Hi guys,
I've been going to Algonquin for three or four years now usually for a week of camping in late August but this year I'm hoping to add an extra spring fly fishing trip for the trout opener. I have never gone trout fishing in the park though and I catch small mouth bass most trips. Can anyone recommend any places to go? Are there any good rivers or do people typically fish for them in the lakes? Fishermen are keen secret keepers but hopefully someone in here is willing to part with a couple tips

Thanks!

A couple usual areas/routes:
Opeongo to Proulx to Big Crow to Laveille to Dickson to Opeongo.
Magnetewan to Daisy to Little Misty to Queer to Magnetewan.

If you're really feeling adventurous you can trip down the Nipissing or Tim rivers. Distances are triple what they appear to be on the map.

Do your homework as most trout caught in the springtime are in about 10-20 ft. of water. There are always hatches happening througout the day during the springtime so you might be able to match the hatch . I would also suggest some streamers. As for places you should get plenty of tips.

We do the south end Ragged, Big Porcupine, Bonnechere and then over to Cradle and Kirkwood.

Hi Ryan,

Welcome to the board. I'm not sure where but somewhere posted by Barry Bridgeford this past summer (late summer, I think it was) was a copy or link to the fishing surveys returned to the park by fishermen. It showed the number of hours fished and the total number of fish caught. If you examine that document, you'll find that the largest portion of the speckled trout caught were on the creeks and rivers. Whether it's the Crow, the Petawawa, the Nipissing or others, your best opportunity for success will be in the rapids and deeper pools of these waterways during the month of May and into June.

I personally have caught them on the Pet and Crow as well as in some of the lakes but I would recommend that you focus on the streams or at the mouth/source of the streams as they enter and exit some of the lakes. Be prepared for some great action as you'll find the larger streams/rivers will hold specks as large as three or four pounds. The majority of them are a pound or less but there are some monsters lurking in the better holes.

We typically fish the streams for specks and then troll the lakes for lake trout in May and do much better in the streams. Of course, stealth in approach will enhance your catch. Any portage around rapids typically is a good place to start...pull the canoe up out of the way of the landing and pick your way along the bank trying to find good approaches to the water and good luck!

Here;s the survey PaPaddler is replying to
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/nature/algonquin_SpringFishingSurveyResults_2008.pdf

Good luck

I was looking for that yesterday. I could only find the gripe session 20" thread action. Welcome to the internet, where useful info is tough to find but a fight is around every corner.

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/

click "Nature" tab at the top

click "Fish" on the left side

scroll down




Barbara

What's your point? You wanna make something of it? eh? Eh? EH?

Dearest Preacher,


phhhtttt




Sincerely,
Barbara
A Canadian, through & through

Hey Ryan,

We have tried to fly fish in the spring and it is tough. Fly fishing from a canoe is difficult enough on flat water, even more so on moving water, which would include flat water if the wind is up. The water is very cold if you want to wade a bit and bringing along neoprenes or waders is extra gear. Finding a good spot from shore is also difficult. There are some opportunities around the portages on the rivers mentioned by PaPaddler. The upper Crow comes to mind immediately (first portage at the dam, sluice/flat rock on the 320, and so on) but conditions have to be favourable. The big rocks at the top of the Lavieille (where Crow Bay empties into the lake) is also a good spot to fly fish from.

If you are keen to wet the fly line I would wait a bit until the water warms up. There are hatches almost all through the warm summer months and there are trout to be had. Mind you, mosquitos, black flies, deer flies and noseeums become an issue. They are what they are and the enjoyment of a summer trip will depend on how well you are able to cope with the bugs. I love the spring trout excursion but I also love summer tripping. Warm weather, warm water, less gear and the fishing, although not as fast and furious, is still enjoyable.

Coach

I spent the last May long weekend doing the Magnetwan, Pettawawa River, Daisy, Misty Lake route. We had a great trip but got skunked on the trout fishing. I suspect that we were not fishing deep enough. We tried a variety of techniques with little success. We ended up getting some Perch from a lake that we portaged into from Misty. I'd rather keep a few perch that kill a trout but it would have been good to catch and release a few lakers or specs. Good Luck and let me know what you find out. Email me if you are considering this route and I pass on any info I can. Tim