Top 5 Species to Target on Fly in Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario is completely splattered with water. There is literally water everywhere. Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, whatever kind of water you like to fish, Ontario has it. . .in spades! In those lakes are a number of species of sport fish that are catchable using fly fishing gear. As technology has improved in the sport of fly fishing, so has the ability to target multi-species on fly.

If you’re new to fly fishing, here is a list of 5 species that are deemed to be very fly-friendly (meaning they are readily catchable using fly gear). 

Smallmouth Bass

This species of fish is found throughout Northern Ontario waters and is extremely fly-friendly. A schooling fish, often once you locate one bass, will be accompanied by a number of others. Smallmouth bass will eat a variety of flies including flies fished throughout the water column from the bottom (crayfish) through the mid-column (minnow patterns) right to the surface of the water body (frogs, dragonflies). Bass are acrobatic fighters often leaping clear out of the water. They put up a great fight and are a generally hearty species to practice catch and release. 

Northern Pike

Pike are thought to be the apex predator in any body of fresh water. They will readily eat almost any offering presented by anglers. From baitfish patterns to mice and even duckling flies, pike are violent fish often lying in wait to ambush their next meal. The allure of catching pike on fly is how they attack flies. They are extremely fast to attack, and eats are often met with sheer violence. They will fight a bit and are generally hearty for catch-and-release anglers who release them quickly. Most any size of fly will entice a pike to eat. Anglers can experiment with presentations to see what mood the fish are in. 

Brook Trout

The cliché that brook trout only live in beautiful places is actually pretty accurate. Brook trout are considered indicator species, meaning they are a great indicator of a clean and pristine body of water. If you’re catching brook trout, you are fishing in a very healthy ecosystem. Brook trout are considered to be all or nothing species of fish meaning they are either very easy to catch, or you can’t write a check big enough to buy a bite. That said, brook trout will attempt to eat anything they can fit in their mouths. From mice and other brook trout to the smallest of insects, they really are a fly fisher’s dream species. And the colours!!! Absolutely stunning! 

Steelhead

Fall time and springtime are prime times for anglers to target steelhead. In the spring, they are voracious feeders recovering from their spawning event and will readily eat streamers and egg patterns. In the fall, they enter tributaries of Ontario’s Great Lakes on the hunt for eggs deposited by salmonids and trout species. They are high-flying energetic species that are completely addictive. Though a little tougher to target than the species mentioned above, they are worthy adversaries on fly and will definitely give anglers a run!

Panfish

Surprisingly, panfish are a complete riot on a fly rod. Mini streamers, bugs and even spider patterns are quickly snapped up by schooling panfish. Sunfish, crappy, rock bass, perch. They are all extremely fly-friendly. Especially for kids! Smaller flies, lighter fly rods and their complete willingness to eat a fly make panfish a great choice to target in Northern Ontario!

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