Fishing in the GONQ

A different type of fishing that has seen rewards been reaped by many. This forum allows us to learn more about Float and Fly fishing from those who have made it their number 1 way to fish.
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Hookup
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Fishing in the GONQ

Post by Hookup »

well, I've set a date for the weekend of May 2nd to go fishing in Algonquin park... I'll be in a small trailer/camper as a home-base and using a canoe to fish from. We will be at the Achray grounds. Targeting trout.


Who's got tips and ideas for me? I know nutt'n other than book knowledges.. hehe.. so i'm looking for any free-bees... not necessarily x,y locations, but general ideas and approaches that can work?

Can I expect top-water dry-fly action? Only go with sinking line? What flies should I expect to use/need?

Thanks in advance.
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Todd B.
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Post by Todd B. »

Hookup,

It's unlikely that you'll do any traditional dry fly fishing, though you might use your floating line to do some chironomid fishing under an indicator. You'll probably find that you'll be using a sinking line most of the time. Black Woolly Buggers are popular.

In any case I always have two rods rigged (floating & sinking).

Cheers,
Todd
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Post by Hookup »

That is very unfortunate.... I am a dry-fly fan, 100%, as I am sure most are... and it seems impossible to find trout active on the surface...

I do not enjoy trolling a line behind the canoe, but it seems the most effective way to catch'em if not the only way to catch'em around these parts.

Well, at least I have a good selection of buggers to hit them with.. and I already have a sinking line.. so I'm prepared...

Thanks Todd for the help
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Todd B.
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Post by Todd B. »

Tim,

You don't have to troll. Work the deadfalls, etc. Cast and retrieve. Another method is to use (Phil Rowly) quick strike indicators and "long" leaders to dead drift buggers just off the bottom.

Worst case, there is always a mouse pattern for those big brookies! :-)
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Post by wongrs »

the lakers come up shallow in the spring after ice-out. not sure if they'll still be around at the beginning of may or even if they are on your lake. i think they're mainly up to feed on baitfish that are spawning.

i think kevin callan has a book or two on algonquin and he fishes for lakers in the spring. i'll try to find the chapter in the book i have and let you know if there's any useful info.
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Post by Todd B. »

Tim,

You might also ping your question off of some of the Algonkin Flyfishers, as a number of them fish Alogonquin Park regularly.
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Post by Hookup »

Thanks very much for the info...


I've never tried casting with my sinking line before... I have to see if it is fast or slow sinking, but i'm sure that doesn't make much of a difference for casting (beyond weight?)...

I'll check out that link, thanks Todd... and see what else I can find...

Hey, if nothing else, it'll be fishing for a few days...

We are hoping that as of May 2nd it is still "just after ice-out" but it might be a few weeks too late...
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pchilli1
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trout

Post by pchilli1 »

Trout fishing in the park only opens 8 days before you are going to be fishing so I don't think it'll make a world of difference.

I'm in the park the same weekend...

Cheers,

P.
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Post by Todd B. »

Tim,

The trick to casting sinking lines is getting it off the water initially.

Assuming that you've managed to cast it out and are stripping it in. When you're left with say 15' of fly line out, perform a roll cast to get your line on top of the water/in the air, then it's just a matter of false casting and delivering as normal.
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D-mo
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Achray ..

Post by D-mo »

You picked a nice spot to fish. I fished lakers there last summer, didnt catch any, but did spot quite a few on my flasher. Like others say .. full sink, and pull close into the deadfalls.
Across from the campground, im thinking east, there is a rock outcropping after a large bay on the northern side. Paddle over there, and then make a right at the rock and continue up that small river. There may be a small portage, but maybe not considering the time you your up there. This is a good destination for brookies.
When going for lakers last yr, just after iceout on a Hiway 60 Lake.. they were all suspended at 30ft of water. Hope fishing is just as good this yr. Im headed up with a buddy in just over 4 weeks.

d-mo
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