One of the many aspects that draws me to fishing is that no two days on the water are ever the same. While experience and time on the water can improve the outcome of successfully catching fish, even the best of anglers are humbled at times and there is no end to learning and improving. I’ve spent most of my time over the years fishing on lakes, but have also enjoyed fishing on a few rivers. What is special about river fishing is that they change throughout the year with water levels, flow rates, and water temperatures rising and dropping. These changes are effected by the weather: how much rain we are getting, temperature, and seasonal changes. These factors effect the fish species that reside in these waters making for an even more unique experience as rivers are ever-changing. I recently had the opportunity to travel and fish in Ontario’s Southwest region, in Haldimand County and the Waterloo Region. It was a memorable experience which included three fishing adventures as well as staying with three different accommodators while exploring the Grand River. There are lots of photos with this story!
The adventure began on a Thursday evening when Eric and I hit the road from Ottawa to Caledonia. We stayed at the Heron House On The Grand which is a quaint bed & breakfast directly on the shores of the Grand River. Barbara Mead is the host and says many of her guests enjoy fishing right from her property. She has two rooms available with self-catered breakfast so guests can come and go as they please. There’s a fire pit and chairs to lounge in overlooking the picturesque river. We arrived quite late and were up early for the first part of our fishing adventure and Barbara was lovely and accommodating to our schedule.
Our first fishing destination was just a short car ride to nearby Seneca Park where we met up with Peter Charles of Hooked4Life Fly Fishing. Peter has been fishing since the age of six with a lifetime of experience and is a Certified Fly Casting Instructor. He offers fly and Spey casting lessons throughout the year to both newcomers and experienced anglers. It had been awhile since I had picked up a fly rod so I was excited to shake the dust off and improve my skills with Peter’s guidance.
Continue reading featured blogger, Ashley Rae’s, “Exploring the Grand River!” and visit her blog, “She Loves to Fish.”
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
