Do you still have the trout fishing blues? Are you looking for that more remote location to test your fishing skill? This next post will provide you with some pristine lakes and river systems to dip your trout spinner or fly below some glassy surfaces. The good news is that “remote” does not have to mean far.
One of the great things about living in Huntsville is that we are just on the geographic edge of ’no’ where. A five minute drive north on Hwy 11 or 60 will put you in a remote landscape dotted with lakes, river systems and tall white pine vistas. A slightly extended drive of 20 to 30 minutes could easily take you the pristine and trout filled lakes of Algonquin Park.
Consider trying these areas for some spring trout.
Little East River (potential species – Speckled Trout)
North of Huntsville and just east of Novar, flows a tiny river known as the Little East river. In these dark, sparkling waters you can potentially find numerous pan-sized speckled trout. Ironically, the recommendation from nearby anglers is to fish the river as the black flies begin to emerge. When you do, don’t forget your best bug spray mixture. Access to the river can be tough. I try to fish the bridge areas where 592 intersects the river in 2 spots (labelled B and C on map) and a bridge on Fish Lake Road (labelled A on map). Be sensitive to the fact that parking on the side of the road is limited. Please do NOT park on private driveways and laneways.
Unless you are actually wading or float tubing on the river, flyfishing is tough here. It will test your confined area skills, but the payoff is awesome. My friend, Kevin, who fishes the this river often recommends this set-up when fly fishing the Little East River:
“The little East fishes best around the bug time primarily as they give themselves away by rising to the top. I have done well with prince nymphs and Gold head nymphs size 18 and 16 as well as grizzle-gnat size 20 dry flies. Use a 3 or 4 wt rod with floating line, 7-foot 4x leader and 2 feet of 4 lb vanish fluorocarbon tippet.”
Another local angler and friend, Ray, recommends the following when fishing with spincasting gear in the Little East:
“A small spinning rod with the smallest kastmaster lures in gold/perch patterns have been good. A micro-hook and bobber system using meal worms should virtually guarantee trout in your pan.”
You can expect to catch specks in the 10 – 12 inch range. Please release what you are not going to eat.
Be sure to visit the bridge at Section C there is a nice pool on the east side of 592 with a great view you would expect to see a moose join you on the river. For the ultimate Little East experience, fish the water system from a canoe or float tube. One angler did and wrote me about his experience. Visit this link to read about it.
I should also mention that the Little East River flows across a large area. Don’t be afraid to use “topo” maps or google earth to find any spot along this river you can access and fish.
Tim Lake – Alqonquin Park (potential species Lake Trout, Speckled Trout and Splake)
If you have some time and a canoe rack on your vehicle – consider fishing Tim Lake in Algonquin Park. You will experience everything that a remote trip to Algonquin Park can offer and still be back home in time for a supper BBQ.
To get there, you will need to purchase a Park Permit from the Park office in Kearney. To get to Kearney take Hwy. 11 north and exit Hwy. 518 to Kearney (8km’s). After you get your permit follow Hwy. 518 for 14 km and turn right onto the Forestry Tower Road. Follow the Park signs for 19 km to the access point #2 on the Tim River. There is a parking lot at the river landing but it fills quickly on the weekend.
Once you have unloaded your canoe, start your voyage down the winding river (you can only go one way because of a dam at the landing) and prepare your camera for breathtaking views and moose sightings. It is rare to navigate this river system without seeing moose. The paddle can take 20 to 40 minutes depending on the stamina of your canoe occupants. The river will eventually open into the Tim Lake (Section A).
I like to split my day on this lake into sections. When I enter the lake, I turn my canoe left (port) and troll off shore to Section B. This takes me to the mouth of a creek that empties into the lake. Take some time to anchor in 20 to 35 feet of water and cast a silver (or gold) spoon or spinner towards this creek mouth. (my apologies for the lack of clarity on the google map photo right)
If lures are not effective, try this frozen minnow ‘chunk’ technique. Before I head to Tim Lake (or any Algonquin Park lake), I freeze some minnows. On the day of my trip, I put them in a cooler and cut them into thirds as I need them in the canoe. Then, hook one of these minnow portions onto a barbless hook (this minimizes damage and hastens release time) and drop a weighted (rubber core sinker about 6 inches above the hook) line over the side of your canoe. Wait until the sinker bumps the bottom and reel up this rig until the slack is out of the line. This means your hook is ‘just’ off the bottom. Sit back and wait for the tap of nibbling trout. Set the hook and enjoy the battle.
Remember that LIVE BAIT is NEVER permitted in the park. It protects a vibrant fishery from human introduced invasive species that could upset the eco-balance. You should also know that lake herring (dead or alive) is NOT permitted.
If the trout are not biting at the creek mouth – continue trolling to Section C. This spot is my favorite fishing hole in the entire lake. It looks like a small, insignificant rock cut that dips sharply into the lake. It is a great spot where you can get out to stretch your legs and enjoy a shore meal. You can also catch trout by casting off of the short, rocky extension with spinners and spoons. A word of caution here: There is pine tree rooted in the ground behind the rock face. Its branches extend over the water. I think there is an old wobbler there, of mine, about 6 branches up.
Don’t ask…
From the rock face I suggest you finish your fishing ‘tour of duty’ one of two ways. The first is to reverse direction and re-visit all previous spots (Sections B and A) and finish by trolling along the rocky shore at Section D.
If you like an adventure and have the energy, continue on from Section C and troll the down the lake to Section E. The lake empties into a second section of the Tim River. Once there, you should see a campsite on a rocky point. Anchor or troll off this point and you could hook into some larger trout. It seems (although not scientifically proven) that the trout caught here tend to be larger – but not as numerous. If you didn’t enjoy the view canoeing down the lake to get here (Section E), it may have seem like a wasted effort.
-End of Part 2 of 3-
