Trip North

[ozark trout fisher]

Well, I'm getting a bit excited. I'm going on a two week trip up north (leaving next week), and I'm gonna hit the upper Peninsula of Michigan, Quebec, Ontario, and Maine. I'm kind of winging it (don't know exactly what waters I'm fishing where I'm staying etc just yet), but I'll be mostly trying to find brookies, browns, smallmouth bass, pike, walleye, and perch. I'll try to spend as much time as I can trout fishing, but I'll cast to anything that'll take a spinner, spoon, or Rapala. Gonna bring an ultralight rod with four pound test for the trout and smallmouth. I might also bring a medium action with 12 pound line for the pike.

I know my planning is a bit half hazard, but I don't want to set hard and fast plans. I more just want to kinda just stop wherever it looks good, look up places in the atlas etc. Lodging plan= a one man tent, and lots of public land. I'll have waders, but no boats will be brought. I'm primarily looking for brookie streams anyway.

Wish me luck.

[Gavin]

I've done a bit of fishing in the central U.P..Its brutal fishing...small water choaked with tag alder, jack pines, lots of channel braids that lead to nowhere, mosquitos are plentiful, tons of deer ready to leap in front of your vehicle, plus a good population of wolves and black bears. Its the only place that I've seen wolves in the wild outside of Y. Stone or AK. Easy to get lost up there because it all looks about the same. There are some campgrounds around Seney and a motel, but there is better lodging, and food in Grand Marias. In that area I'd try the Fox, Driggs, Sucker, Two Hearted, and the Carp.

Here's a good source for maps and access in the UP. I'd recommend a 4wd to get to the more remote areas. Especially after a rain.

http://www.fishweb.com/maps/index.html

In Ontario...I'd recommend the Grand River near Fergus...its a tailwater, but regs are pretty restrictive....There are some nice little B&B's and Restaurants in Elora...Lots of info on the Grand and other streams in the area at grandrivertroutfitters.com..I've fished with Ken and my friend John has many times...He's a top notch guide. Might check out hipwader.com and grindstone anglers for info as well. Cheers.

[ozark trout fisher]

I've done a bit of fishing in the central U.P..Its brutal fishing...small water choaked with tag alder, jack pines, lots of channel braids that lead to nowhere, mosquitos are plentiful, tons of deer ready to leap in front of your vehicle, plus a good population of wolves and black bears. Its the only place that I've seen wolves in the wild outside of Y. Stone or AK. Easy to get lost up there because it all looks about the same. There are some campgrounds around Seney and a motel, but there is better lodging, and food in Grand Marias. In that area I'd try the Fox, Driggs, Sucker, Two Hearted, and the Carp.

Here's a good source for maps and access in the UP. I'd recommend a 4wd to get to the more remote areas. Especially after a rain.

http://www.fishweb.com/maps/index.html

In Ontario...I'd recommend the Grand River near Fergus...its a tailwater, but regs are pretty restrictive....There are some nice little B&B's and Restaurants in Elora...Lots of info on the Grand and other streams in the area at grandrivertroutfitters.com..I've fished with Ken and my friend John has many times...He's a top notch guide. Might check out hipwader.com and grindstone anglers for info as well. Cheers.

Really appreciate the help. Just the sort of info I was looking for. I was up to the UP last summer, and mostly fished for smallies. Still, I made it to the upper section of the Escanaba, as well as the Fox. Pretty decent trout fishing up there.... But the best place I found up there was a place called Nahma point, right at the mouth of the Sturgeon River. 14 and 15 inch smallies were thick. At times I'd get one on about every other cast, just fishing off the bank. But a buddy who went up there a couple weeks ago said he got nothing in that same spot, except a few perch, so who knows.

The guide thing sounds nice, but I might not have the funds to do it this time. But if it would work out, I'll keep the names in mind you listed.

[Gavin]

There is plenty of public access on the Grand, and its easilly wadeable most of the time...just pay attention to the regs...much of it is C&R only fly water. Hope you have a great trip..make sure you order your pasty's with ketchup, and get some smoked whitefish...If your headed through L'anse stop at the Hilltop for the giant cinnamon rolls. As for Canada...I think youll need a passport these days. Cheers.

[ozark trout fisher]

There is plenty of public access on the Grand, and its easilly wadeable most of the time...just pay attention to the regs...much of it is C&R only fly water. Hope you have a great trip..make sure you order your pasty's with ketchup, and get some smoked whitefish...If your headed through L'anse stop at the Hilltop for the giant cinnamon rolls. As for Canada...I think youll need a passport these days. Cheers.

Thanks again for the info.

By the way, got the passport a few months back.

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks again for the info.

By the way, got the passport a few months back.

Made a last minute decision to hit the Atlantic Coast in southern Maine... Managed to scrape up enough money to get on a charter for cod, as I don't have a boat or any knowledge on that sort of fishing...