Fishing Info

A fishing trip in the park is a great excuse to hang out with good friends.
Why fish in Algonquin Park? There are many places where you can fish from a motorized craft with all the electronic accoutrements of modern fishing. Generally, the quality of the fishing in such easily accessible areas deteriorates over the years due to a variety of factors, particularly over-fishing  and the weakening of natural fish stocks because of the introduction of hatchery and non-native fish stocks. Fortunately there are a few places, like the interior of Algonquin Park, where the native fishery remains more or less undisturbed and naturally reproducing. This is why dedicated anglers will leave their metalflake bass boats at home and fish from a canoe in Algonquin Park.

Dress for the weather!
The highest quality fishing in the park is in interior lakes and streams, inaccessible by road, where both flying in and outboard motors are prohibited. If you want to go to these lakes, you are going to have to use a canoe, carry your gear over portages and adjust to life without outboards, high-end fish locators, heavy downriggers and the like.  As Swifty liked to tell people who asked him, “How’s the fishing up there?” - Algonquin Park offers excellent fishing for the ambitious.

Ask most experienced Algonquin Park anglers "where should I go to catch brook trout in Algonquin Park?" and you will probably get a vague, rambling response that gets you excited but doesn't leave you with much specific information. They will tell you how great the fishing is but probably not tell exactly where that great fishing took place.

This is understandable. People like to protect their "secret stashes," whether it is a fishing destination, powder snow run, photography hotspot or swimming hole. When someone works hard to get somewhere, and gains precious knowledge and experience through research, trial and error, perseverance, getting skunked a few times and hitting the jackpot a few other times, they are not likely to be inclined to simply give that information away freely. There are other good reasons to keep certain information to yourself, number one being resource protection.
Muskie in Algonquin Park? Yup.
So, to get you on the road to discovery, here are a few links that offer both fishing "stoke" and useful information. We'll add more as we find them and let you have fun figuring it out from there!

• Start by reading this really good article from Hatches magazine by Nick Pujik. The piece discusses fishing in the park in general, how to identify trout habitat, specific fly-fishing techniques, equipment suggestions and an excellent conservation message. Worthwhile reading for any Algonquin Park angler, no matter what your experience and whether fly-fishing or not:
http://www.hatchesmagazine.com/page/month/342

• It is always a good idea to know the catch limits, rules, regulations and learn from fishing research. The Friends of Algonquin Park web site has a very comprehensive fishing information page with links to Ontario fishing regulations, backcountry trout fishing survey results (pro tip: read this), fish stocking lists and useful publications:
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/recreational_activites/fishing-in-algonquin-park.php

• Connect with other Algonquin Park addicts on-line. One of the busiest forums, with many threads on fishing, is found at Algonquin Adventures:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/352882/

• Get good information on what fish are in which lakes and learn strategies for successful angling:
1) The Friends of Algonquin Park publish two inexpensive and useful booklets on fish and fishing, plus a lake depth map book:
2) Stephen Molson's new book Algonquin Park Depth Maps is a "must have" for any Algonquin angler. While individual maps are available for purchase online,  the 60-page book includes "15 bathymetric maps of char lakes and comprehensive sections packed with fishing tips and techniques, char seasonal preferences, physiology, locational information, recipes and more..." You can order the book from Stephen's website and Algonquin Outfitters will be stocking (pardon the pun) it at the Oxtongue Lake and Opeongo stores. The fishing tips section is VERY comprehensive and covers tackle, strategy,  lure selection and more.
 3) Read the Algonquin Park fish survey results, stocking lists and find links to fishing regulations:
Fishing in Algonquin Park web page

• Make sure you have (or know how to get) a valid Ontario fishing license:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_164832.html

A monster lake trout caught from a canoe and released.
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