Canoeing For Brookies With The Ojibway Indians

Article Date: October 2000

I just returned from a whirlwind trip through Ontario, including a too-short run down the Winisk River with a teaser sampling of plentiful, pre-spawn, beautiful brook trout. My marathon canoe trip (and it was indeed a marathon) began at the Ojibway community of Webequie, 450 miles north of the city of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior (see map). The Winisk is big - maybe 400 yards across where it empties from its name lake at Webequie, and about 230 miles from that point north to where it empties into Hudson Bay. And I'm not counting the headwater above Webequie. The river is wildly beautiful, with lots of eagles and waterfowl, and offers consistent two- to three-pound brookies, many four pounders, and reportedly even bigger fish. It should, as it's on the same 54-degree latitude band that grows those big "specks" in Labrador and Nouveau Quebec. What's of special interest here is that fly fishers have a real opportunity to pioneer this river.

Just be aware this is not classic dry-fly, floating-line fishing. You need to come here with sink-head lines (Teeny and ilk), fast-sink tips and weighted flies (cone head buggers, et al). A normal five-day trip on this river is divided between three camps: Bear Head, Goose and Tashka. But if you want only brook trout, forget the first part of the run from Webequie to Bear Head camp; it offers mainly walleyes and northern pike. In fact, if you want only brookies, I suggest you make special arrangements with the outfitter to run directly to Goose camp. It'll have to be with the understanding that there will be no fishing en route, and you'll likely get a cold supper when you get in. This run will take nearly five hours (with a lunch stop) by 20-foot freighter canoe. Nice in........(continued)

CONTACT DETAILS FOR COMPANIES/INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE (if any)

Fred Jacob, Winisk River Camps. Box 176. Webequie, Ontario, P0T 3A0. Tel. 807-353-6531 x 229. Fax 807-353-1218. E-mail: Fjacob@webequie.net, Web: www.wnta.net

Jack Renzy, Moccasin Trails Inc. Fishing Adventures. 206 South Wilmette Avenue. Westmont, IL, 60559. Tel. 800-347-4421, 630-968-3474. Fax 630-968-3975