The Fly Fishers Mecca

I first visited Sault Ste. Marie in the early 1990’s with two other 
friends and fell in love with the rapids instantly. In my travels 
with The New Fly Fisher Show I’m asked by many to name the best 
fishing spot I’ve been to, and without hesitation I say the Sault 
rapids.

In 1920 novelist Ernest Hemmingway,no stranger to the area, stated 
“at the present time the best rainbow trout fishing in the world is 
in the rapids at the Canadian Sault.” This statement still has 
merit, as the rapids of the St. Mary’s river are truly a fly fishers 
Mecca. What was true in 1920 is still true today. This is a unique 
and an almost perfect fishery. Species available in the rapids are 
steelhead, Atlantic salmon, pink salmon, Chinook salmon, brown trout, 
resident brook trout and even whitefish. My trip this time is in the 
fall for migratory salmon and I was not disappointed. Huge schools of 
pink salmon were in and the occasional Chinook salmon were also in. 
The Pink salmon is also known as the Humpback salmon. This Pacific 
salmon was unintentionally introduced into the Great Lakes near 
Thunder Bay in 1956. The population has maintained itself since then, 
slowly growing in numbers and spreading to much of Lake Superior and 
Lakes Huron and Michigan.

The City

Sault Ste.Marie or the Soo as it is nicknamed is located on the St 
Mary’s River in Ontario. Across the river is its twin city of Sault 
Sainte Marie Michigan. The two cities are connected by the 
International Bridge, which crosses over the rapids and locks. Great 
Lakes shipping bypass the rapids by using the American Sault Locks, 
one of the world’s busiest canals. Pleasure craft use the locks on 
the Canadian side of the rapids.  The main industry in the city is 
Algoma Steel, which brags, being the most profitable steel company 
per unit on a global scale. Tourism is another industry, offering top 
notch accommodations, shopping, a Casino, Train tours through the 
Agawa Canyon and a picturesque boardwalk that follows the harbor 
front. Celebrities such as the first Canadian women in space, Roberta 
Bondar, along with NHL hockey players Phil and Tony Esposito are from 
the Sault.


The Rapids

You can only access the rapids from the Canadian side and your first 
impression is the rapids appear quite intimidating. This is not the 
case though. The St. Mary’s river drains Lake Superior into Lake 
Huron with the rapids only a minor 2/3 of a mile of its length by 1/4 
of a mile wide. The riverbed is bedrock, boulders, rubble, gravel and 
sand, a perfect spawning ground for fish. The rapids are divided in 
two by a cement dike that runs its length. Inside the dike are quite 
wadable waters with pools runs and riffle, ideal spawning grounds. On 
the far side of the dike are the main rapids with many channels, 
rapids and runs. There are also three large pools that hold a 
multitude of fish. The largest and most productive pool is the 
Canadian pool.

If you want world-class fishing come to Sault Ste.Marie.

- By: Bill Spicer (Host of the New Fly Fisher (TV Program))

What a little piece of heaven on earth. I have traveled all over the 
world with Fish TV and I must say that Northern Ontario is the most 
beautiful and untouched parts of the earth that people have to 
experience. From wild life to hiking, golfing to fishing, Algoma is 
paradise. Fishing is like no other, walleye fishing is by far the 
best in the world, with numbers and size that you can only get here 
in Northern Ontario. It is easy to catch a hundred fish per day, and 
that is no joke. Pike show up in great numbers as well, but it’s the 
size you are after.  Pike that are 45 inches and longer are pretty 
common. Algoma has it all from some of the top lodges to some of the 
friendliest people you ever want to meet.

If it’s outdoor adventure that you are after, or just want a great 
family get-a-way, look at Algoma country before you book your next 
trip. You will have a great time.

- By: Ron James (Fish TV)