Fly fishing the Bayfield River Access Points
Written by: dave b
The Bayfield River is a small to medium sized river in southwestern Ontario. It flows from just south of the town of Seaforth, then through Vanastra and Clinton before emptying into Lake Huron at the town of, you guessed it, Bayfield.
The Bayfield River receives a healthy run of migratory Rainbow Trout in the spring and fall, with the majority of them being wild. In the fall, look for Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon as well. Summer time can provide the fly angler with endless fun for Smallmouth bass, but resident Brook Trout and Brown Trout can be found year round near the mouths of feeder creeks such as Tricks Creek. This tributary can be found a few kilometers upstream from the Highway 31 bridge near Varna.
There is an extended Rainbow and Brown Trout season on the Bayfield River until December 31st all the way upstream to Clinton or Highway 4. Late fall and early winter on this river can be a Steelheaders dream, especially a couple of days after a good rain or snow. The river takes on that emerald green hue that seems to display your fly in the best of lights, and everywhere you would expect a fish to be, they are.
Downstream of the Highway 31 bridge would be my best suggestion to someone who hasn’t fished this river before. Don’t be shy about the walking either. The further you go, the better it gets. This is the kind of river that can get you into trouble if you have dinner plans. As you work you way downstream, the Bayfield is one succession after another of nice gravel runs, after log jams, after pocket water, after deep pools after, well you get the point. Some nice water to keep anyone interested, provided water levels are decent.
The fact that this river ends at an absolutely beautiful town on Ontario’s west coast is just a bonus. The town of Bayfield is touristy but still quaint. It’s the perfect place to take the family for the weekend. There are nice restaurants, pubs, stores and beaches to keep the whole family occupied while you spend a day getting to know the lovely Bayfield River.
Good luck.
