If you live to fish and you’ve never cast your line into a lake in northern Ontario, these five spots in the backcountry you’ll want to add to your bucket list!
They come (in no particular order!) courtesy of Bob Elliott, superintendent of Lake Superior Provincial Park.
A lifelong, avid angler himself, Bob says these five parks provide unparalleled fishing, together with a true wilderness experience, which is why they attract people from all over Canada, the United States and beyond.
1. Lake Superior Provincial Park
The park boasts small, deep lakes with fantastic trout fishing, especially in the spring and fall. If the fish are really biting, you can pull out 10 or more in a day! A backcountry paradise, no motorboats are allowed on park lakes, just canoes. So paddle and portage your way into a life-changing experience.
2. Quetico Provincial Park
A world famous destination for backcountry canoeing, Quetico has over 2,000 lakes teeming with walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. The park has a live bait ban, though, so bring only artificial bait and barb-less hooks. Read more.
3. White Lake Provincial Park
White Lake is one of the largest lakes on the Lake Superior Circle Route and it’s swarming with walleye, northern pike, lake whitefish and yellow perch. Unlike Quetico, White Lake does allow live bait and motorboats.
4. Wabakimi Provincial Park
The park offers legendary fishing for walleye and northern pike and the chance to catch trophy fish. About as remote as you can get, the only access to Wabakimi is by rail or air. Once inside the park, it’s canoes only. There are no campgrounds, but there are fly-in lodges and resorts.
5. Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
Escape the crowds – Woodland Caribou sees fewer than 1,000 paddlers a season and not many more anglers – and revel in undisturbed nature while you fish for walleye, northern pike, lake trout and the elusive muskie.
Never fished in a remote area before? Bob offers these tips:
- Generally speaking, the further into the parks you go, the better the fishing. You’ll also encounter fewer people – and more wildlife, including caribou, moose and black bears
- Check online to see what services the park offers, and when you arrive, register in person if possible. That way, park staff can steer you to the best spots to find the species you’re after
- Come prepared for fast-changing weather conditions
- Bring your own tackle – and make sure you’ve got enough. Tackle shops are few and far between in the backcountry!
- Take a satellite phone and make sure you share your travel itinerary with someone at home
