Ontario Fly In Fishing – The Ultimate Experience

The province of Ontario in Canada is world renowned for its amazing and beautiful fly in fishing destinations. Operators and flight services stretch across the vast north regions allowing anglers a chance to fish lakes and rivers that are virtually unspoiled. Fly In fishing represents a chance to escape from it all and seek out some genuine Ontario trophy fishing. With more freshwater lakes than any other area in North America you will be stunned by the opportunities offered to the serious angler who is seeking out the game fish adventure of a lifetime.

Outpost and Fly In base camps vary across the province with many operators offering departures from numerous locations. Most are drive accessible and from there your fishing adventure really starts. Depending on the fly in operator your aircraft might be a deHavilland Otter, Twin Otter, Beaver, Turbo Beaver, Beech, or Cessna single engine aircraft. You really haven’t experienced true Ontario sport fishing until you’ve taken a flight up into the vast northern forests with some of the most experienced bush pilots in North America.

Blessed with countless remote fishing holes Ontario Canada beckons the angling enthusiast with numerous fly in lakes such as:

Did we say Large Fish?
Ontario fly In lakes are truly the land of giants. Test your skill and strength with huge Northern Pike and Muskie. Anglers in these remote locations boast catches of 50-60 pound Muskellunge and 30-40 pound Northerns. These catches are not anomalies but occur on a regular every day basis. Looking for deep water trophy fish action? Northern Ontario continues to produce one of the largest Walleye populations on the planet.

Catch pickerel until your arms fall off and enjoy a traditional shore lunch with your group or have everything prepared for you by your outfitter or guides. Fly anglers can enjoy endless Speckled Trout on many of these lakes. Other fish species popular in many fly in lakes are Splake, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Whitefish, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Aurora Trout, Ling and Herring.

Popular fishing techniques in many of these lakes are jigging for walleye with live bait (regulations permitting) or soft plastic grubs. Casting large spoons and bucktail spinners for huge Northern Pike, trolling for Lake Trout and fly fishing small streams and rivers for Brook Trout can net you your trophy fish.

On a tight budget?
Don’t worry. Ontario is home to hundreds of fly in accommodations and there is something for everyone and your pocketbook. Many outfitters can tailor make a package for you to give you the most bang for your buck.

Many remote Ontario lakes and lodges operate strict catch and release policies to ensure the safe handling of our provinces fish and such locations sport single barbless hook policies that promote the safe release of fish which reduce the mortality rate after release. So why should I go to a lake with these kinds of policies you ask? Let’s think about it for a minute. The fishing in many of these lakes is so good that you only need one hook to catch them and barbless hooks reduce the stress on the fish. Did we mention that it is remarkably easy to pull barbless hooks out from a fish? Because there are so many trophy sized fish we feel it important that they go back to the depths unharmed to reproduce in greater numbers and keep the gene pool strong. This policy works and any angler who has travelled to a remote Ontario fly in lake will testify that when you are catching so many trophy fish on a daily basis there really is no need to keep them. By doing this we make sure that every angler who visits will experience a trip of a lifetime and leave more fish for the next person.

So what should I bring?
Many operators already provide the necessities on your fly in excursion and cabins are generally outfitted with 14-16ft aluminum boats, fuel, propane appliances, fridge, stove, lamps, dishes, cutlery and utensils, cots, mattresses and wood stoves. What you will need to bring is your fishing rod(s), tackle, food, drinks (recyclable cans and plastic bottles), bug spray, sleeping bag, clothes, outerwear, shoes/boots, flashlights, toilet paper, fishing net, garbage bags, first aid kit, small axe and your fishing license.

Check with your operator for their recommended things of items to bring and what is already supplied at the outpost. The bottom line when going on a fly in is to keep the weight to a minimum. You’re not travelling on an Air Canada Boeing 777 with all of the amenities. These light aircraft are exactly that…light. With room for 4-5 people it is imperative to keep the loads light (usually 60-90lbs of gear per person) as many of these planes shuttle much needed supplies to outposts so anything extra or deemed non essential is left at the dock.

Once in a lifetime
Or maybe more. Each adventure into Ontario’s far northern wilderness is a unique and special moment each and every time. Find out why so many anglers return year after year to experience trophy catches, pristine lakes, clean flowing rivers, outstanding wildlife and memories that will last a lifetime.