The mystery and beauty of flowing water is unmatched by a still lake or pond. The way water flows around rocks, plunges over falls, sneaks along a bank, or disappears under a log-jam always intrigues. Rivers are living things, sometimes swollen and discoloured, other times thin and anaemic... more »
Hard-core steelheaders are always looking for an edge. So, I asked five veteran river rats what new and effective strategies are being used on Ontario's flows. The consensus is there are few new tactics, but plenty of refinements. This isn't surprising, since over the past three decades... more »
In my world, few things are more exciting than the sight of open water in a brook trout lake after a long, cold winter. There is so much to take in: the smell of wet moss and cedar next to the lake; waves lapping musically against Labrador tea plants. Ice-out is a magical time and a period of... more »
No trout vest or tackle pack is complete without a selection of proven hardware. Even a casual observation of the offerings that take the province's top trout will place lures at the top of the list of fish catchers. But there are baubles that catch the eye of an angler in a tackle shop and then... more »
Although some anglers scorn the use of bait as being somehow less challenging than catching a trout on an artificial, such snobs often pay for such foolishness with empty creels after fishless days. Versatile anglers take lessons from the fish themselves. Trout harbour no such prejudices and switch... more »
The present status of Great Lakes steelhead is relatively rosy. A lot of work is being done to keep these fisheries healthy. For example, on Huron and Superior a review of the present regulations is being undertaken, headed by MNR's Dave Reid, Lake Huron management supervisor, with the goal of... more »
As I snaked along the path through the willows, I could see more then a dozen float rods twitching and dipping like army-ant antennaes at one of my favourite pools. The crowd that collects there every year on opening weekend let me in at the tail-out and soon my float was bobbing down the pool with... more »
Few exceptional brook trout waters are easily accessible. Lakes and rivers with healthy populations of wild trout are usually heavily guarded under a cloak of wilderness. Reaching the home of the squaretail is often beyond the realm of a day trip. This is good for anglers who embrace the art of... more »
