Nestled in the heart of Central Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park is renowned World wide as a place of vast beauty, inspiring wilderness and a reflection of true Canadian heritage. From the timeless artwork of the Group of Seven, which the park inspired, to the majestic granite cliffs, bogs, meandering brooks, and a very healthy moose population, it is very easy to forget Algonquin Park is only a four hour drive from Ottawa. Natural beauty combined with easy access has established Algonquin Park as a popular getaway destination, not only for Ontario residents, but also for visitors from just about every corner of the Globe.
As glaciers retreated over 11,000 years ago, they left behind a rugged landscape peppered with lakes, giving birth to what would become one of Ontario's prime brook and lake trout populations. With over 1,450 lakes, and approximately 1,200 kilometers of creeks, streams and rivers, the cool, deep waters of Algonquin Park provide a perfect shelter for some of the most sought after sportfish in North America. First recognized as a logging resource, the approximately 7,700 square kilometer reserve was established as a Provincial Park in 1893, primarily in an effort to protect the diverse wildlife abundant throughout the region and, secondly, to protect precious trees from the advancing logging industry. Since its inception, the Park has been recognised by environmental groups as one of the most important and significant places to conduct environmental research and observation in Canada.
For decades, all types of anglers, fly fishers and otherwise, have made the journey north in pursuit of trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, Northern pike and even muskie. And although fishing in Algonquin is traditionally done with large spoons—sometimes even with steel line—from a small boat or canoe, a small yet healthy fly fishing contingent exists. Although mostly overlooked and ignored, fly fishers enjoy the quiet sport on the shores and banks of Algonquin from spring to fall.
Algonquin likely holds Central Ontario's largest brook trout population and offers opportunities for taking trophy specimens. Despite a phase of alarming population decreases caused by pollution and over-fishing, which nearly decimated the park’s trout population in the mid 1900s, catch-and-release programs combined with conservation efforts and special regulations implemented by the OMNR have stabilized the Algonquin fishery over the past few decades. It is due to these conservation efforts that, with a little bit of research, some planning and a sense of timing, it possible to catch a wild trophy brook trout in Algonquin Park today.
The Fishery While there is good fishing for other species in the park, particularly lake trout, it is the brook trout and smallmouths which are the main targets for the fly fisher. Lakes are the most popular hotspots, but the rivers also provide good sport for both species. All the rivers of Algonquin are connected at some point to lakes—some are nameless channels only a few score meters long, emptying from one lake into another, while others, such as the Opeongo, run for many kilometers without interruption. This difference in length is a major factor on the brook trout. Because water flowing out of a lake is drawn from the surface, the temperature of the water immediately downstream from the outflow will be the same temperature as the surface of the water of the lake. In early spring, this will be cool enough for brookies, but by early summer it becomes much too warm for them. This means that the short “connector” rivers are offer brookie fishing only the spring. However, it’s a different story with the longer rivers. While these suffer from the same high temperatures immediately below the lake outflows, they’re cooled by springs and upwellings further downstream. The longer the river, the more cool water it receives. Therefore, brookies can be found in the downstream sections, especially at the mouths of cold tributary brooks, in pocket water in rapids, and in the pools at the bottom of rapids. Consequently, these offer good fishing for brookies as well as smallmouths throughout the summer. Moreover, because most anglers concentrate on the lakes in the summer, it’s possible to fish them in solitude.
Hike-in and paddle-in lakes and streams offer the best opportunities for trophy brook trout. There are marked routes across lakes, along streams and portages to facilitate this, and camping is provided at official sites, which must be booked in advance. However, not everyone has the time or the inclination for trekking to remote locations. But there are still plenty of opportunities for the fly fisher who is just out for the day. The Highway #60 corridor, which runs through the park has numerous access points to lakes with parking spots and picnic sites. There are also drive-to lodges where boats and canoes are available, as well as outfitters which rent canoes. Around the Lake Opeongo district, which is directly accessible though the HWY #60 system, smaller lakes lie only a few hundred meters from the nearest road. A number of these are regularly stocked by the OMNR with splake – the hybrid species created when brook trout eggs are fertilized with lake trout sperm. Splake are an excellent supplement to otherwise trout-poor areas, as they outpace brook and lake trout in growth over time.
Spring Spring offers prime opportunity to tangle with trophy brookies, when after an unrelenting winter, they scavenge the shallows of deep lakes in search of minnows and insects right after ice-out. The oxygen rich shallows are the first to draw trout forage since they warm up first. Even a degree or two in temperature difference is sufficient enough to trigger this behavior.
In Algonquin, ice out generally occurs between late April and mid May, depending on the departing winter, and some lakes will even show traces of ice for weeks after. Fly fishers with serious intentions of catching trophy brook trout are not discouraged by the probability of sub-zero nights and mud covered trails. In fact, many of us book interior camping permits well in advance to ensure a spot on our favorite Algonquin lake, even if the conditions stretch the margins of comfort.
When targeting lakes or still water, focusing on shallower bays, creek or river inlets and significant drop-offs is key. Common flies such as Clouser Minnows, large nymphs, Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows and Mickey Finns are the usual weapons of choice. Most Algonquin lakes are absolutely full of a variety of native minnows, leeches, and large nymphs, such as the hexagenia and dragonflies.
Working weighted streamers approx 3 to 5 feet into the water column proves most productive with an erratic 6” to 8” retrieve with a significant pause between strips. Larger streamers, or leech patterns are necessary for getting deep around drop-off structure, such as the endless underwater forests Algonquin is known for. There are very few places where potential brook trout holding locations can be approached from shore: a canoe, float tube, or pontoon boat is essential. The incidental lake trout is possible when focusing on drop off zones.
As unconventional as it is innovative, monster brook trout can be caught in the spring by implementing eastern steelhead techniques. Most northern watersheds, Algonquin Park included, have healthy populations of white suckers. As serious steelheaders know, suckers begin their annual spawning runs in spring and are usually followed by staging trout, eagerly indulging on the sucker spawn drifting downstream. And even though steelhead and brook trout are worlds apart, this seasonal behavior holds true for both. Finding a cool water tributary early in the spring can make the difference between a good trip and a great trip! The inlet doesn’t have to be large, merely enough for suckers to spawn. Sometimes, when sufficient inlets are not available, suckers will spawn at the mouth of whatever flowing water enters the lake, even natural drainage ditches. Once located, these inlets prove priceless. Dead drifting a pale yellow or pink sucker spawn fly or crystal meth (which should be in every steelheader’s fly box) often triggers subtle takes from large brook trout. Many brookies brought to hand by this somewhat unusual method are larger than average size—fish that have learned that it is much easier to grab a drifting chunk of sucker roe than it is to chase down an alewife, thus providing a more efficient return on the amount of energy gained vs. the amount of energy spent in acquiring the food.
Spring is the best time to pursue brookies on rivers and the short connecting streams between lakes, as there is a good flow and the water is still cool. Target them with streamers, wets and nymphs, although they’ll also rise to dry flies when the hatch is on.
Summer With increased air and water temperatures, trout, brook and lake alike, migrate to deeper water in search of their prime temperature zones; usually around 53’ to 56’ F. All too often this deep water migration puts brook trout just out of reach of fly fishers. Still water fly fishing for brookies is still a possibility, but it is largely limited to streamers presented at low light in the cool of late evening or early morning. yet deeper pools, headwaters, riffles and other such transitional water of Algonquin’s 5 major rivers, and many other streams can still produce quality brook trout on dry flies, streamers and nymphs.
Those rivers and streams which have cold inflows, however, continue to offer opportunities for brookies. Target riffles, pocket water, the mouths of cool tributaries, and the pools at the bottom of rapids. Searching patterns, such as bead head nymphs, Woolly Buggers, and soft hackles are excellent choices for locating trout. This method commonly results in smaller fish, but once they’re located, tying on larger streamers and working the same area will often entice larger specimens.
As the brook trout action cools off during the dog days of summer in, a new opportunity for fly fishers is just beginning. Plentiful populations of smallmouth bass, equally established in Algonquin’s lakes and rivers, provide fly fishers with an exciting alternative. As scores of dragonfly nymphs climb ashore, hatching into mosquito-devouring wonders of all colors and sizes, smallmouths capitalize by feasting on scurrying nymphs as well as on fallen adults. Inspecting long grass or other such vegetation near shore should quickly reveal if the dragonflies have taken flight. Look for their nymph exoskeletons which remain clinging to cat tails, tall grass, and even rocks. If exoskeletons are observed, an adult dragon fly imitation, presented near weed beds, or lily patches can provide some explosive top water action during low light hours. Smaller popper patterns, of all shapes and colors are equally productive.
At other times, smallmouths, ranging from mere inches all the way to over four pounds, are readily fooled on Clouser Minnows, Zonkers, Black Nose Dace, and other such minnow imitators fished deliberately near visible underwater rock formations, sunken timber, weed beds, or other underwater structure. Early morning and evening are the prime times, sub-surface tactics can also work at almost any time of the day.
Fall Fall is one of the best times to fish in Algonquin’s. At this time, brook trout are their most colorful and beautiful. Deep reds, metallic golds and countless shades of olive brighten their bodies as they prepare for their annual spawn. As water temperatures drop below the 66’ F mark for the first time in months, brook trout will alter their summer feeding habits and start to, once again, enter shallower coves and bays for forage. With noticeable dwindling of seasonal vegetation, surface cover is limited, making it easier to locate them. Even small formations of any remaining surface vegetation is more than likely to hold feeding fish, as are the more common sunken and emerging timber and shallow flats near deeper water.
Once again the use of a sturdy canoe, float tube, or pontoon boat is vital, as heavily vegetated banks make fly fishing from shore nearly impossible. The optimal approach consists of a float tube, or if possible, a 2-man canoe with the disgruntled fishing partner at the back of the canoe navigating, and the lucky one in the front casting. The fall fly selection need not vary from the rest of the year too much, with streamers and nymphs for lakes and wet flies and nymphs for any sort of moving water.
In the fall, water temperature has a crucial role in determining brook trout behavior. The cooler the water gets, the closer the fish will be to their spawning grounds. These areas are usually in medium to large rivers and streams which empty out into lakes, or in their absence - rocky shoals. These are often the same tributaries targeted during the spring. Stripping streamers and drifting large nymphs is the most popular and successful approach.
Another benefit to trekking north to Algonquin during the fall for large brook trout is the lack of angling activity throughout the park. By late August and into September, most anglers are attracted to the terrestrial hatches on Southern brown trout waters, bass fishing in just about every corner of the province and of course the approaching seasonal salmonoid runs in the Great Lakes tributaries. The experience of being alone at a prime campsite on a little known brook trout lake is nearly as enjoyable as catching an Algonquin brook trout itself.
Gear For both trout and smallmouth, a 9’ or 9’6” 5wt rod is more than adequate to cast bulkier flies on lakes, yet drift the small stuff on flowing water when a targeting rivers and creeks. Floating line will do in most cases. For lakes an intermediate or sink tip line is useful for getting the fly down deep.
Planning Ahead Despite paved roads, chalets, warm showers and public restrooms, Algonquin Provincial Park remains very much a place of untouched wilderness and must be prepared for accordingly. If interior camping is on the agenda (which usually necessary to reach prime brook trout lakes and streams) packing light and planning a strategic route is essential. Knowing what you absolutely need and what you can live without during your trip can impact the distance you can paddle or portage in a day and, ultimately, what lakes or streams you can reach. With your travel plan established, book your chosen interior campsites well in advance to prevent disappointment. One fly rod, carefully protected in a rod tube to prevent damage, is quite sufficient per angler. A lightweight float tube, either packed in combination with a canoe or on it’s own, is better suited for the job than a heavier, more comfortable pontoon boat. A typical travel bag should also not be without a compass, a first aid kit, a quality water-resistant map, and plenty of beverages and energy bars in case of exhaustion or dehydration.
Printed and electronic publications, covering the fishing in Algonquin Park, popular and maintained canoe routes, and topographic maps are available today from groups such as The Friends of Algonquin Park http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/. These are invaluable tools when planning a trip. Of all current publications, Fishing in Algonquin Provincial Park published by the Friends of Algonquin Park and now in it’s seventh edition, is a must read, as it contains indispensable information from seasonal fish behavior to a listing of which species inhabit lakes and rivers certain. Such information would otherwise take ages to acquire from tight-lipped anglers.
Above all else, conservation and respect for the Park should be in the forefront of every visitor’s mind. Brook trout are particularly slow-growing and sensitive to changes in their environment; and while trophy specimens may be available today, if conservation minded programs such as catch and release are not practiced regularly, these beautiful gems which swim in Algonquin’s waters will soon be a memory, not unlike other species of native and migratory fish (such as American eels) already extinct from the park.
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