FISHING TRIP IN CANADA

Diversity is the hallmark of Canada's fresh and saltwater fishing. With 125,570 miles (202,080 km) of coastline and 20 per cent of the world's freshwater, it's not surprising. Just glance across the country:

Fresh-cooked walleye. La Réserve Beauchêne. Quebec.

Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

At La Réserve Beauchêne, in Quebec, two fishermen troll for walleye (pickerel) from a boat. They have the entire lake to themselves, except for the resident loons (water birds). The lake is only one of 35 backcountry lakes in the 80 square-mile (206 sq-km) property. Each lake has its own fishing party.

Walleye fishing

The fishermen catch and release fish, keeping only a prime specimen for a shore lunch. With their crimson boat pulled up on a beach at a picnic area, they build a fire.

The filleted walleye sizzles until golden, in a fry pan. Served with fried potatoes, green peppers, onions and baked beans, the hearty lunch sustains them until they feast on a bountiful home-cooked dinner in the lodge that evening.

Canada fly in fishing

In northern Saskatchewan, anglers load their tackle into a floatplane. It rises over a pristine wilderness of forests, bordering the Churchill River, coming to a smooth stop by the dock of Beyond LaRonge Lodge. It's one of dozens of fly-in lodges in northern Canada.

Northern pike and lake trout caught in these clear, cold waters are enormous. Lodge guides know where to find them, but dinner conversations invariably include at least one tale about “the one that got away.”

Near Canmore, Alberta, an angler casts a fly into the Upper Bow River and, minutes later, pulls up a wild brown trout. During long summer days, the wildlife viewing (bears, beavers, otters, muskrats, elk, eagles, osprey and kingfishers) is as pleasurable as the fishing.

Salmon fishing lodge

On British Columbia's west coast, schools of Pacific and bottlenose dolphins, pods of orcas and grizzly bears distract fishermen — until a powerful king salmon attacks the bait. It's only one of five species of salmon in the province. Full-service lodge staff fillet, vacuum-seal and flash-freeze the catch to bring home.

The sport isn't confined to the warmer spring, summer and fall months. In Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, for example, you'll find groups of people peppering the surface of frozen lakes, dropping lines into holes chiselled into the ice. Some are snugly ensconced in huts, which can be rented from outfitters. Others are outdoors and warmly dressed, sipping hot coffee from insulated bottles.

Peering through the holes, they watch perch, ling (freshwater cod) and herring swim tantalizingly close to the bait at the end of lines, never knowing when they'll bite. The ones that do, lie on the ice, frozen rock-hard by the cold air. Throughout the winter, ice fishing derbies offer prizes for the heaviest catches.

Sport fishing trips

What makes Canadian fishing so unique is the diversity of fish and techniques used to catch them. In Nova Scotia, anglers can haul in a hungry saltwater mackerel from a dock, with a rod and reel, or play with smallmouth bass in a lake.

Prince Edward Island adventures range from deep-sea fishing for giant bluefin tuna to river angling for trout and salmon. Newfoundland and Labrador are home to nearly 200 salmon rivers, while New Brunswick's Miramichi River entices Atlantic salmon fishermen from around the world.

In the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut, outfitters transport fishermen, by dogsleds and snowmobiles, to ice holes for char-jigging on sunny, cold spring days. During the warmer summer months, 24-hour open-water fishing, under the midnight sun, yields record-size Arctic grayling, Arctic char, lake trout, northern pike and whitefish. Floatplanes transport fishermen to secluded wilderness lodges.

Catching walleye at sunset. La Réserve Beauchêne. Quebec.

Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

Canada fishing trips

It's important to find a package with both the style of fishing and type of fish you prefer, as well as the best accommodations for your budget.

Lodgings include platform tents, rustic outpost cabins, cottages, houseboats, live-aboard floating resorts, hotels and motels, and luxurious lodges with maid service and full meal plans. (Many of them convert to hunting lodges in the fall.)

Packages abound. Some are for families. Others are for hard-core fishermen. Some focus on one type of fish (e.g., salmon), while others offer a variety of species. Always ask if there's a minimum stay or a minimum number of people required. Prices usually relate to what's included.

Besides accommodations, you should ask about the following: transportation (float planes, boat transfers etc.), boat, motor and gas, bait, guides, meals, fish preparation, freezing and storage, rain gear, topographical maps and fishing licences. Participants usually bring their own fishing gear.

Fishing camps in Ontario

Fishing regulations and seasons vary with each province and territory. Your best bet is to work with an experienced outfitter in the region.

Many provinces and territories publish annual fishing guides, which list packages, lodges and outfitters by region. The Fishing Ontario brochure, for example, lists nearly 150. That's diversity.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Fishing in Canada: www.fishingincanada.com