Places to Fly Fish in the GTA

We often have fly anglers come into our store looking for information on where to fly fish in and around the Greater Toronto Area and we are more than happy to steer them in the right direction – but we always leave it to the each person to figure out exactly where to fly fish. Perhaps like your parents did back in school, we won’t do your homework for you but we will answer questions to help.

We believe that telling someone where to find the ‘best fly fishing’ is like telling someone where they will see the most 4 leaf clovers – both are contingent upon an incredible number of factors including weather, timing, patience and luck. And when it comes to fly fishing, let’s just throw in the other variable known as skill. That said, steering people to a watershed does not guarantee success but we do agree that harm can be caused by sharing specific details on areas with good fly fishing. Accordingly, we will steer you in the right direction but always leave it to you to do your own homework – and you will ultimately have to rely on your own skill and luck… (hey, fish don’t jump on your line and the hatches don’t always cooperate!). Many of our customers share information on ‘secret spots’ with us and we keep their confidence because we appreciate that they have taken the time to do their homework.

To that end, yesterday morning I took advantage of the great weather and walked Bronte Creek around Loweville because I read the following on the Conservation Halton website:

“From Bronte Harbour upstream to Lowville, the lower reaches of Bronte Creek provide fishing opportunities for resident fish species such as smallmouth bass and migratory species such as rainbow trout, lake-run brown trout, chinook salmon and white sucker. Special regulations, including permanent sanctuaries, seasonal sanctuaries and extended fall seasons apply to various sections of the lower reaches of Bronte Creek.

Between Lowville and Progreston, Bronte Creek and its tributaries support a resident brook and brown trout fishery. Brook trout are native to the watershed while brown trout were introduced in the 1950’s.

Upstream of Progreston, Bronte Creek and its tributaries are relatively pristine and support resident brook trout. Brown trout were stocked in Bronte Creek upstream of Progreston in the 1950’s and remnant populations of this species may still occur.

Annual stocking of rainbow trout (average 50,000 fry and fingerlings) and chinook salmon (average 35,000 fry and fingerlings) is carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources downstream of Lowville. Brown trout (average 13,000 fry and fingerlings) are usually stocked off Bronte Harbour.”

What I was doing yesterday morning was what most fly fishers do, it’s called ‘homework’. If you want to know where the good places are to fly fish in Southern Ontario, all you have to do is read and do some of your own…

NOTE: All anglers must follow the MNR fishing regulations which for Bronte Creek are as follows:
- Year round open season for Rainbow and Brown Trout from Hwy 2 to Lake Ontario.
- Extended fall season for Rainbow and Brown trout between Hwy 5 and Rebecca St. (extended from the last Saturday in April to December 31)
- Fish Sanctuary (no fishing) January 1 to Friday before the last Saturday in April and September 30 to December 31 in City of Burlington and Flamborough Twp. From the C.P.R track in the village of Progreston downstream to Hwy. 5 including part of Limestone Creek up to Steeles Ave. in the Town of Milton.
- No fishing (Fish Sanctuary) from Hwy 2 to Rebecca St. all year.

For more information on angling regulations please visit www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/index.html