A Remote Fishing Adventure with White River Air

A Do It Yourself fly-in fishing trip for Brook Trout

This spring I had the opportunity to do one of my favourite things—travel up to Northern Ontario with a friend for a do-it-yourself fly-fishing trip. Even better, the target species for this trip were right in my wheelhouse: light-rod Brook Trout between 12-17 inches. Needless to say, I could hardly wait to start packing and hit the road. I invited my good friend Rob Voisin to come along. In my experience, it's always best to have another person join you on these remote adventures…plus who wouldn’t love to indulge in some epic Brook Trout fishing with a friend.

Rob and I met one morning a few days before our trip to plan out the essentials for a remote DIY fishing adventure- food, safety equipment and (most importantly) fishing gear—and it wasn’t long before we were on the road. The drive from Southern Ontario was spectacular, with breathtaking scenery around virtually every bend. If you’re lucky on a drive through the north, you may even have the chance of seeing the odd moose or bear along the side of the highway. For those who don’t love road trips, you can also take the train from Sudbury straight to the town of White River. This is a great way to break the drive for those travelling a long way.

We got a room at a comfortable motel in White River when we arrived that evening. The whole travel experience to the outpost was very easy, with the airstrip only a quick five-minute drive from our motel, and a short twenty-minute flight with White River Air to our final destination. We were pleasantly surprised by how clean and welcoming the outpost was. There was even the fun bonus of indoor plumbing, an outpost first for both Rob and me. The two boats provided for us were in great shape. We had zero issues with the engines, and they were super easy to start—both key factors in a remote setting like this one. Finally, after getting everything set up and put away, it was time to fish.

The little lake we were on was 100% Brook Trout, and needless to say, Rob and I were just rearing to get our flies wet. The lake is bounded by two rivers, and we were hoping to have the chance to explore, as we’d been told that dry fly fishing can be phenomenal at certain times of the year, depending on the conditions. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't on our side during our stay, with high winds and very cold temperatures, but that didn't matter. We still had a lake full of Brook Trout to ourselves, and nothing but time. We put on sink tips, tied on mid-sized streamers, often favouring Woolly Buggers and Zonkers, and not surprisingly, got into the fish right away.

The action was steady all day long. We found the most success when fishing boulders and rockface walls. The average size was about 14 inches, which will definitely put a bend in a 4-weight rod and give you an epic fight. We even netted a few Brookies in the 17-inch range which were all coloured up, showing off their pure beauty.

Between the fishing, the BBQs, and the good conversations around the bonfires at night, Rob and I had a fantastic time. The DIY trips are all about getting away from civilization for a few days with family or friends, and if you plan them properly, they are about as much fun as an angler could hope for.

About Mikey Metcalfe

Mikey Metcalfe is a life long fly angler based in Fergus, Ontario. He is a Federation of Fly Fisher’s certified casting instructor who specializes in teaching beginner anglers the nuances of fly fishing, and runs the  Metcalfe School of Fly Fishing. The Grand River is his home water, but he guides all year in the tributaries of Southern Ontario.

Recommended Articles

Irregular Lake Trio

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

Reaching Deep For Walleye

Fishing for big Walleye in Ontario's Bay of Quinte.

World Class Walleye

Fishing Day Trips on the Bay of Quinte

Musky Mayhem in the Kawarthas

Top notch musky fishing on Buckhorn Lake can be found in the heart of the Kawarthas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grass Carp

Learn how to detect these fish species and how to keep them out of the Great Lakes.

Fishng the Upper Ganaraska

One of Ontario’s most popular fishing destinations for trout and salmon anglers.

Speckle Splake Spectacular

Ice Fishing for big Northern Ontario speckled & splake trout.

Big Boat Portaging

Fishing on Lady Evelyn Lake in Northeastern Ontario

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

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

Catching Ontario Walleye

Pro Tips for Bait and Walley Presentations

A Guide to Fly-in Ontario Lodges

Today’s fly-in fishing vacations are no more expensive than most other getaways.

Top 5 Flies for Any Species

Fve flies you should have in your fly box.

Kesagami Wilderness Lodge

Kesagami Lake has just under a million acres of fishable water that is chock full of pike and walleye.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Muskies

Muskies are fish of 10,000 casts and are found in large bodies of water in Northwestern Ontario.

The Perfect Shore Lunch

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

Don't Forget The Umbrella

It's raining smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike here in Northern Ontario

Whitefish Lake Walleye

An epic walleye fishing adventure in Superior Country.

Fishful Dreams Do Come True

Landing my favourite species on back-to-back casts at Cedar Lake Camp

Best Bass Baits for Lodge Trips

Sure-fire baits and techniques that have resulted in success at Northern Ontario fishing lodges

3 Must Fish Ontario Hotspots for Smallmouth Bass

Everyone has a bucket list for something. Die-hard bass anglers have many.