You Don't Know What You Got 'Til It's Gone!

[frederickwreid]

Hello guys. Just a quick introduction: I'm Fred. Born and raised in Newfoundland, and now living in Bracebridge, Muskoka. I have come to love sport fish. No Bass, or Pike back on the island, so this was a whole new world for me. BUT the one thing we did have back there, was trout - brown, and brook. I was hard pressed to find a pond, lake creek or even a pothole without a trout!

That's not my experience here. I hear guys talk about their brookie adventures, I see pictures online, but have never found a trout that would take my fly. Maybe Muskoka trout are just snobs! In any case, I can't wait for the Pike Opener, looking forward to the Bass opener - but dearly missing my little specks on a fly. So, if you are in Muskoka and would like to share what you know, I'd appreciate that - heck, maybe you'd even let me tag along on your next trout outing. But either way, like the title says, you don't know what you've got 'til its gone! So take time to fish, take the family, (take a newfie!) and take every opportunity to wet a line!

Fred

[blasted_saber]

Do you have a boat? My best fishing for trout is from a boat in lakes. Good creek fishing for specks is not easy to find, and when one does, they rarely say anything.

An easy lake to get to and fish is Mayflower lake in Arrowhead Provincial Park. Its stocked annually with rainbows, and if I remember correctly, specks as well. Algonquin Park has A LOT of speck lakes, but will require some work to get to them.

You are also on the doorstep of some incredible lake trout fisheries in Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph. But again, you'll need a boat, and totally different technique.

[frederickwreid]

No boat, but I do have a canoe. Not much of a camper though, so going deep in Algonquin isn't quite what I'm after. I find there is a lot of private property here as well, so it's hard to access some places. I appreciate the direction though. And as for lakers? It's through the ice for me!

[blasted_saber]

Heres the stocking list for Parry Sound/Muskoka. These are probably your best bets for specks.

http://www.muskokawaterweb.ca/images...S_District.pdf

The thing is, outside of Algonquin, this region of central Ontario was HAMMERED by anglers starting in the 70s. Its within a couple hours of a third of Canada's population. Great fishing in central ON usually requires a lot of homework and some effort to get to. Fish like specks dont fare well under intense fishing pressure, then factor in acid rain of decades past, and proliferation of invasive species and they're in trouble.

[Fishy Wishy]

I guess my best advice is to find some small cold creeks and test them out...Finding the secret trout stream is half the fun.

[frederickwreid]

Ture enough Fishy Wishy! If my wife didn't have an irrational fear of me being eaten alive by a bear, it would be a lot easier too! lol

[LeakyBoots]

keep looking, they are there...
If you want me to post photos to prove it I will...

[frederickwreid]

Pictures are always welcome LeakyBoots!

[line052]

Pictures please..so I can geotag (imbedded data) the info and find your spot. Try that on your phone pics now...90% are geotagged....go into picture setting of pictures and check.... Amazing how many show exactly where the picture was taken.