How to Professionally Pack for a Canadian Fishing Trip

Professional anglers who fly to their fishing destinations have to become efficient at packing their gear. It is the only way not to forget to pack something, like one of your best fishing lures, and still get everything past security and on the plane without high over-weight/size fees.

To help you pack like a professional angler and make flying a better experience, here are some tips learned by experience.

Get your Canadian fishing license early.

As soon as you know that Canada will be a fishing destination, go online and buy it. Make sure you buy the right type, a non-resident basic, regular, or sport license. The names of the types of licenses vary by province. Stamps or an additional card (to fund conservation) may also be required.

Be sure they are appropriate for who you are and the type of angling you will do. Anything else will earn you a fine and confiscation of your catch.

Develop a packing list before you need it.

If you pack without a packing list, you will bring stuff you never use and will have to do without the things you needed.

If you rush making a packing list at the last minute, you will get it wrong. Make your essential packing list in the offseason. Make this one generic.

From that list, modify it for each trip, as needed. Add specific details according to conditions at your destination, the target fish species, and the techniques you intend to use.

A well thought out packing list will help you bring all the things you need and none of the things you don’t.

Use this list to get started:

IDENTIFICATION/DOCUMENTATION

O O Passports

O O Driver’s License

O O Airline tickets

O Itinerary

O O Canadian fishing license and associated documents

O O Receipt from the fishing lodge

O O Cash money – ATMs may be scarce, bring plenty

O O Contact information – written down, in case your cell phone dies

PERSONAL GEAR

O O Batteries (for all devices)

O O Camera (film, if necessary)

O O Clothes (rolled, by outfit)

O O Over the counter drugs (antihistamines, etc.)

O Lip balm

O O Prescriptions

O O Rain gear

O O Rubber boots

O O Shoes (appropriate to activity)

O O Swimsuits, if needed

O O Towels (dish, bath, swimming)

O O Wet/Dry bag

BATHROOM STUFF

O O Razor

O O Toiletries (travel size, per person)

O O Toothbrush/toothpaste

FISHING GEAR – BY SPECIES, THE BEST RODS, AND THE BEST FISHING LURES

O O Compass

O O Electronic equipment

O O Fillet knife

O Insect repellent

O Map (of the lake)

O O Reels

O O Rods

O O Sunglasses (polarized)

O Sunscreen

O O Tackle

O O Tools (net, pliers, spreaders, etc.)

SAFETY GEAR

O O First aid kit

O O Life jacket, per person (the U.S. or Canadian Coast Guard approved)

Ask any Canada fishing lodges on your itinerary what they supply in their package.

Consider not packing those items that the lodge will provide. That is valuable space and weight saved.

Use soft-sided luggage.

Soft-sided luggage has two advantages for the professional angler flying commercial or chartered aircraft.

When you try to cram items into a hard-sided bag that is full, they must be compressed, or it will not go in. If you pack things into a soft-sided bag that is full, the bag can expand.

Hard-sided luggage is more challenging to load into aircraft. Soft-sided luggage can be loaded into spaces hard luggage can’t. This makes a massive difference on smaller charter aircraft.

Pack only the clothes you will wear.

The biggest mistake rookie travelers make is not doing this. Decide what complete outfits you will actually wear each day of your trip. Build your outfits to include socks, underwear, pants, and shirts. Several items will be worn for more than once: footwear, layers for warmth, raingear, etc.

Include clothing for the departure day and the day you return home. Set aside departure day clothes. Do not pack these.

Travel-size toiletries are best.

There are two reasons for packing travel-size toiletries instead of full-sized bottles.

First, TSA will not let you board with them. Second, they take up more space than you need. Your trip will not last long enough for you to use all that shampoo, shaving cream, or toothpaste. Bring two tiny bottles, if necessary.

Roll your clothes for packing.

Lay all your clothes out flat first. Then roll each item. Pack the rolled items into your soft-sided bag, put each outfit together.

Use soft tackle organizers and fly notebooks.

Plastic fly boxes are for traveling by car. They do not cram at all and can crack. For air travel, get soft bait binders and a soft-sided tackle bag.

Conserve space when packing your rods.

Your rods will probably be checked. Tape them together so they can be checked as one bag. Cut a thin-walled PVC pipe to length with room for plastic end caps. Stuff at the ends with clothing to prevent them from rattling around. This is reliable protection and easy for security to inspect.

Pack fishing hooks to satisfy security.

The hooks on your best walleye lures are considered dangerous. The Transportation Security Administration says small fishing hooks are OK to carry on the flight. They do not specify what sizes are considered small.

Large hooks,free or attached to lures, and other sharp fishing tackles are considered dangerous. The TSA wants these to be sheathed, wrapped securely, and packed in your checked baggage.Consider removing the hooks from your best fishing lures. Then you can check the hooks and carry on your favorite lures that you do not want to get misdirected.

“Wildewood on Lake Savant is a fishing adventure resort located in the remote wilderness of Ontario, Canada. Andy Kerecman manages their blog (https://wildewoodonlakesavant.com/about-resort/blog/) that celebrates the pristine landscape around the lake and the amazing trophy fishing that can be had.”

6 Best Practices for Sustainable Walleye and Trout Sport Fishing

All of us anglers love our sport. And a big part of that love is our passion for the great outdoors. This translates into a deep respect for the ecology of lakes, rivers, and streams.

Our fathers and grandfathers felt the same way. Now we understand more about how interconnected all species are, more than our forebears did.

We can sum up what this means for responsible sport fishermen. Here are 6 best practices for fishing trout, walleye, and other fish sustainably.

1. Financially support healthy fish populations – buy a fishing license.

When you buy a fishing license and a Canadian Outdoors Card, if applicable, the fees fund programs that benefit the fish in our waterways. The same agencies that issue fishing licenses also manage research into the health of our aquatic ecologies.

Biologists study the species populations in the lakes, rivers, and streams. Hydrologists study the water volume, flow, pH, and pollution. This helps the agency develop policy and regulations to improve and conserve the environment. This protects sport fishing now and for future generations.

2. Know the fishing regulations that govern the waters you fish.

These regulations will tell you what bodies of water are protecting recovering fish populations. These are closed to fishing.

A good example are Whitepine Lake and Whirligig Lake in Ontario’s Lady Evelyn River system. These two lakes are the only natural habitat in the world for Aurora trout (Salvelinus fontinalis tigamiensis). Aurora trout nearly went extinct in the 1950’s.

Whitepine and Whirligig lakes are now closed to fishing to protect that population. They have been naturalized in 12 other lakes and those may be fished. Very strict fishing regulations protect these populations as well.

3. Practice Catch and Release.

Your fishing regulations will identify which species you may catch and how many you can keep. You can keep fishing once you fill your limit, but you must release any additional fish. Release them in a way that they have a good chance to survive. You can go one step farther and release larger fish of prime reproductive age even if regulations allow you to keep them. This will help ensure a healthy fish population and good numbers of large fish for catching enjoyment.

A few years ago, conservation groups in Idaho were concerned that the practice of catch and release fishing is still lethal to steelhead trout. The University of Idaho and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game conducted studies to address that concern. They showed that Idaho anglers using catch-and-release techniques were not adversely affecting trout mortality.

4. Do not release invasive fish species if you catch them.

Catch and release practices are intended to protect native and stocked fish populations. Fish that are introduced into a lake or river system that is not native to them can become an invasive species.

An example is theRound Goby (Neogobiusmelanostomus) which is native to the Black and Caspian Seas in eastern Europe.In 1990 they traveled in the ballast water of ships from that area. They were inadvertently released in the Great Lakes.

Round Gobies are invasive because they are very aggressive feeders and spawners. They eat the eggs and fry of all species of native fish. They spawn in rocky habitats and aggressively defend those sites. That prevents native fish from spawning.

You can’t even eat Round Gobies because they can cause Tetrodotoxin poisoning. If you catch a Round Goby you are required to kill it immediately.

5. “Get the lead out”.

Lead poisoning does not just happen to little children eating the flaking chips of lead paint in old houses. Lead is still a common component in fishing tackle. It is found in most fishing jigs and sinkers.

Lead poisoning causes nervous and reproductive system damage in fish, birds, and mammals. Sport fishermen contribute to this problem when they use tackle containing lead. Even if it is only a little bit because lead exposure accumulates up the food chain.

Chronic led poisoning is from repeated low-dose exposure over time. A fish swallows lead tackle, a bigger fish swallows that one plus some of his own lead tackle. A top predator fish swallows several lower echelon fish who have eaten lead. A loon, eagle or bear eats these fish. Fish, birds, and mammals die throughout the food chain. Especially at the top.

90 percent of the bald eagles in the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine Raptor Center have elevated lead in their blood. 25 percent of those have clinical lead poisoning. Most of these die.

New Hampshire has one the US’s toughest bans on lead sinkers and jigs. But in 2018, 8 loons died on lakes and ponds in that state from ingesting these sinkers.

6. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but fish.

This is slightly modified from a Boy Scout motto because it really fits with sustainable fishing practices. There is no regular morning trash pickup in our beautiful wilderness fishing spots. It is our responsibility to not leave our trash to foul the water or harm animals that rummage through it.

Like lead poisoning, animal mortality from ingesting bits of trash can be by accumulation. At some point the indigestible items block the digestive track and the animal starves.

That happened to several bald eagles in Washington State in April 2017. Veterinarian LesannaLahner was unable to save them. There was no other damage to them. They died looking for food in the trash we leave behind.

Sustainable fishing has been practiced since the 1970’s in Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources tracked fishery decline in the post-World War II era. It responded with “strategic planning”. Sustainable fishing gradually developed from this. This concept has also developed elsewhere around the world.

Sustainable fishing is helping make trout fishing in Ontario a great experience.

The cold water that trout love, and the weather that keeps it cold, have always been here in Ontario. The three native species of trout; Aurora trout, Brook trout, and Lake trout, and the two naturalized species Brown trout and Rainbow trout historically have thrived to greatness. Sustainable fishing has restored the ecology of our water bodies to benefit trout populations.

Sustainable fishing ismaintaining the best walleye fishing in Ontario.

Walleye fishing has been fantastic in Ontario since the first Europeans settled here in the 1780’s. Walleye sustained the First Nations of Ontario long before that. Walleye populations would have suffered overfishing without the implementation of sustainable fishing.Wildewood on Lake Savant is a fishing adventure resort located in the remote wilderness of Ontario, Canada. Andy Kerecman manages their blog (https://wildewoodonlakesavant.com/about-resort/blog/) to celebrate the pristine landscape around the lake and the amazing trophy fishing that can be had.

13 Facts Every Novice Fisherman Should Know About Walleye Fishing in Ontario

Ontario Canada is a fisherman’s paradise. We have plenty of fish in a full spectrum of species and more than ample lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. And we enjoy all of this in spectacular, pristine Canadian wilderness. Here are 13 facts about walleye fishing in Ontario to entice you, the novice fisherman, to come visit us and experience this for yourself.

1. Over 70,000 lakes and rivers in northwestern Ontario are waiting for you to cast your line.

Most of the inhabitants in this part of the province are fish. People here are vastly out-numbered. You will never have to compete with crowds of boats on the water for the fishing spot you want.

2. Ontario has 20 fishery management zones, and each has its own regulations.

Ontario has too many bodies of water to have one set of regulations to manage all the fish populations in all those bodies of water. Having 20 fishery management zones allows more specific management of fish populations. You can go to Ontario’s website (https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary) and look up those fishing regulations. However, staff at local fishing resorts should be up-to-date with their lake’s and river’s fishing regulations and can help you prepare and stay legal.

3. Walleyes are aggressive predator fish.

It does take some skill to catch walleye, or it wouldn’t be very much fun. But a novice fisherman (or woman) can use this aggressive behavior to their advantage. Walleye will hit on many ways you can present your hook. Also, after they have eaten most of their natural prey in your lake, your bait or lure becomes very tempting.

4. Walleye are easy to identify.

A lot of fish families have more than one species, making it difficult for the novice fisherman to identify what they have caught. Walleye has only one species which makes it simple to identify. There are two dorsal (on top) fins. The anterior (towards the head) has stronger spines than the second one behind it. There is a dark area at the base (back) of the anterior dorsal fin. There is a white spot on the bottom of the tail. But a really telling feature of Walleyes is their eyes because they are pearlescent. This is caused by a reflective pigment layer on the eyes.

5. Walleye can grow to be 35” in length and weigh up to 20 pounds.

That was a historical catch that hasn’t been matched in a while in most lakes and rivers. Most caught walleye aren’t nearly this big. Anything over 25” is a large trophy fish. There are lots of big walleye in Lake Savant and other Ontario lakes. You have an excellent chance of catching one yourself.

6. Walleyes hang out in the deep spots in the lake, but hunt in the shallows.

You can catch them in both places. A lot of their prey are in the shallows, around weed beds and coarse rock with hiding places. However, after a weather front passes and the sky is clear, walleye often sink back into the deep areas where you can catch them with live bait.

7. Fishing for walleyes at night can be productive.

There are two reasons for this. Walleyes are nocturnal predators and they are photosensitive.

8. Live minnows are traditional bait for walleye, but soft plastics should be in your tackle box.

The newest soft plastic bait looks like and imitates live bait and now has scents and flavors. Plastics have an advantage over live bait because they come in colors that are attractive to fish. These can also be more visible in Ontario waters. They also stay on the hook better when you cast them.

9. Walleyes spawn in the spring when temperatures are between 38^oF and 45^oF.

What this means for you is that the males (mostly) will be in the shallows close to the bottom in cover. The females will be a bit deeper, but nearby. They will be hungry and aggressive. This is a great time for novice fishermen to be on the lake. The females are larger than the males, so move off a bit from the shallows if you want the bigger walleye.

A word of caution: be aware of when it’s open season and closed season for the fishery management zone your waterway is in. It is illegal to fish during closed seasons, and each of the 20 fishery management zones in Ontario have their own regulations.

10. In the summer, after the spawn, Walleyes return to the deep.

This is especially true during the day. However, as with any fishing tip offered by experienced fishermen, no rule is set in stone. You will often still have luck in the summer in a patch of weeds or coarse rock that offers cover for walleye.

11. Fishing in the fall is more challenging, but often more rewarding.

The challenge is that this is a transitional period for the temperature of the water in the lake. Walleye can be a bit more difficult to find. The colder it gets, the deeper they go. Generally. However, when you do find them, they will be aggressive because they are trying to get fat for the winter. Don’t be intimidated because you could catch the fish of your dreams in the fall.

12. Walleyes change behavior day vs night as well as across the seasons.

We have discussed fishing for walleye in the spring, summer, and fall and how their behavior changes generally. They also behave differently at night than they do during the day. We mentioned earlier that walleye have a reflective pigment on their eyes. This gives them a predatory edge at night. This is when they do a lot of their hunting. They like to hunt minnows. Minnows swim in the shallows. Walleyes chase them there at night.

During the day, walleyes are somewhat sensitive to the bright light in shallow water. That is when they tend to hang out in the deeper parts of the lake. You can still catch walleye during the middle of the day but try looking for them in the depths.

13. Walleyes change their behavior according to the weather as well.

Troll the bottom of the lake if a storm has made the water of the lake murky.
If the sky and water are clear, the walleye will likely be hiding in the weeds or other places where they can find cover.

Wildewood on Lake Savant is a fishing adventure resort located in remote wilderness of Ontario, Canada. Andy Kerecman manages a blog (https://wildewoodonlakesavant.com/about-resort/blog/) that celebrates the pristine landscape around the lake and the amazing trophy fishing that can be had.

What should I look for in a Drive-In Canadian Fishing Lodge?

Fishing the outreaches of Ontario Canada can make for the best fishing vacations. You’ll be in a boreal forest dotted with countless lakes strung one after the other, mostly untouched by man. The variety and size of the fish are unrivaled. The lakes and rivers in this country teem with fish. Due to the natural beauty and excellent fishing adventures to be had, Ontario specializes in fishing tourism. There are over 400 fishing lodges dotting the landscape. There are several factors that play into choosing the perfect Canadian fishing lodge for your group.

What fishing lodge options are there in Canada?

There are three types of fishing excursions that you can have at a Canadian fishing lodge. You can go for the super remote fly-in experience, where the only way to reach the lodge is to fly in on a bush plane. You can go to a lodge that’s accessible via a road where you can literally drive up to your cabin – these lodges are referred to as drive-in locations. Or you can boat-in, where the lodge is accessible via water only. The most common of these is the drive-in fishing lodge, so this article will deal specifically with what you want to look for in a drive-in Canadian fishing lodge.

What fishing packages do drive-in fishing lodges offer?

There are roughly two types of vacation packages that drive-in fishing lodges offer in Ontario, the “American Plan” and the “Housekeeping Plan”.

The Housekeeping Plan is the most basic and is relatively self-explanatory. It typically covers items like towels and linens, cooking utensils and dinnerware. Basically, you’re renting a cabin with a kitchen. You bring in your own food.Bait, boat or other gear rentals may be extra, as would a fishing guide. There may be a docking fee if you bring your own boat. This plan is good for the budget-conscious experienced angler.

The American Plan includes a lot more. When a fishing lodge offers this, they provide housekeeping items plus meals. “All-inclusive” fishing packages usually include a fishing guide, boat rental, and other services. Sometimes, you’re allowed to bring your own boat. This option is more expensive but offers a lot more for newbie anglers or those new to fishing Ontario lakes.

There are lodge-specific variations of these packages, so you’ll want to discuss with the lodge owner or manager prior to booking what exactly you are paying for and what you’ll need to supply yourself. Be wary of exceptionally low-priced packages as they likely have a lot of hidden fees. Fuel in a remote location could cost you $6+/ gallon.

Group Considerations that Will Affect Fishing Lodge Choice

Ask yourself the following questions about the group that you’ll be traveling with to really narrow down what sort of drive-in Canadian fishing lodge you want:

1. What are the capabilities of everyone I’m traveling with?
Where you go and what you do will largely depend on the least fit individual of the group. Consider everyone’s age, any pre-existing health conditions, the physical capabilities of each person in the group, gender, and any disabilities. Each of these considerations will impact how far you can travel, what amenities you may need, and what services you may desire.
2. How large is my group?
The number of people in your group may limit your Canadian fishing lodge booking choices. Extra large groups (8+ people) may not be able to stay in the same cabin and super small groups of 2 or less may have problems – there may be a minimum party size of 4 people. You may be able to work out a deal with the lodge for large groups making the per person price drop. The further out in advance you can book the trip the more accommodating your lodge could be.
3. How experienced are the members of my group?
Consider the fishing skills the individual members of your group. How skilled are you and they with driving a boat and landing fish? What sort of lake fishing experience do you all have? In Ontario we have some huge freshwater lakes, making it easy to get lost. Waves get bigger in bad weather. If it’s your first visit and your group is generally inexperienced than you’ll want to consider hiring the services of an experienced fishing guide or pick a smaller lake for the first trip.

Money and Travel Needs Will Also Affect Which Fishing Lodge You’ll Choose

Budget plays a large role in choosing your fishing package and lodge. You’ll also need to consider travel needs. So, ask yourself the following:

4.What is my budget?
You’ll likely pay more for all-inclusive deals, but that may be worth it to your group. You may be able to save more if you’re familiar with the area and are a more experienced angler by going with a housekeeping-only plan. That said, calculate how much it’ll cost for food, gas (to and from), fishing licenses, rentals (if applicable), etc. to get a better picture of how much your vacation is actually going to cost. You may find the savings and the hassle even things out.
5.How far do you want to travel?
If you’re traveling from the United States, you may travel a fair distance just to get to the Canadian border. Past the border, it’s possible to travel up to an additional 6 hours north to reach the furthest points by road. Obviously, how long you want to drive will determine which drive-in Canadian fishing lodges are possibilities.
6.How much gear is coming with you?
Are you and the members of your group relatively light packers? Or will you be carrying kit and kaboodle to make sure you have all contingencies covered? Check with the lodge to see if there’s any luggage or gear limitations.

What fishing experience is your group looking for?

Finally, ask yourself a couple questions regarding what sort of fishing experience does your group want.

7.What fish species do we want to go after?
Not all lakes in Ontario have all fish species. If you’re looking to catch a specific species, like walleye, you’ll want to make sure the lodge you book resides on a lake that has that species.
8.What connectivity and social levels are you looking for?
You can literally “get away from it all” in Ontario. The topography and sparse populations mean that cell and internet services are spotty. Once you get out of populated areas, you’ll likely have to rely on satellite signals. While most drive-in fishing lodges offer some sort of internet service, it will likely be slower than what you are used to at home. Don’t expect to be able to download or stream Netflix on a rainy day. If digital connection is vital to your group, you’ll want to confirm this service with your prospective lodge.
It is also possible to book a drive-in Canadian fishing lodge that is quite remote, possibly even the only lodge on the lake. This could mean that your only human contact would be you, your group, and the lodge staff. For some, that’s heavenly. For others, that would be too lonely. Plan accordingly.

Fishing Lodge Reputations Can Also Help in Choosing the Right Lodge

Chances are you can get a good feel for a prospective fishing lodge by what people say about them. Look at the guest testimonials supplied by the lodge, Google reviews, online fishing forums, Trip Advisor or Expedia, etc. As you review this, what’s the consensus? Remember, one or two negative reviews are likely to be outliers and not representative of the average visit.

A general rule of thumb is to ensure you have a good conversation with the facility owner prior to booking. This will give you the best feel for what the owner is like and what they have to offer you and your fishing group.

If you take the time to think about what it is you’re looking for together, knowing the needs of the people who you’ll be traveling with, choosing a Canadian fishing lodge is relatively easy.Andy Kerecman manages Wildewood on Lake Savant, a drive-in fishing resort with a fly-in feel, and a blog(https://wildewoodonlakesavant.com/about-resort/blog/)that celebrates the pristine landscape around the lake and the amazing trophy fishing that can be had in the remote wilderness of Ontario, Canada.

9 Facts that Prove Ontario Fishing Lodges are at the Best Locations

Fishing lodges in Ontario Canada deliver unbeatable fishing experiences. No other place on earth does this better. In case anyone is not convinced, here are 9 facts about the remote fishing resorts in Ontario to prove they are in the best locations ever.

1. These fishing lodges are remote.

Almost nobody lives in northwest Ontario. The population centers are in the southern 10 percent of the province along the shores of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence lowlands.

There are not a lot of major roads through northwestern Ontario by American standards. There is 1 highway similar to a US interstate freeway in Kenora district, 2 in Thunder Bay District, and 2 in Rainy River District.

Then there are secondary highways (mostly paved and less than 15 miles long) and a few tertiary highways that are all gravel and of poor standard.

This is because over 97 percent of the land in these districts in northwestern Ontario is unincorporated and sparsely populated.

2. The lakes these fishing lodges are on are pristine.

The undeveloped nature of most of the land in northwest Ontario has kept the lakes undeveloped as well, except for the fishing lodges themselves. This type of development is easy on the lake because it is there to support fishing.

It is different than development for housing or light industry. Often the lodges are just fishing camps.

The water quality and ecology of these lakes have been preserved.

3. These lakes generally enjoy a low fishing pressure.

The low pressure on the fish populations of lakes in northwest Ontario is due partly to their remoteness.

Another reason is that most of the fisheries in this area of Ontario are on crown land. Less than 25 percent of the land is privately owned.

Additionally, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry manage fish populations through regulation and enforcement. Catch and retain limits for each species is set for each fisheries zone, and by extension, for each lake.

4. There are a huge number of lakes in Ontario.

The state motto of Minnesota is “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, which makes that state a fine place to fish. There are actually 11,842 lakes in Minnesota.

There are about 250,000 lakes in Ontario. Minnesota’s waterways look puny in comparison. What does that fact say about Ontario? That it is a fantastic place to fish.

5. Ontario actively and scientifically conserves its precious lakes and rivers.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry conducts Broadscale Monitoring Programs on lakes and rivers. The Ministry’s Aquatic Science Specialist leads science crews with their equipment in collecting biologic information. This includes fish abundance and health, water samples, and invasive species.

These crews pay special attention to the top predator fish species. This is because the health and abundance of top predators indicates the same for the fish they feed on.

All this biological data is sent to MNRF biologists who use it to manage this resource. The goal is to maintain and preserve this precious resource for future generations to enjoy.

6. Ontario lakes make optimum oxygen and nutrientsavailable for fish.

The lakes in Ontario are dimictic. This means the layers of water in the lake, warm on top to cool on the bottom, turn over (or mix) twice each year. In the spring and again in the fall.

This is important because this process distributes dissolved gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) and nutrients for the fish and aquatic plants. The water is thoroughly mixed before it is stratified again.

This is important to all fish, but it is especially so to cold loving fish, like lake trout, that hang out in the deep parts of the lake in the summer.

At those depths, decaying organic matter depletes dissolved oxygen. Mixing twice a year helps these fish thrive.

There are dimictic lakes elsewhere in the world. Any lake that cools to 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degree Celsius) at the surface, and is not too shallow, will turn over twice a year.

But when this fact gets added to the other facts, it shows Ontario fishing lodges are in the best places because they are on the healthiest lakes.

7. The diversity of fish species makes great fishing.

A good lake to fish in will support 2 or 3 great game fish. Like trout and bass. Most lakes do not support 3 great species.

The lakes in Ontario support 158 fish species!“Big deal,” you say.You are only interested in 3 or 4 sport species? Good biodiversity is good for all species, especially the predators that anglers go after.

And great biodiversity is better still.

Here is a partial list of fish species you probably are interested in. Walleye, northern pike, muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brook trout, lake trout, salmon, carp, brown trout, catfish, rainbow trout, sturgeon, whitefish and panfish (sunfish, bluegill, bullheads, and rock bass).

8. Ontario is not so remote that you can’t enjoy the fishing.

You can drive. Get an Ontario road map, details about border crossings, and find Ontario Tourism Information Centres at Ontario Canada’s website. See Sources below.

You can fly. There are international airports in Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Toronto, and Windsor that you can fly into from the US or abroad. From these you can fly a domestic airline to airports in these cities: Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, North Bay, Timmins, Kingston, Sarnia, Kenora, and Muskoka.

You can fly and then drive. You can rent a car at most airports.

9. Ontario loves recreational fishing and the anglers who come here to do it.

Recreational fishing is important to Ontario because it is a big part of our heritage. It is also a huge part of our current culture and economy.

Ontario has 1,320,000 licensed anglers. Recreational fishing tourism generates hundreds of millions of dollars.

This drives our belief that Ontarians are stewards of the tremendous resource that are our fisheries. We also welcome all anglers including the rising generation to enjoy this experience and participate in preserving it.

Wildewood on Lake Savant is a fishing adventure resort located in remote wilderness of Ontario, Canada. Andy Kerecman manages their blog (https://wildewoodonlakesavant.com/about-resort/blog/) to celebrate the pristine landscape around the lake and the amazing trophy fishing that can be had.