Last summer was a scorcher along southern Alberta’s trout streams as the latest prairie drought stretched into its third year. Although fishing was prohibited when streams reached near-lethal temperatures for trout, conscientious anglers opted not to wet their lines, even when allowed, rather than stress the fish further. Historically, native cutthroat and bull trout, both now threatened species, have always weathered droughts. They hold at the bottoms of pools where cold groundwater seeps in, feed in the cooler hours, and wait for relief. It’s getting harder for them to survive during today’s ..read more

At first, the old man seemed intrigued by the giggles and high-fives as I helped two eight-year-olds, my son Charlie and his friend Iva, reel in their catches. But as we continued fishing from my boat in view of the onlooker’s waterfront home, his body language became aggressive, and was soon matched by his foul mouth. Foot-stomping down to his dock, the man grew even more hostile, escalating from throwing out vulgarities to throwing out a dangerous object. I swiftly got the kids out of harm’s way when he grabbed a pre-rigged rod and fired a heavy, treble-hooked stickbait directly at our boat ..read more

Gord Pyzer says snags can often lead to big results (see next page for more) One hot evening this past summer, I was casting for muskies at a favourite spot with two expert anglers, my grandson Liam and our friend Jason Matity, when out charged one of the biggest muskies I’ve ever seen. She was easily 54 inches long, and she had her nose planted right behind Liam’s glide bait. Liam performed a text-book figure-eight, picking up speed on the turn while twitching the bait, but the mammoth muskie sank out of sight. The three of us frantically scanned the water to see where she went, while Liam h ..read more

RUX 70L With a capacity of 70 litres, the B.C.-designed RUX ($369) is a rugged, weatherproof, soft-sided container for storing and hauling gear. Described as “part bag, part box,” it sports a rigid frame, yet easily collapses flat when not in use. Other features include a folding lid, grab handles, removable backpack straps and a reinforced foam bottom. Learn more: Rux, www.rux.life The post Cool new fishing, camping and adventuring gear for 2024 appeared first on Outdoor Canada ..read more

The author and his fishing partner landed over 100 fish on a single Crush City When the first Rapala floating minnows arrived in North America in the 1960s, demand for the balsawood baits was so outrageous that the lucky few who owned them often rented them out on a daily basis. They were fish killers. With the arrival of the new Crush City baits—the first soft plastics ever designed by Rapala—it’s deja vu all over again. But what’s cooler this time around is that instead of a single lure introduction, there are nine Crush City baits, including four dense phthalate-free models, and five buoya ..read more

We know from mark-and-recapture studies that catch-and-release works brilliantly on relatively hardy fish like bass, but what about more fragile fish like brook trout? It was the defining question that Rob Swainson, in charge of managing the most famous brook trout fishery on earth, needed to answer in order to gain acceptance for the special regulations that would rejuvenate the Nipigon River fishery. “It’s hard to believe, but at the time, many people did not believe you could actually catch and successfully release a brook trout,” Swainson told us when we chatted with him on our most recent ..read more

LIVINGSTONE RIVER Alberta’s most popular spot for cutthroat trout, the Livingstone River consistently produces chunky cutties along with the occasional bull trout. Fly fishermen enjoy success tossing bushy dry flies into the pools and runs found at every turn. For advice on the hot flies of the day, contact the Crowsnest Café and Fly Shop in nearby Coleman. Learn more: www.crowsnestcafeandflyshop.ca —KEN BAILEY The post Looking for cool new fishing adventures? Check out these 3 trout and bass destinations appeared first on Outdoor Canada ..read more

I’m not a morning person, but what I’m watching unfold makes getting out of bed in the early-morning darkness worthwhile—the sun is poking its head over the blue horizon and waking up the big brook trout. I can see small scouting parties of two and three fish cruising the shallow margins of the lake, their reddish-orange bellies contrasting brilliantly with their white-trimmed black fins. It’s a sight to behold, and I wonder if I should disturb it with a cast. Oh, what the heck. I pitch my lure beside the half-submerged bald branches of a red pine tree that long ago toppled into the water. A ..read more

Like enemies at the gate, invasive carp are threatening to populate the Great Lakes. Collectively known as “Asian carps,” bighead, black, grass and silver carp are notorious for outcompeting native fish and destroying habitat, including wetlands. The most imminent threat comes from grass carp, which have reproducing populations in two U.S. tributaries of Lake Erie. So far, bighead, black and silver carp remain confined to the Mississippi River. Should these fish-farm escapees become established in the Great Lakes, they would also severely damage the region’s US$556 million a year sportfishing ..read more

Inflatable watercraft are easy to store, transport and pack into remote waters, but they’ve been slow to get their due as effective fishing vessels. The latest inflatables, boasting tougher-than-ever materials, and designed specifically for angling, aim to change that. Here are a few next-generation models well-suited for fishing in Canada. IA.T.A.K 110 (US$1,399) Key features: Eleven-foot dropstitch kayak; Ergo Boost folding seat; adjustable foot braces; aluminum accessory rail; four Scotty mounts; batter-powered inflator included. The promise: “The rigidity of a hardshell kayak.” Learn mor ..read more