There is little doubt that summer has arrived in Grey/Bruce. Unbelievably warm temps and little rain have provided some amazing weather. As June rolls into July, anglers welcome the opening of the local bass season. Grey-Bruce is a sleeper destination when it comes to the green and brown warm-water species that anglers love. From the kettle lakes in southern Grey, to the limestone water bodies of the Bruce Peninsula, the area is home to some of the best bass fishing in Ontario.
Bass are a favorite among Ontario’s anglers. Whether Largemouth or Smallmouth, bass are willing biters and provide ample action for young and old alike. You do not require expensive offshore boats with downriggers and sophisticated electronics to catch bass and they inhabit nearly every lake and large river throughout the counties. They are a fish for everyone and they sit near the top of desired species that I love chasing during the summer months. Some of my fondest fishing memories as a child were generated by sunny weekends along the shore of the Rankin River, catching bass and sunfish while still wearing Velcro shoes. Even to this day, bass bring me more joy and action than anything else with fins and gills.
One of a Kind Guided Trip
A local entrepreneur has developed a pretty amazing niche business in our region, one which I find both exciting and worth sharing. Just last week I had a chance to climb aboard a guided driftboat trip down the Saugeen River, fishing for Smallmouth bass and Musky with veteran river guide Ken Chandler. My angling buddy Dan and I met Chandler south of Paisley for what turned out to be a day that will be etched in my memory bank for a very long time. Chandler, who lives in Markdale, is a fulltime guide who takes great joy in putting both rookie and experienced anglers on fish. The experience he provides is further enhanced by the fact that his clients fish from his beautiful custom drift boat on local waters.
Musky are often understood to be the fabled ‘fish of a thousand casts’. Obviously the Musky on the Saugeen didn’t get the news as Chandler managed to put both my friend Dan and I on our first Muskies on the fly-rod. Catching a Musky on a fly-rod was something I had never experienced before, and it truly is a feat that many anglers will simply never accomplish. We managed to hook three of these mysterious river dwellers on large flies and evoked follows from a handful more. Chandler has strict catch and release and “no barb” policies for his clients which ensures the resource exists for years to come.
Smallmouth on the Saugeen are arguably some of the strongest of their species found in the province. The fact that they were willing to rise up out of the Saugeen’s murky flows to strike surface flies made for some heart stopping encounters throughout the day. Saugeen Smallmouth have been proven to grow old slowly so they shouldn’t be kept, making them a prime candidate for catch and release fishing. Between targeting bass and muskies and keeping to the catch and release policy, it goes without saying that there were no shore-lunches on this trip. But when Chandler pulled off for a lunch break he produced a BBQ meal along the river bank fit for any carnivore I know.
The Saugeen is host to good numbers of both Smallmouth and Musky which attract many traveling anglers to the region. Chandler noted that plenty of local outdoors enthusiasts are oblivious to the incredible warm-water fishery the river provides during the summer months. What makes the Saugeen even more attractive is the fact that large portions of the river are fishable from West Coast style drift boats and set up nicely for fly fishing. If you are dwelling on an outdoor trip like no other, take a look into a drift boat trip down the Saugeen. Chandler provides on-water casting instructions for beginner fly- fishers as well as “walk and wade trips”. Either type would provide a trip that is productive and truly memorable. For more info check out Ken Chandler Fly-Fishing Adventures at ontariodriftboatguides.com
Grey/Bruce Bass Club
Founded in 2006, the Grey Bruce Bass Club has been providing a friendly and competitive avenue for bass anglers through Grey and Bruce Counties. The club, which boasts an annual membership of close to 50 anglers hosts a number of local “live release” events through the counties each summer. A portion of money generated from the two-man-team events goes directly back into the resource through conservation and boat ramp projects. Last year, the club graced the pages of the Sun Times with their Arran Lake Boat Launch Project; providing the funds and manpower to reconstruct the eroded ramp in conjunction with the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority.
Tournament bass angling has been popular across North America for decades as well as in Ontario where larger circuits hold events primarily in the Kawartha region. The club strives to promote “catch and release” angling of bass in local waters and provide guidance to aspiring bass anglers. Throughout the summer the GBBC holds numerous Wednesday evening and full day Saturday events on water bodies such as Arran Lake, Chesley Lake, Isaac/Boat Lakes, Eugenia and Owen Sound bay. Entry fees are $60 per team per event plus club membership. Teams who fish four events during the season qualify for the year end Classic Championship which is held out of region in September. Teams are required to fish out of craft larger than 13ft with operating livewell systems. Each team may bring five bass (either largemouth or smallmouth) to the scales to be weighed as a total bag and released after the event. For more information contact Watson’s Tackle at 519-371-0090 or Club President Rod Freiburger at rod.freiburger@freiburgercommunications.com
Bruce Trail
The Sydenham Bruce Trail Club turns fifty this month and they want you trail junkies to come celebrate! The grand opening of the Ron Savage Side Trail will take place at 1:30pm on July 15. This ribbon-cutting event is to be followed by an official members party at Cobble Beach Golf Resort at 4:30pm; tickets available through SBTC. For more information log on to http://www.sydenhambrucetrail.ca/ .
Deer and Turkey
Seems that Mother Nature took it easy on the critters this past winter and the warm spring weather we had in April and May lent a helping hand as well. Reports from local bird buffs indicate that the local turkey hatch was productive. Good numbers of poults have been seen with hens the past few weeks in farm fields across Grey County. On numerous occasions over the past two weeks I have spotted does and fawns in farm fields close to Owen Sound. I cannot recall a recent season where sightings of the little spotted deer and wary mothers have been so plentiful. These observations have been echoed by numerous farmers in the area who have detailed similar sightings.