Canada is the second largest country in the whole world, right after Russia, and it is not surprising that it is one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources. The landscape is greatly varied from one end of the country to another. Its forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, cliffs and lagoons make it a nature lover's paradise. It is also home to some of the greatest fishing destinations of the world.
The provinces of Ontario and Quebec are famous for their great water systems, and the rivers of British Columbia are legendary. The vast country has a smallish population that is very sparsely distributed, and as a result there are many water bodies across the land that have virtually never known the fisherman's hook. Naturally, the number and sizes of their denizens are absolutely fabulous.
Ontario and Quebec border on the Hudson Bay, so expectedly their saltwater fishing resources are formidable. But the real attraction for serious minded anglers in these two provinces lies in their incredible sweet water lakes. In Ontario alone there are over two hundred thousand lakes, and most of them are chock-full of eager and aggressive fish! These two places can also boast of a bewildering variety of fish – walleyes and muskies, pikes and
trout's, salmon and
bass. If you can name it, you can probably get it here.
The two provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan look land-locked on the map, and indeed they are called the 'prairie provinces'. But if that makes you think these aren't good fishing destinations, you need to think again. These two places offer some of the finest fly-fishing experiences ever. The trout fishing in the Bow river of Alberta is unparalleled on the continent. The two-hundred-odd fishing camps of Saskatchewan offer, in addition to trout, great catches of pike and walleye. Selwyn Lake, Oliver Lake and Angler Rapids are some of the most famous resorts, but there are many more that are so remote and undisturbed that they can't be reached by car, but by boat or float plane only.
The people of the far north province of Yukon regard angling as a prized tradition and their life's passion. And why not indeed – the sweet water reserves of Yukon offer no less than eleven distinct species of game fish, and four different species of salmon swim into its rivers every year to lay eggs. There is even a rare salmon species here that lives in land-locked lakes!
The brand new territory of Nunavut (formed 1999) is a large place that covers about 20% of the country's total area. It is a land of great geological variety, from shallow lakes to fjords and from icebergs to great mountains. The main point of attraction for anglers is the abundance of the much-sought-after arctic char, widely regarded as the top game fish of the world.
As a visitor to Nunavut, you must remember that this is new and undeveloped country, and you will find little in the way of local support mechanism. There are countless fabulous spots for char fishing dotted about the region, but if you choose any remoter place than the three official lodges, you shall probably need to fly in all that you shall need.
So where would you fish in Canada? Depends on your style of fishing and your target species. For instance, if you're fishing in the appropriate season and looking for salmon (the most popular gamefish in Canada), you should probably start your quest in Yukon, the best salmon province in the country.
Fishing is something of a passion and a religion for natives of Yukon. Eleven different species of gamefish are available for your delectation in the freshwater reserves of this province, and in addition to that four separate varieties of salmon (coho, sockeye, chinook and chum) enter its rivers every year for spawning. There is even an unusual variety that lives completely in land-locked lakes. It is truly a dreamland for salmon lovers.
On the other hand if you're looking for tuna, shark, barracuda or any of the other large marine species, you're going to get ample scope for that too in Canada. The country has three separate coastlines to the east, west and north, and each of them offer unique opportunities for fishing. You can ride a hired boat into the sea for deep-sea fishing in any of the coastal states – Ontario or Quebec, for example, both of which border the Hudson Bay which is actually a part of the Arctic Ocean.
Those two provinces, however, are actually more famous for their fantastic sweetwater lakes. And more to the point, all of these are filled to the brim with eager and aggressive fish ready to rise to your bait! Canada is a sparsely populated country, and the population is strung out across the vast land at a very low density. As a result, many of its inland water bodies are effectively virgin, having never known the angler's hook. The country is practically waiting for you to go and cast your line.
If you're a lover of remote places where you can practice the sport in seclusion, you won't find another place like the newly created province of Nunavut, to the extreme north. But beware – if you're targeting an area other than the only three official lodges that have been set up yet, you may need to fly in all that you need. Some spots in this section of the country are so remote that even the local Inuit population doesn't venture there.
A word about language and culture. Some parts of Canada, specially Quebec province and the adjacent regions, are French-speaking. So if you're planning to do your fishing in those parts, it would be a fine idea to pick up a smattering of that language so that you can at least negotiate the basics with the native population.
