Now that you have your documents and paperwork in order the next thing to think about for your Ontario fishing trip is location. Where are you going? Do you have directions to the fishing lodge or resort that you are visiting? Most lodges, resorts, outfitters and guides will provide advance travel information for you and many will mail you their brochure prior to your travel date.

Now for the most important aspect of your trip.Your gear and tackle. Depending on the time of year you are visiting one should always check the local weather conditions and seasonal traits to make sure you are properly outfitted for your adventure into Ontario. To determine proper outwear for the respective season you can always visit our weather page .

So, now that your travel documentation, maps and outerwear are ready let’s get to the most important part. Fishing gear and tackle.
Since Ontario offers up thousands of fishable lakes and rivers it’s hard to back for just one fish species. Most anglers will want to pack enough rods, lures and tackle to pursue multiple fish species. How does one know what species of fish are in the lake they are visiting? Ontario Fish Trips maintains an exhaustive list of Ontario Lakes and Fish Species with an interactive map which will tell you what fish are in each respective lake. Here’s a list of our suggestions for each specific fish species:

Northern Pike
•    Medium Heavy to Heavy Rod, Fast Taper 6’6 to 7’ spinning or casting rods
•    14-30lb braided or super line with titanium or fluorocarbon leader with 80lb swivels and snaps
•    6:1 Spinning or bait casting reel
•    Variety of large casting and trolling spoons (weed less, 5 of diamonds, Williams)
•    Oversized spinner baits 1-2 oz.
•    Inline buck tail spinners. A variety of colours and blades: Colorado, Willowleaf, Indiana for various depths.
•    Marabou inline spinners
•    Large top water crank baits, suspending crank baits and diving crank baits
•    Variety of jerk baits
•    Buck tail Plugs

Muskellunge
•    Medium Heavy to Heavy Rod, Fast Taper 6’6 to 7’10 spinning or casting rods
•    20-30lb braided or super line with 10 inch  titanium or fluorocarbon leader with 100lb swivels and snaps
•    6:3 Spinning or bait casting reel
•    Variety of large jerkbaits: Suicks, Jackpots, Rapala Husky Jerks
•    Crankbaits:  Large Gandma Lures, Believers and Big Fork Lures
•    Oversized spinner baits 1-2 oz such as Slopmaster lures
•    Inline buck tail spinners. A variety of colours and blades: Colorado, Willowleaf, Indiana for various depths.
•    Marabou inline spinners
•    Bulldawg soft baits in various colours and sizes
*Many musky baits can also apply to large Nothern Pike.

Walleye
•    Light to Medium 6 to 6’6 spinning rods with a sensitive tip
•    8-12lb mono line or Fireline Crystal 8lb super line
•    5:1 to 5:3 Spinning reel
•    Variety of jig heads and colours.
•    Live bait consisting of shiner minnows or wide assortment of soft plastic grubs, leeches, twister tails and night crawlers
•    Lindy rig for bottom bouncing
•    Deep diving crank baits and minnow lures: Rapala Shad Raps in various colours
•    Walleye (Pickerel) Harness with variety of blade colours

Smallmouth Bass
•    Light to Medium 6 to 6’6 spinning rods or casting rods with a sensitive tip
•    6-12lb mono line depending on conditions
•    6:1 Spinning or Bait casting reel
•    Variety of spinner baits with different skirt colours and blades
•    Inline spinners, Mepps#4 Black Fury and selection of Blue Fox spinners
•    Variety of Soft plastic Tubes
•    Yo-Zuri crank baits in various colours and water depths
•    Top water buzz baits

Largemouth Bass
•    Light to Medium 6 to 6’6 spinning rods or casting rods with a sensitive tip
•    6-12lb mono line depending on conditions
•    6:1 Spinning or Bait casting reel
•    Variety of spinner baits with different skirt colours and blades
•    Four to Five Flipping Jigs and Finesse Jigs
•    Inline spinners, Mepps#4 Black Fury and selection of Blue Fox spinners
•    Variety of Soft plastic Tubes
•    Top water Poppers, frogs and suspending crank baits
•    Top water buzz baits

We could probably add a heck of a lot more lures and tackle to this list but consider this as your shortlist of ‘Go To’ lures for specific species. Just like any other kind of fishing you know your gear best and what works for you. When fishing Ontario lakes and rivers especially in the far northern reaches of the province we always maintain a ‘Let’s Try This’ attitude. What has never produced for you in the past may be the biggest producer of your trip.

Try and experiment with different lures on your next trip and keep a journal in your tackle box of the what, where and when’s.  After repeat trips to the province you will probably find that you will be bringing less and less tackle with you as your experiments will create your own short list.

More Essentials and Tips

• Polarized sunglasses. Grab yourself a good pair. Not only do they protect your eyes from the suns’ UV rays and glare from the water but they allow you to see structure and fish clearly under the water.
• Bug repellent. Insects in northern Ontario are notorious at times and anglers should always have a good supply of repellent on hand. New Eco friendly repellents are now on the market and we recommend these over traditional repellents. Not only are Eco friendly better for you and the environment but they lessen the stench and chance that the fish will ignore your lures if you happen to get any on them.
• Small file. Dull hooks lose fish. If you are fishing big game like Musky, Northern Pike or Lake trout always give your hooks a quick sharpen after every catch. Not only is this better for you but it’s better for the fish as they do much less tissue damage than dull hooks.
•  Brush up on your fishing knots. Popular knots such as the Palomar, Albright, Clinch, Rapala, Trilene, Snell and Uni knots should be practiced and mastered before hitting the water. Knowing your knots reduces downtime while out fishing and using good strong knots will keep your trophy fish where it belongs..on the end of your line.