Fishing

This feature now available on our Backroad GPS Maps!

Backroad Mapbooks are Canada's choice for fishing. From easy to access pike and walleye rivers in Alberta and Ontario to those remote brook trout or rainbow trout lakes in BC, you will not find a source out there that offers more variety. Not only do we list all of the fish bearing lakes and streams in each given area, we also show you how to get there with detailed maps.

Yes, Canadians are blessed with some amazing fishing opportunities. Salmon, steelhead, brook trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, northern pike, walleye or pickerel, just to name a few, can all be found in our waters. But finding these waters was always a challenge until the Backroad Mapbook series came along.

Anglers may also want to check out our Fishing Mapbook series. These guides feature lake depth charts or river hot spot maps and even more details on all your favourite lakes and streams.

What to look for

Line Style/Symbol on the maps

Look for the lake on our maps to find your perfect fishing spot.

Symbol in the writing

Look for this symbol in our refernece to see where you can fish.

Write-up in Reference

Look for the Fishing section in our books to find the most popular fishing spots.

Thompson Okanagan BC: Tunkwa Lake (Map 21/C3)
Perhaps the most popular fishery in the region, Tunkwa Lake has fair numbers of rainbow trout that can grow to 3 kg (6 lbs).  It is stocked heavily and is best fished using a fly or by trolling in the spring or fall since the lake is subject to drawdown in the summer.  For patient fly anglers the early June damselfly hatch and the spring chironomid hatch are probably the best times to fish. 

Central Alberta: Cold Lake (Maps 53/D3–57/D7)
Cold Lake is one of the largest lakes in Alberta (the seventh largest, for those who keep track of these sorts of things).  It’s so big, in fact, the province could not contain it all and it spills over into Saskatchewan.  The lake is over 104 m (400 ft) deep and covers more than 540 sq km (210 sq miles).  It holds the widest variety of fish species (22, including walleye, pike, perch, whitefish and lake trout) of any lake in the province.  The standard saying in angling circles is “big lake, big fish” and Cold Lake certainly doesn’t disappoint.  The local Cree even have a legend of a monster fish—kinosoo—who haunted these waters, eating unwary paddlers.  The fishery collapsed in the 1940s, but stocking and stricter regulations have allowed the lake to make a remarkable comeback.  The largest lake trout hauled out of these waters (the largest ever caught in the province) weighed in at 23.6 kg (52 lbs), walleye can get up to 6 kg (14 lbs) and northern pike can get to 14 kg (30 lbs).

Eastern Ontario: Black Donald Lake (Map 29/E7)
There are a few public access points and several cottages on this large lake, and a significant portion of the shoreline is Crown Land.  A few of the islands on the lake are also part of Centennial Lake Provincial Nature Reserve.  Fishing is good for smallmouth bass in the 0.5-1.5 kg (1-3.5 lb) range.  Walleye average 40 cm (16 in) and can be aggressive during overcast periods.  Hammer handle northern pike can be found roaming the numerous bays on this lake. 

Nova Scotia: Margaree River (Map 47/A1-D1)
The Margaree was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1998.  This river runs roughly 80 km (50 miles), flowing in a distinct "J" shape from its birth in the upper mountains, just south of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, to its conclusion in the Gulf of St.  Lawrence at Margaree Harbour.  It is known as the best salmon river in the province, particularly during the summer months, then again in October.  Salmon caught here can reach up to 14 kg (30 lbs), but expect heavy pressure since the Margaree attracts anglers from around the world.  It is easy to access from the highway and can be safely waded in the lower reaches.  The upper 48 km (30 miles) flow through a wilderness area of steep cliffs and gorges that are designated as a sanctuary for the salmon and off limits to angling.  The early season salmon are often accompanied by pods of silvery, sea run brook trout.  Bass are also a good catch on the Margaree in late spring.  There are special regulations, such as artificial flies only for some parts of the river at certain times.  Be sure to check your annual anglers guide for specific information.

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