Lake Simcoe features estuaries and open waters that are ideal for fishing for herring and trout. (Supplied photo)
Canada’s southernmost province, to most, is known for its thrilling cityscapes and rich culture. It houses miracles of modern architecture and unbelievable jaw-dropping Earthly beauties. However, it also supplies unparalleled fishing, as it boasts ample variety for this hobby that locals and tourists would struggle to find elsewhere. Ontario has a quarter of a million water bodies, and here, we present seven not-to-miss destinations for fishing lovers.
Lake St. Joseph
St. Joseph is the most sizeable lake in the Thunder Bay and Kenora Districts. It is about thirty-five kilometers south of Pickle Lake and is particularly famous for its excellent freshwater fisheries. The area has a rich history, serving as part of a canoe route from James Bay to Lake Winnipeg, used by Indigenous peoples primarily for fur trade. Regarding fishing, the lake is a favored spot by many on account of its tasty lake trout and abundance of northern pike. Plus, the fact fly-fishing is super effective here because the fish here have a habit of getting caught in the shallows. If Lake St. Joseph is a considered location, fishermen should be aware that only a limited number of permits get allowed from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. These get supplied by local outfitters and lodges.
Quetico Provincial Park
Anyone who has ever been to Northwestern Ontario has likely gotten told they must visit the iconic Quetico Provincial Park, a one-million-acre park part of the Superior National Forest. It has more than two thousand campsites, over six hundred lakes, and loads of remote wilderness. The park is a famous stop for family camping and hiking, offering thirty-five kilometers of beautiful trails boasting incredible sights and wildlife viewing. Its lakes have similar fish to those found in Lake St. Joseph. Hence, one can expect to encounter northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, and lake trout. It should get mentioned that, at the southwestern section of Quetico sits the Anishinabe community of Lac La Croix, an entry point to multiple stunning lakes, ranking as a place worth exploring.
Lac Seul
Situated in Kenora District, here we have a crescent-shaped reservoir with a depth of forty-seven meters. Lac Seul means Lake Alone in French, which is a reference to the massive nature of this body of water, which has a three-thousand-mile shore, making those who venture to its center feel a high level of solitude. It is worth pointing out that Lac Seul wasn’t always as enormous as today. Its water levels increased due to the Lower Ear Falls’ Ontario Hydro dam built in 1928, which established a link to the English River, making Lac Seul a reservoir whose level jumped by ten inches compared to its original one.
Lac Suel chiefly offers walleye, muskies, and Northern pike fishing. The entire water system has multiple sections. It falls under Fishery Management Zone 4 regulations. These are rules dictating the type of fish fishermen can keep, and they also state that anyone looking to take away fish must end those creatures’ lives instantly after catching them.
Bay of Quinte
The Bay of Quinte is a narrow Z-shaped bay, two hundred kilometers from Toronto and a twenty-minute drive from Shorelines Casino Belleville, a venue famed for its live entertainment and gaming action akin to that available at Ontario’s casino sites. Locally known as simply The Bay, this area is renowned as a place offering some of the best trophy walleye angling in Canada and the US. It has a rich history noted in many books as a region that had a crucial role in bootlegging during the US prohibition era. According to many, during the period from mid-fall to early spring, The Bay is one of the best spots on Earth for fishermen to snag four to seven-kilogram walleyes.
Algonquin Provincial Park
Often noted as Ontario’s oldest provincial park, Algonquin Provincial Park became a public attraction in 1893, sprawling an area of seventy-five hundred square kilometers, acting as a home to thirty-four species of native threes, one thousand different plants, thirty-one species of reptiles, and fifty-three kinds of fish. What once was a hilly wildlife refuge for deer, moose, beaver, and bears is now an ecosystem that welcomes visitors who wish to examine its robust offer of outdoor activities. It has visitor centers, campgrounds, hiking trails, and a wide range of facilities/amenities. These make it a super enjoyable picnic spot for visitors of all ages.
Lake trout, bass, pickerel, and muskellunge are on hand for the taking here, and the park’s various streams provide prime canoeing. Those who are planning to go here would be wise to check out the park’s official website and explore its lodging options, backcountry camping Fees, and route maps.
Kawartha Lakes
Kawartha Lakes is a Central Ontario unitary municipality situated on a territory of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Fishing enthusiasts who have traveled to this part of Canada will undoubtedly attest that it justifiably qualified as an exceptional destination for fishing, one with a super diverse selection of fish. The Kawarthas has become more or less synonymous with fishing, and its top spots are Pigeon, Chemong, Buckhorn, Little Lake, The Islands Est of Crowe’s Landing on Stoney Lake, and Sturgeon Lake. The latter has especially carved a reputation for itself as the go-to place for decent-sized muskies.
Lake Simcoe
Resting between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe is a body of water that gets fed by multiple streams that help it maintain its size of seven hundred and forty-three square kilometers. The nifty thing about this lake is that it has multiple islands and is a popular summer resort for those living in metropolitan Toronto. Simcoe has been named Canada’s ice fishing capital, and with good reason, since it has a healthy supply of cold-water fish like whitefish, herring, and lake trout. For those not familiar with this section of the country, it is one of the nation’s most vital agricultural territories, especially for livestock farming. We should add that Lake Simcoe is the fourth-largest lake wholly in Ontario.
