5 Travel Essentials When Fishing In Ontario

Packing up for your next Ontario fishing adventure starts with 5 easy tips and tricks.

Whether you drive to or fly into a lodge or outfitter in Ontario, there is one thing that is for certain, getting there really is half the fun! Travel in Ontario is incredible be it by truck, float plane or train. Well, we’ve done a LOT of travelling in Ontario and have some tips and tricks for those who are coming to this fine Canadian province for either the first time or their tenth. These tips and tricks are designed to make travel and your entire fishing experience that much better.

Here are the top five things to pack for an Ontario fishing adventure. 

1. Air Tags

Can you imagine landing at your final fishing destination after a long day of travel and not seeing your luggage, rods and packed items show up on the conveyor belt? What a way to start a fishing vacation! Unfortunately, accidents and mishaps do occur, but we found a way to ensure your bags are on the flight before you even take off. You can track your items by using an Apple product called an Air Tag. Air Tags are simply tracking devices you place in your bag that talk to your phone. You can track your bags right down to a couple of feet away so you can tell when your bag has been placed on the plane!

2. Bag Tags

If you’re flying to Ontario, you’re going to want to make sure the luggage you pick up from the conveyor belt is yours. There is little arguing that so many suitcases and bags look the same and you want to make sure you get the bag that belongs to you and has your fishing gear and clothing. There are self-laminating bag tags out there that are ideal for identifying your luggage without any fancy or flashy attractors. Simply put your business card or cardstock with your name and address on it and run an iron over it to laminate. Simply attach it to your bag and enjoy your flight!

3. Travel Cubes

Cords, cords, cords, everywhere! Phone cords, headphones, and charging bricks are all over your bag, in every pocket of your backpack! It’s annoying to try to dig out a specific cord you need not remembering which pocket you put it in. (I know, first-world problems) Travel Cubes are here to help! They are simple mesh bags that are designed to keep you organized and neat while you travel. We use them for cords, documentation, ablution items etc. They are handy and make a difference when you travel.

4. Carry It All

The Carry It All is a fantastic way to carry on your fly rods, reels, leaders, and line so you can keep track of where they are and keep them safe while flying. This is a sturdy, reinforced travel bag designed to fit in most overhead plane compartments as well as under the seat in front of you. You can stuff it full of almost anything you want for the day on the water. With a lockable zipper, it is a secure way to literally carry-it-all when travelling to Ontario.

5. Day Box

A day box is a smaller fly box you bring along for a day trip. Sure, you may have multiple boxes of flies for a fishing trip, but really, do you need all of them? By bringing a day box along, you can stock your box with the proven flies that are working for that fishery eliminating the need to pack everything but the kitchen sink. It saves on space in your pack as well as cuts down on the weight, you’re carrying around all day long. A day box or 2 stuffed with your favourite flies is a great way to minimize the water

About Mark Melnyk

Currently, Mark is the host and producer of The New Fly Show. With a passion of fly fishing, the shows goal is to help both novice and veteran fly fishers everywhere by giving them a top-quality fly fishing series that will make them better anglers. 

Recommended Articles

Top 5 Flies for Smallmouth Bass

The inside scoop on bass flies from the hosts of The New Fly Fisher.

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

The Musky Hunter shows you where to land the best musky in Ontario waters.

3 Surefire Strategies for Canadian Muskies

Fishing for Ontario Musky

Four Seasons of Bass in Ontario

Northern Ontario is home to year-round bass.

World Class Walleye

Fishing Day Trips on the Bay of Quinte

Fishing and Foraging

Add some fresh foods and forage to your fishing adventures!

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Magpie Reservoir

Excellent Drive-to Angling to Hook Big Walleye

World Class Fishing on the Niagara River

There's always something to target in "Ontario's Grand Canyon"

Bear Creek Bruisers

Fishing Musky on Lake Nipissing

10 Tips for Ice Fishing Safety

Proper preparation is key to ensuring a safe day on the hard water

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

What baits do you use to target bass? Find out why these 5 are the best!

Shore Lunch

What to Pack & How to Make It

St. Francis Titans

Fishing the Original Muskie Capital of the World

3 Great Ontario Walleye Destinations

Karl of Extreme Angler recommends must do walleye lakes in Ontario.

The Legendary Brook Trout of the Albany

Experience a once in a lifetime remote fishing adventure.

An unforgettable family fishing trip

Led by Mom

Musky Mayhem in the Kawarthas

Experience top notch musky fishing on Buckhorn Lake in the heart of the Kawarthas.

The Eyes Have it

How to Use a Natural Resource as Bait

Lodge 88: Keeping it in the Family

Fish'n Canada host Ang Viola takes his grandson to fly-in fishing lodge Lodge 88 on Esnagi Lake.