Location: British Columbia Why we chose it Chinook; Good fishing in...