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

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Top Flies for Northern Pike

Try These Go-to Flies and Tips on Your Next Trip

Eating Northern Pike

The Best Recipe to Cook This Fish

Ontario's Trophy - Splake Prize

It is fair to say that Ontario offers the finest fishing for splake anywhere in the world

Bigger, Better, Deeper

The most valuable fishing lessons are the ones you learn early on without any help.

The Ontario Fall Crappie Hunt

Ontario's 400,000 lakes are home to a variety of fish species.

Predicting Lake Thickness

When Will Ontario Lakes Freeze Over This Winter?

Top Ranked Flies For Catching Brown Trout

How to set up a fly rod, pick streamers, and catch some trout.

The Amazing Nipigon River

Fishing the river that is home to the world's largest brook trout ever caught.

Angling Escape to Edgewater

Just 3 hours north of Toronto, this amenity-packed resort has something for the whole family.

Long Nose Gar

A Fish for the Bucket List

3 Surefire Strategies for Canadian Muskies

Fishing for Ontario Musky

3 Great Ontario Walleye Destinations

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

The Perfect Shore Lunch

Try this award-winning recipe on your next Ontario fishing trip.

Fish TV's Favourite Shore Lunches

Grab your batter, beans, and fresh fillets for the best lunch lakeside.

Setting Expectations

How to Choose Your Next Ontario Fishing Trip

Bronze Bass Blast

Outstanding Smallmouth Bass Fishing at Island Lake Lodge.

Structure or Cover?

Learn the Difference to Catch More Fish

Largemouth Bass At Westbay Cottages

Fish TV takes a trip to Northeastern Ontario

Batchawana Bay Smallmouth Bass

Fish'n Canada fishes the Lake Superior for bass.