Barron Canyon, Algonquin Park (Labor Day weekend)
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:39 pm
Hi all,
I've been browsing this site on and off for a couple of years, and have really enjoyed reading the reports. Decided it was time to post my own.
First, let me say that Barron Canyon is a very cool place to visit. Beautiful scenery, great canoeing and good swimming. But you're here to read about the fishing right?
We camped at the last site before you reach the canyon. Nice site with 2 drop-offs which were great for swimming and fishing. The first morning, I decided to try a live worm and float combo as a couple of people we were camping with had tried fishing the day before and not had a single bite. Thought I'd throw in a worm as I find if nothing bites that, chances are it's going to be difficult with anything else. Anyway, first cast, the float didn't even get chance to right itself before a fish was on. Pulled in a nice trout (not sure what kind, maybe a splake?). Probably about 12". Was happy as it's the first time I've caught one in Ontario. Second cast, same thing, another trout. Third cast, a rock bass. There were definitely fish in there, so switched to a white 4" senko rigged wacky. First cast, bam!, a smallmouth (about 0.5 lb). Next cast, another smallmouth, this time about 1.5 lb. After that, it was non-stop action! I'd say that 1 out of 3 casts ended with pulling in a fish. I've never fished when the fish were so aggressive. They were hitting the bait like crazy. Some of them were swallowing the bait, they were hitting so hard. They were putting up a good fight too, diving and jumping out the of water. Great fun! Biggest one I landed was maybe pushing 2.5 lb. I did get one that looked like it was pushing 3lb, but it snapped the line as I was about to lip it (of course, I would say that about "the one that got away" At that point, the GF came over to say it was time to go on a hike that we'd all arranged, so I put the rod away. I must admit though that the whole time I was walking I was thinking about that bass (but don't tell the her that) .....
One of the smaller ones
A bit bigger
Second morning, I got up around 7.30 and threw the line in the water while the rest of the crew were still in their tents. Standing fishing in the early morning sun with a mug of tea - can't beat it.
Bite was a little slower, but still decent. Pulled in more smallmouths in the 1-2 lb range, but was still having trouble with snapped lines even though I was using 12 lb mono. I later figured it out what was going on. Even though I was fishing off a sheer rock drop off, I think that now and again, when a fish took the bait, it was diving down and the line was getting frayed against the submerged rocks. Then, when a bigger fish was on, the frayed line would eventually break. Braided line would definitely have helped. Later in the morning, one of the lads got up and I offered him the spare rod I'd brought along. He'd never fished before so I taught him the basics of how to cast and soon he was hitting the water. He hooked into a nice 1 lb smallmouth - not a bad start to his fishing career. Soon after, the rest of the sleepy-heads got up and we all headed out for the day. Did manage to get the line the water again for an hour before dinner, and caught a few more smallmouths. Pulled one in, opened it's mouth, and found one of my senkos and hook still in it's mouth from a snapped line earlier in the day. Brilliant! Removed both hooks and bait and threw him back.
Canoeing down the Barron Canyon
Tried fishing a few more locations along the canyon, but the stretch of water beside our campsite proved to be one of the best - luckily for me. With space and weight for portaging being at a premium I only had a small selection of gear with me, but did try ribbon tails and tubes. However, the white senko was definitely the bait of choice. Majority of fish caught were smallmouths, with a few rock bass thrown in now and again, and of course the trout on the live worms.
Barron Canyon from above
All in all, some great fishing and a fantastic weekend.
I've been browsing this site on and off for a couple of years, and have really enjoyed reading the reports. Decided it was time to post my own.
First, let me say that Barron Canyon is a very cool place to visit. Beautiful scenery, great canoeing and good swimming. But you're here to read about the fishing right?
We camped at the last site before you reach the canyon. Nice site with 2 drop-offs which were great for swimming and fishing. The first morning, I decided to try a live worm and float combo as a couple of people we were camping with had tried fishing the day before and not had a single bite. Thought I'd throw in a worm as I find if nothing bites that, chances are it's going to be difficult with anything else. Anyway, first cast, the float didn't even get chance to right itself before a fish was on. Pulled in a nice trout (not sure what kind, maybe a splake?). Probably about 12". Was happy as it's the first time I've caught one in Ontario. Second cast, same thing, another trout. Third cast, a rock bass. There were definitely fish in there, so switched to a white 4" senko rigged wacky. First cast, bam!, a smallmouth (about 0.5 lb). Next cast, another smallmouth, this time about 1.5 lb. After that, it was non-stop action! I'd say that 1 out of 3 casts ended with pulling in a fish. I've never fished when the fish were so aggressive. They were hitting the bait like crazy. Some of them were swallowing the bait, they were hitting so hard. They were putting up a good fight too, diving and jumping out the of water. Great fun! Biggest one I landed was maybe pushing 2.5 lb. I did get one that looked like it was pushing 3lb, but it snapped the line as I was about to lip it (of course, I would say that about "the one that got away"
At that point, the GF came over to say it was time to go on a hike that we'd all arranged, so I put the rod away. I must admit though that the whole time I was walking I was thinking about that bass (but don't tell the her that) .....One of the smaller ones
A bit bigger
Second morning, I got up around 7.30 and threw the line in the water while the rest of the crew were still in their tents. Standing fishing in the early morning sun with a mug of tea - can't beat it.
Bite was a little slower, but still decent. Pulled in more smallmouths in the 1-2 lb range, but was still having trouble with snapped lines even though I was using 12 lb mono. I later figured it out what was going on. Even though I was fishing off a sheer rock drop off, I think that now and again, when a fish took the bait, it was diving down and the line was getting frayed against the submerged rocks. Then, when a bigger fish was on, the frayed line would eventually break. Braided line would definitely have helped. Later in the morning, one of the lads got up and I offered him the spare rod I'd brought along. He'd never fished before so I taught him the basics of how to cast and soon he was hitting the water. He hooked into a nice 1 lb smallmouth - not a bad start to his fishing career. Soon after, the rest of the sleepy-heads got up and we all headed out for the day. Did manage to get the line the water again for an hour before dinner, and caught a few more smallmouths. Pulled one in, opened it's mouth, and found one of my senkos and hook still in it's mouth from a snapped line earlier in the day. Brilliant!
Removed both hooks and bait and threw him back.Canoeing down the Barron Canyon
Tried fishing a few more locations along the canyon, but the stretch of water beside our campsite proved to be one of the best - luckily for me. With space and weight for portaging being at a premium I only had a small selection of gear with me, but did try ribbon tails and tubes. However, the white senko was definitely the bait of choice. Majority of fish caught were smallmouths, with a few rock bass thrown in now and again, and of course the trout on the live worms.
Barron Canyon from above
All in all, some great fishing and a fantastic weekend.
verry nice pictures! 