Gone fishing

Going fishing? Learn how to pick the best rod for you.

Central Canada
The freshwater fishery on the Great Lakes brings in species such as:
• whitefish
• northern pike
• lake trout
• smelt
• yellow perch
• pickerel

Buy directly from the fishing family at Jackson's Fish Market in Port Stanley, Ont., which offers perch, pickerel, whitefish, bass, and catfish. If you're not an angler you might still land a cagey trout at Milford Bay Trout Farm near Bracebridge, Ont., where trout are raised in spring-fed ponds open to those wanting to fish, and where the specialty is smoked trout products.

Western Canada
The western inland fishery includes whitefish, pike, mullet, and pickerel, while in B.C. the seafood fishery is known for salmon, herring roe, and shellfish.

How about a vacation with a real fishing family? At the Solmundson Guest House on Lake Winnipeg the hosts serve fresh pickerel along with garden vegetables, set in an historic fishing village. Another great way to get fresh seafood is at the wharf: In Comox, B.C., see real fishing boats and equipment, then buy seafood such as halibut, crab, salmon, prawns, and cod from the fishers. Buy seafood directly from the farm at Fanny Bay Oysters, a farming operation that has a retail shop. Dive into oyster lore at the Clayoquot Oyster Festival in Tofino, B.C., where you can hear marine biologists talk about oyster biology and legends, pair oysters with wine, and take an oyster farm tour by boat.

Sea you there
For details on fish species and on the location of commercial fishing and fish farming operations visit the Agriculture and Agri-food Canada website.

Heading for the West Coast? Read our Victoria and area travel tips.

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