Enjoy quality fly fishing for trophy brown trout in the pastoral beauty of Ontario's Grand River valley. The Grand River, featured as the best tailwater fishery in eastern North America (Fly Fisherman magazine, September 1995), has a large population of free-rising brown trout and excellent mayfly and caddisfly hatches. The trout season is from the last Saturday in April to 30th September. Dry-fly fishing is best from mid-May onwards.

All co-op guides have more than 20 years of fly-tying and fly-fishing experience for trout, steelhead, and bass. Our co-op is dedicated to making your trip an experience to remember. Ask about our other great fishing opportunities: river fishing for steelhead and salmon, smallmouth bass, and trout on other southern Ontario streams.

Other attractions in the area range from Mennonite farmer's markets to live theatre, and the many cultural activities of Toronto are only about an hour away. In Elora and Fergus, shopping and historical sites are popular features as well.

Guided wading trips are approximately 8 hours. Prices include a streamside lunch, local pick-up if requested, and reasonable quantities of flies and other consumables. Tackle rental can be arranged for a nominal cost. We can provide contacts for airport transportation and local accommodation.

Access and Attractions

The Grand River valley winds through rolling agricultural countryside and small historic towns. Prime fly-fishing water is just north of Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph, which are off Hwy. 401 between London and Toronto. There are several fly shops in the area, and accommodation is available in country inns, bed & breakfasts, and motels. Camping facilities also are available. Other attractions in the area are theatre (Stratford, Blyth), Mennonite (Amish) markets, crafts and antiques (Elmira, St. Jacobs), and shopping in Elora and Fergus. Toronto, with its many attractions, is about 1 hour away, and the conference centres at the University of Waterloo and University of Guelph are only 30 minutes distant. The Grand River is approximately 2 hours drive from Buffalo, NY and 3 hours from Detroit, MI. Air travel to the Grand is through Toronto International Airport for commercial flights, and Waterloo-Guelph Regional Airport for private aircraft.

Grand River Rates

 

$CAN

$US*

Single Angler/Day

200

150

Two Anglers/Day

300

200

*Varies with exchange rate

 

  • Rates for larger parties, half days or other rivers are available upon request
  • All trips require 50% deposit at time of booking, refundable with one week notice of cancellation or rescheduling, or if river is unfishable.

Be sure to check out current conditions on our Fishing Reports page.

 

Fly Fishing the Grand River - The Angler's Vest Pocket Guide

If you plan to fish the Grand River, you really should consider picking up a copy of Fly Fishing the Grand River by Grand Guide Co-op member Ian Martin and Jane Rutherford. The product of five years of intensive collecting and identifying, Ian and Jane have summarized their expertise in aquatic entomology in a spiral-bound pocket guide that contains detailed life cycles on more than 25 key insect species on the Grand River. The book is organized chronologically by emergence, from the Hendrickson mayfly of early May to the Giant Cinnamon Sedge of September, and includes sections on terrestrial, crustacean and fish species of importance to the flyfisher. The 64-page book is punctuated throughout with life-size illustrations and suggested imitations, and includes eight pages of color plates. Throw in some background history on the Grand River valley, a detailed map and references, and you have an invaluable resource for the angler and naturalist alike.

Fly Fishing the Grand River is available at a variety of southern Ontario fly shops, or can be ordered directly from the authors by email, or by writing to The Usual Press, 6 Gilkison St., RR#2 Elora, Ont. Canada. Price is $18.95 Canadian.

 

Grand Guides Co-op
6 Gilkison St.
RR #2
Elora, Ontario, Canada, N0B 1S0
Primary Phone: 519-846-8448
info@grandriverguides.com