for the most extreme of days. Water that stays open and flowing during the winter looks so tranquil and dark as it winds like a ribbon through the snow-covered banks. The main pools only receive a fraction of the pressure as compared to a month or two earlier. Fresh fish tend to trickle in through the winter months adding to the numbers that ascended in the fall. While winter fish will grab a swung fly surprisingly well even in cold water, the slow flows will often hold the majority of the fish. Presenting the fly deep with a controlled swing will be the most productive approach.
There are even some rivers located in Ontario that are remote enough to receive very little angling traffic at any time of the year. It is a bush-whacking only affair on some of these rivers representing a wilderness opportunity for Great lakes steel.
The Great Lakes fishery is quite diverse. And despite being in close proximity to so many large population centers, there is a fishing experience out there that is on par with some of the top fisheries in North America. It just might take some planning, strategy, and the ability to adapt to truly make the experience special.