Fly Fishing in the Bruce

There are many points of entry on Bruce County’s beautiful Saugeen River. There are 102 kilometres of easy paddling, stunning shorelines and cliffs, and perhaps most importantly – some of the best fishing in Southern Ontario. 

The Saugeen River is a massive river system and one of the best fishing spots for brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and other fish species in Ontario. Many of the river’s sections can be over 50 feet wide with plenty of fish to catch. Bruce County is home to many great fishing spots, but this river in particular is one of the best.

 

Once you get to the lower half of the Saugeen River, it’s better known for large salmon and musky fishing.

In both sections of the river, there are both fast rapids and long slow meadow sections, deep pools and good hatching spots in early spring and summer. It’s the characteristics and biology of the Saugeen River that make it such a rich place to fish.

Fly fishing just so happens to be one of the most enjoyable forms of fishing and is a great way to catch trout, bass, musky and other fish. However, it takes a bit of practice. 

The basic fly cast

The foundation of all fly-casting moves is called the basic fly cast. To execute this cast, you start with your rod tip pointing down and your line laid out on the water in front of you. Smoothly accelerate from that position until the rod tip is behind you, then allow the line to unfurl behind you. Then, once again accelerate forward and cast the line.

Roll cast in tight spots

You won’t always have the room to back-cast, so you’ll need to use a roll cast to get your lure in the water. A roll cast is effective if the river is bordered by thick tree lines with overhanging branches. The last thing you want is your line to get caught in a bunch of branches.

To roll-cast, flip the tip of your rod up, but let the line hang down by the side of your rod. The line should make a capital “D”, with the rod as the straight part and the line as the belly. Once you see that in your peripheral vision, you can cast the line forward.  

Fish in deep water pools  

If you want to fish for trout specifically, you’ll want to fish for larger trout in the deep water pools where they tend to frequent. Your fly needs to be heavy enough to sink to the bottom of the pool. Trout like these deep pools because they can feed on baitfish and larva there.

For this, you need a heavy fly or a weight added to the lure. You want your fly to slip along the river bed to get the attention of your target first. You know you’re at the desired depth if you notice your fly occasionally getting snagged on the bottom. However, if it’s snagging too often, you may need to reduce the weight.

Fly fishing in the Bruce is a great way to spend spring and summer weather. Getting out into nature and catching your ideal game fish is a sure fire way to bring yourself an extra little dose of happiness. These have been just a few tips on how to get started on your fly fishing adventures.