Discovery A Muskie Gem In Algoma Country

The Goulais River is an overlooked gem that you might want to check out during spring or fall.
4168749792f2450ed60ff24ad8b4941f_XL.jpg

There are lots of muskie destinations throughout Ontario, Canada, however, one of the most overlooked is Lake Superior. Certainly, with its vast size, trying to locate muskies within giant Lake Superior itself can be difficult. However, there is a muskie gem waiting for you that can offer to make catching Lake Superior muskies much easier.

The location is the Goulais River, located in the Algoma Region of Ontario, Canada. This is the largest tributary on the eastern side of Lake Superior, located approximately 20 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. The Goulais River originates in the Algoma Highlands and flows westward, winding its way through a valley, ultimately discharging into Lake Superior. The view of this area is simply breathtaking.

The Goulais River is host to a localized population of muskies that use the Goulais River to spawn. There are always some muskies located in the Goulais River, but the majority of the muskies use the Goulais early and late in the year. After the spawn, the muskies will remain in the River, but ultimately they make their way into Lake Superior to spend the summer. In the fall, the muskies will return to the Goulais and stage outside the mouth and move back into the Goulais River. Therefore, there are some tremendous opportunities for catching Lake Superior muskies that exist both in spring and late fall. Just imagine the potential of contacting a giant muskie in a small river, which spends the entire summer in Lake Superior.

The best fishing in the Goulais River exists within a two-mile stretch near the mouth of Lake Superior. The Goulais River actually forms three different branches as it enters Lake Superior, and all can hold muskies. In addition, just outside the mouth of the Goulais River is a large weed bed and a break line that forms at the mouth of Lake Superior, which holds muskies both spring and fall before they suspend into the abyss of Lake Superior. The Goulais River and the mouth of Lake Superior offer a tremendous opportunity for a trophy muskellunge.

Jim Saric with a hybrid tiger muskie caught from the Goulais River in spring.

Some of the key areas within the Goulais River include isolated weed beds, fallen trees, docks, and the area where the Goulais River divides into three branches, and the mouth of the Goulais River as it enters Lake Superior. It’s important to locate areas with reduced current. Key lures include smaller bucktails, particularly early in the season, topwater lures and crankbaits.

The Goulais River also hosts some giant hybrid tiger muskies as well. I caught a beauty while filming an episode of The Musky Hunter Television Show last spring while fishing with my friend Rob Cadeau.

The Goulais River is an overlooked gem that you might want to check out during spring or fall. There are great places to stay in the area that are not far from the river.

About Jim Saric

Jim owns Jim Saric Outdoors, Inc., which is dedicated to elevating the sport of musky fishing to new levels by educating anglers through print, web, and television. He is the publisher, editor and owner of Musky Hunter Magazine and the Executive Producer of The Musky Hunter television series. Jim has over twenty-five years experience fishing lakes, rivers, and reservoirs from Minnesota to New York and all across Canada. He has boated more than 100 muskies exceeding 50 inches in length, the largest weighing 53 pounds.

Recommended Articles

10 Steps for Winterizing Your Boat

Essential Steps for Winterizing and Preparing Your Boat for Storage

Fly Casting In The Wind

Use these tips to help make it easier to when out fly fishing in Ontario.

Shallow Water Fishing in Sunset Country

Fish are still in shallow water—and up here in Northwestern Ontario, they’re more than willing to bite.

World Class Muskie at Young's Wilderness Camp

Lake of The Woods for Muskie and Walleye

Bob Izumi searches for bass and pike

Fishing unfamiliar territory, Bob Izumi lands monster smallies and Northern pike

Topwater Bass

Targeting Spring Bass at Dog Lake Resort

Wild Brook Trout

Remote Outpost Fishing on Pinei Lake

World Class Walleye Fishing at Vermilion Bay Lodge

Eagle Lake has over 68,000 acres of clear Canadian Shield waters with world-class walleye and muskie.

Birch Bark Lodge

A Slice of Heaven on Wigwascence Lake

Making Mistakes with Muskie on the Fly

What I learnt the hard way chasing muskie on the fly.

Basin-Shape Walleye

Learn this proven technique to catch more walleye when ice fishing in Northern Ontario.

Thirst to be First

A Simple Trick to Better Your Fishing Now

Exploring Turtle River

A family fishing, canoeing and camping trip.

Pat’s Muskie Academy

Nik learns the art of trolling for giant muskie on the French River and Lake Nipissing

Smoked Fish: A Do-It-Yourself Delicacy

Catching and eating fish from the cold, clear waters is one of the perks of living in Northern Ontario.

Memorable Panfish

Fishing Local Creeks With Shoreline Access

Irregular Lake Trio

Fly in to Woodland Caribou Provincial Park to fish for trophy muskie and northern pike.

Laurentian Lodge

Perfect base for fishing Algoma Country in Northern Ontario.

Fly-in Fishing

Why You Need to Book a Fly-in Fishing Trip

The Pros Go-To Tactics

Tips to get the most of your Summer Bass Fishing in Ontario