Fishing

RESIDENT TROUT

4th Saturday of April to September 30th

The Saugeen River can be broken down into 3 major sections. The Upper Saugeen River will be the Colder Trout waters of the river, the central portion is still a cold-water section but is warmed as the season progresses into summer, then the lower sections that are warmer water which are only cold enough for the migratory species to run through to reach the cold-water spawning grounds. The top two sections of the river are home to a good diverse population of all three trout species, Rainbows, Brown Trout and Brook Trout. Whether you would like to fish the waters of the Camp or move to other areas all short drives from the camp, you can experience the awesome Trout fishing the Saugeen has to offer and be back at your site in time for the evening campfire. Some of the best dry fly fishing in the province of Ontario is yours to be had during the Spring Hatches of Caddis and Mayflies. If you love to cast lures or streamers this river will and can present you with some huge Trophy Brown trout. Even off our property we have seen several beautiful rainbows and browns sipping mayfly spinners during the evening hours.
The Trout season begins the 4th Saturday of April and continues to Sept. 30th. Just a 5-minute drive from the camp you will enjoy an extended season of the Saugeen until December 31st, which will allow you to access the fishery at any time during the day.

SMALLMOUTH BASS

4th Saturday of june into November

World class Trophy Smallmouth Bass are a resident species of the river and can be found in all the classic haunts in which large bass love to hold. If you were not aware this species, when found in cold, clean water rivers has a very long life, a 20” bass can be over 20 years old and they are incredible quarry on a fly or spinning rod. We are very fortunate to have Bass well into the 4-7 lb. class with a few we have only heard about in the mystical 8 lb. Giant class. Compared to the Smallmouth you would find in a lake; these fish fight so hard with great jumps and runs you will think they are a different species! Our bass season runs from the 4th Saturday of June into November and can be found in all the waters Flow around the Camp or water that can be accessed within a short drive from the camp. The late” Lefty Kreh” has published a book written entirely on Smallmouth Bass, one of his favorite species. In that book, he placed the Saugeen as the number 1 spot for trophy Smallmouth in North America. This species, because of a long life is fragile. We ask that you release all these old Bass. If one is taken, it will take 20 years to replace it and all the off spring it would produce would be lost forever. Following a great day of Bass fishing come back to the camp, relax at your campfire in the evening reminiscing of the great Smallmouth day you have just had and of the Trophies you have just released and figure out the Tactics for tomorrows adventure.

MUSKY

1st Saturday of June to approx. middle of December

Not too many rivers of the world can boast about the fish of 1000 casts. The Saugeen has become well known for its Musky fishery and the great sport it provides. The warmer sections of the lower parts of the river do have the highest density of River Musky. The mid reaches of the river might not hold as many fish but can sure provide all the explosive takes and fights a musky angler would enjoy through the course of a day or evening fishing them. On fly gear recommended weights are 9 or 10 wt. flyrods to fight them quickly but also handle casting flies that could be over 12” long. Large bulky flies are the trick with fast strips, and you will make this large predator attack. Once again, a slow growth fish, so handling is with great care, you are better to support the fish in the water “Not Out” for that awesome photo with a quick release back to the depths of the river. Then head back to camp and tell the Tale of the Legendary Saugeen Monster “that you landed”.

SALMON

For a great number of years, the Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario has been successful in stocking the great lakes with a Chinook Salmon originally found only in the Pacific Ocean. Given the size and depth of the lakes, they are for lack of better words “Inland seas” compared to most fresh water bodies of water. So why not. I’m sure that’s kind of how that thought process came to be! The Chinooks or better know as “Kings” have been migrating the Saugeen river for a great many years and when caught earlier in the season, they can be an incredible fight when presenting flies or casting lures. They do spawn in the river and once they are in the river for a length of time, do tend not to take flies or bait to easily. But the great positive for anglers, when they move to their spawning waters the other great species of the river structure downstream to feed on the abundant protein trail of eggs coming out from their nest. A good population of salmon run through the waters of the Camp and are great fun in late August and into the end of September. But like the rest we asked you to put them back so they can finish the spawning cycle they came to the river to do!

FALL STEELHEAD

Like the Steelhead fishery of the Spring, we enjoy a great Migratory run of fish that enter the river very early for the spring Spawn, these are the Steelhead that push into the river each Fall. A very rough estimate of 50 % of the entire Steelhead migration is that of fall run fish. These amazing fighters are bright silver,” not in spawning colors yet”. If I had to label it, they fight almost twice as hard as they will in the spring. An incredible display of acrobatics, fierce runs and total explosive chaos is the best description I can make of fall Steelhead. For many this is the Steelhead of choice. People come from all over the world for the Fall Steelhead run of the Saugeen River and from our camp, you will be on the river in just a few minutes. We are located just upstream of the upper limit of open season for the fall Steelhead fishery and will do our best to keep you informed of the progress of the fall run.