Flyfishing solitude
August 22, 2007 12:38 PM Subscribe
I'm yearning for some solitary flyfishing within a 10 hour drive of Toronto or Detroit. Since coming to Canada I have not managed to get away and do some nice, private fly fishing and get in some alone time on a beautiful river. I'd like to rectify that this Fall. Does anyone have any recommendations as to where I can achieve this? I don't like to share the river with more than one or two other folks and I don't want a guide.
Don't you know that true flyfishers NEVER give up their best spots?!
You're not very far from the famous Au Sable River - you could start there, and ask around and people will tell you about smaller streams you can fish (but they're not going to give up the best of the best).
Venture farther north, across the bridge, and you'll find no end of solitude and small trout streams. Have breakfast at a small restaurant, pick up a pasty to go for lunch, and strike up a conversation with some locals. They'll give you pointers about where to start fishing from. And from there, just fish the stream until the sun goes down...
I suggest that your preparations include reading Robert Traver's Trout Madness.
Also, review his "Testament of a Fisherman":
“I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly; because of the television commercials, cocktail parties and assorted social posturing I thus escape; because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because trout do not lie or cheat but respond only to quietude and humility and endless patience; because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip; because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters; because only in the woods can I find solitude without loneliness; because bourbon out of an old tin cup tastes better out there; because maybe someday I will catch a mermaid; and, finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant - and not nearly so much fun.”
posted by splendid animal at 1:45 PM on August 22, 2007
You're not very far from the famous Au Sable River - you could start there, and ask around and people will tell you about smaller streams you can fish (but they're not going to give up the best of the best).
Venture farther north, across the bridge, and you'll find no end of solitude and small trout streams. Have breakfast at a small restaurant, pick up a pasty to go for lunch, and strike up a conversation with some locals. They'll give you pointers about where to start fishing from. And from there, just fish the stream until the sun goes down...
I suggest that your preparations include reading Robert Traver's Trout Madness.
Also, review his "Testament of a Fisherman":
“I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly; because of the television commercials, cocktail parties and assorted social posturing I thus escape; because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because trout do not lie or cheat but respond only to quietude and humility and endless patience; because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip; because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters; because only in the woods can I find solitude without loneliness; because bourbon out of an old tin cup tastes better out there; because maybe someday I will catch a mermaid; and, finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant - and not nearly so much fun.”
posted by splendid animal at 1:45 PM on August 22, 2007
The Pere Marquette river offers great flyfishing as well. The Orvis shop in Baldwin, MI can provide info on where to enter the river, what the fish are hitting on, etc. They also have lodging, but I bet it is most expensive. I would rate the fishing pressure in the Adirondacks as relatively high. The Pere Marquette and Au Sable would be medium. I have got to believe that Canada offers some high quality rivers with low fishing pressure, but I have no idea where.
posted by caddis at 2:17 PM on August 22, 2007
posted by caddis at 2:17 PM on August 22, 2007
Yes on the AuSable....
Also, even closer to Detroit is a great Smallmouth Bass fishery on the Huron River. Discussion Board located at Huron River Net (disclaimer, this is my website, but the discussion board is dominated by some skilled fly fishermen)
posted by HuronBob at 7:02 PM on August 22, 2007
Also, even closer to Detroit is a great Smallmouth Bass fishery on the Huron River. Discussion Board located at Huron River Net (disclaimer, this is my website, but the discussion board is dominated by some skilled fly fishermen)
posted by HuronBob at 7:02 PM on August 22, 2007
Response by poster: Thanks for all the info guys. That'll get me started on my trip planning.
posted by Umhlangan at 8:20 PM on August 23, 2007
posted by Umhlangan at 8:20 PM on August 23, 2007
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posted by jdfan at 1:04 PM on August 22, 2007