Family Fun & Fishing

So much to Experience in our Unspoiled Wilderness.

Whether you are an avid fisherman or just like to drop-in a line with the kids, fishing in Rainbow Country is great. BUT Rainbow Country isn't just for fishing anymore. The resorts and lodges in Rainbow Country have a vast assortment of activities for the whole family. In fact, the days will fly by when you're hiking, swimming, canoeing, bird watching, ATVing, golfing, playing tennis, waterskiing, geo cashing, rock collecting or trying to land the Big One!

Fishing Licenses

Remember, just about everyone needs to have a current licence to fish in Ontario! These licences are available from most tourist operators, at bait & tackle shops, sporting good stores, marinas and Ministry of Natural Resources offices. For more information on Fishing Licences and regulations contact the Ministry of Natural Resources at www.mnr.gov.on.ca.

Regions of Rainbow Country

Parry Sound / Pointe au Baril / French River / Pickerel River / Killarney / Sudbury / Manitoulin Island & North Shore


Parry Sound

Located on the scenic shores of Georgian Bay, Parry Sound is an ideal destination for both sport fishermen and family vacationers. Famous for its 30,000 islands, anglers in Parry Sound never have trouble finding a secluded bay or inlet to cast their lines. Not sure where to drop anchor? Hop on board The Island Queen, a 550-passenger cruise ship, for a tour through the narrow passages and shallow waters that make this area so highly renowned.

If you'd prefer to have your feet on solid ground and you're not afraid of heights, lace up your running shoes, grab a camera and head over to Parry Sound's 96-fooot high observations tower. From its base, 131 steps will bring you to the tower's observation deck. Visitors enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of both Georgian Bay and the Parry Sound community.

Visiting Parry Sound at any time during the year is an enjoyable and memorable experience but never is the community more alive with family-oriented entertainment and festivities than during The Festival of the Sound. Beginning each summer in mid-July and lasting three weeks, the Festival of the Sound is a musical extravaganza in which more than 50 musical events, sunset cruises, community dinners, family concerts and more take place.

Whether on land or on water, this summer Parry Sound is a vacation hotspot for families just like yours!

Pointe au Baril

Pointe au Baril personifies the beauty of Northern Ontario with miles or winding rivers, lakes and trails leading to the islands, bays and inlets of Georgian Bay. Anglers will enjoy “hunting” the mighty muskie, the fight of a northern pike, or landing that walleye, large or smallmouth bass! Meanwhile young and old alike can thrill to bringing in perch, crappie and other pan fish for the dinner table.

Canoe routes are the ideal way to travel through the Pointe au Baril area. Lakes and rivers give you the choice of a peaceful paddle or a wild and exciting run, depending on your adventure level!

Georgian Bay is also renowned as one of the world's best boating and sailing waters, with the 30,000 Islands serving as a spectacular backdrop and anchorage. With marina and service facilities, Pointe au Baril is a popular cruising destination. In fact, the Pointe au Baril Lighthouse still guides in thousands of recreational boaters who have discovered the beauty of the area for themselves.

Local resorts and lodges offer you quiet retreats, sandy beaches and boat rentals for you to explore the smooth granite islands bedecked with windswept pines. Make Pointe au Baril your choice this season.

French River

One of Canada's finest outdoor vacation areas offering today's fisherman and his family a variety of accommodation facilities in a truly historical setting.

A visit to the French River area is like taking a step back in time to a world that moves at a slower pace, where peace and beauty live on. Maybe it's a retreat you are looking for, one that lets you curl up in a handcrafted armchair on a screened in porch and sit back and simply admire the breathtaking scenery. Or maybe it's an activity packed vacation of water sports, hiking, fishing or rock climbing that relaxes you. Whether you're an artist, photographer or adventure, each bend in the river offers up a new vista just waiting to be explored.

The French River is an ancient river system surrounded by dramatic landscape sculpted by the ice age glaciers. These glaciers left behind cliffs, ridges, shoals and thousands of islands which gives this vast water system its unique topography. Located approximately 320 km (200 miles) north of Toronto, the French River is best described as a 125 km (80 miles) long series of island dotted lakes connected by rapids and falls that gently lower the river a total of 20 meters (60 feet) as it flows westerly from Lake Nipissing, it's headwaters, to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. With this much water, the French River is considered a boating and canoeing paradise with an excellent selection of experiences to suit every taste.

Canada's early development can be attributed to the European's insatiable demand for furs which made the traders and explorers push westward looking for new sources. In those days, the easiest way to cross this country was by water and the best form of transportation was the large primitive canoes made famous today by the early French-Canadian Voyageur. These crafts were designed to be easily portaged yet they were capable of carrying large loads through big open waters, all of which the early explorer had to content with.

The French River was an integral link in the first water highway to the west. This canoe route began in Quebec City and followed the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers to the portages east of Lake Nipissing. After crossing Lake Nipissing the paddlers traveled down the French River to Lake Huron and the Great Lakes. There are many chronicles on traversing this early highway and the adventures these travelers encountered. Today's divers can find numerous artifacts that can attest to these adventures and the freight that was lost along the way.

The French River still attracts travelers from around the world though most are not as adventuresome as the first visitor's to the area. The modern French River is still mostly remote and not accessible via road so there is plenty of wildernesses to explore.

The many small towns and villages that were established along the river are still thriving. They offer the visitor a place to provision, a bite to eat, or just a night on the town. The small town flavor and friendliness add to the attraction of the area.

There are many points of interest on the river itself, which are accessible by water or land. The easy-to-view plaque, located at the roadside rest areas at Highway 69, commemorates the famous French explorer Sameul de Champlain and his historic voyage down the French River. From the rest area you can take one-mile walking trail to view Recollet Falls and see, first hand, one of the many challenges that faced the early traveler.

For over 50 years the French River has enjoyed a well deserved reputation for its quality of fishing experiences. Ontario's most sought after game fish can be found in these waters. Walleye, Northern Pike, Large and Small Mouth Bass even Trout in a couple of the area lakes. Of course there are pan fish such as Perch, Sunfish and Rock Bass. If you are looking for a challenge then this is the river for you. Home to the elusive Muskie, mighty Sturgeon, large Channel Catfish and Whitefish, there is a species for every taste and skill level.

Today's traveler doesn't have to rough it like the Voyageurs. (But you can, if you are so inclined). The French River area offers a wide array of accommodations. Housekeeping cottages, full service lodges, with or without meal plans, well organized trailer parks and campgrounds or highway motels, French River has them all! There are those that are small and simple offering only the essentials you will need for your vacation in the wilderness or there are those that offer an extensive array of recreational facilities, superb accommodations, professional guide services and many other amenities that you would never expect to find in a wilderness location.

The French River - beautiful, unspoiled, accessible wilderness. Take the time to discover and explore this timeless waterway.

Pickerel River

Ontario's famous Pickerel River is approximately 200 miles (322 km) north of Toronto and flows nearly 60 miles (100 km) through the rugged terrain of the Georgian Bay forest. The upper section of the river consists of a series of interconnected lakes while the lower portion becomes more narrow as it cuts its way through the landscape to the Georgian Bay. The area is blanketed with lakes and thick forests which provide fishing that the majority of sportsmen will rarely experience. The river is a photographer's dream offering visitors their own private playground of canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and bird watching.

Along the river, anglers will find an abundance of structure from rocky shoals and weed beds to an occasional small rapid. Pike, walleye, small and largemouth bass provide the bulk of enjoyment; however, depending where you are on the river, muskie, whitefish, crappie and channel catfish can also be found. Combine fishing with the other activities and you have the makings of a splendid outdoor vacation.

Killarney

The rich history of Killarney, Northern Ontario's oldest town, dates back to 1820. Canada's voyageurs established a fur trading post there as they traveled by canoe across the country. After fur trading, Killarney evolved into a commercial fishing village and then a logging center. Not until 1962 was a road built to connect Killarney with the Trans-Canada highway.

Some of Killarney's interesting history is displayed in the quaint Killarney Pioneer Museum open July and August. The Killarney Lighthouse still beckons the last of the fishing tugs.

Killarney's attractions extend for beyond its unique history. The unparalleled beauty of the natural world. Easily accessible just 6 km from the village lies Killarney Provincial Park, considered the “Crown Jewel” of Ontario's park system. The park offers both easy trails and calm waters for day trippers or wilderness routes for more extensive canoe trips. View Killarney's majestic white quartzite hills from the spectacular 100 km LaCloche Silhouette Trail.

Located at the entrance of the North Channel, Killarney sits adjacent to world class cruising waters, spectacular sea kayaking routes and a myriad of fishing holes. In summer, Killarney is host to many power and sailing yachts enjoying the solitude of our pristine waters. For the landlover, this makes Killarney an even more colorful destination!

Sudbury

With more than 130 fresh-water lakes within its boundaries, it's no wonder so many fishermen visit Sudbury with rod and reel in hand. Fishing in the Sudbury area can be as rural or as urban as your family desires. Whether casting from Ramsey Lake's Jim Gordon Boardwalk, just minutes from downtown or trolling through a remote corner of Lake Wahnapitae, Greater Sudbury will have something to offer anglers of all ages and skill levels.

If you like fishing from Ramsey Lake's boardwalk, you'll love the scenic walk through Bell Park which skirts the lake and a variety of sandy beaches both large and small. An afternoon of waterfront sunbathing on the grassy slopes of Bell Park or playing catch with the kids on the soft beach sand is a great way to spend a summer afternoon.

Sudbury offers a vast array of family festivals and events so be sure not to miss these offerings which include a rich blend of music, independent films, crafts, visual art, storytelling and dance, all within a bilingual, aboriginal and multicultural outdoor celebration. Come to Sudbury this summer and experience the perfect blend of rural and urban recreation.

Manitoulin

Unlike any other fishing and vacationing destination, Manitoulin Island embodies a blend of Aboriginal culture and a lingering hint of early European settlement. From the glassy waters of Lake Mindemoya to the rolling swells of Lake Huron, Manitoulin Island offers fishing and boating adventures of every variety. Most famous for its world-class salmon fishing, Manitoulin Island features a number of fishing charter services. Pack a cooler and your fishing licence and they'll take care of the rest! Manitoulin's inland lakes and rivers are home to small mouth bass, northern pike, salmon, splake, perch and whitefish, which offers the family a wide variety of fishing opportunities. For a destination like no other that fills you and your family with summertime memories, visit Manitoulin Island.