| Discover family fishing on the the Grand River with | | | | all angles. The sight-elevation above the water made it |
| over 80 different types of fish. This beautiful river | | | | excellent for peering down. |
| winds through a series of small towns with a vast | | | | We were paddled through the mist into the stillness of |
| pristine wilderness. This nearby watershed offers an | | | | the forested valley. As we rounded the first corner, |
| excellent day of fishing for all ages and skill level. | | | | the guide pointed out where to cast. Our lines soared |
| Three favorite fishing sections are: Glen Morris to Paris, | | | | in an arc, plunking into the water. As we drifted, the |
| Paris to Brant Park and Brant Park to the Cockshutt | | | | valley was alive with Carolinian birds and frogs. I |
| Bridge. Each of the sections are different. Glen Morris | | | | stopped fishing, and looked at my son... he was just |
| offers smallmouth bass, Paris has trout and bass... and | | | | sitting there taking it all in... his line drifting. |
| Cockshutt has bass & walleye. | | | | Suddenly his rod bent in half. "You've got one!" I yelled. |
| A unique way to fish these three sections is with | | | | After a nice fight, my son proudly held up the first fish |
| platform rafts. On the Grand River near Paris, there | | | | caught... a large, feisty 13" smallmouth. We took a quick |
| are presently two rafting companies offering family | | | | picture and released it. Our guide informed us that |
| floats for bass, trout and pickerel. The drift boats are | | | | although the fish are tasty, they are much more fun to |
| platform-rafts with swivel deck chairs. The slow drift | | | | catch again. Throughout the morning we caught eight |
| of these rafts allow fisherman to thoroughly fish the | | | | more smallmouth bass, a 3ft northern pike and a 3ft |
| stone-bottom pools. The platforms can accommodate | | | | carp. What a start! |
| up to 4 people with spin cast rods or two people | | | | The guide thought we were doing quite well, and was |
| fly-fishing. | | | | impressed with our northern pike. We pulled over for a |
| The following is a description of a typical fishing trip on | | | | lunch that stuffed us. After lunch, my son delighted in a |
| the Grand experienced by a father & son from | | | | crayfish-catching adventure with the guide. As we |
| Toronto: | | | | continued down the river the sunlight danced on the |
| I arrived in the small village of Glen Morris at 7am, for | | | | rapids. It seemed like we pulled a fish in every 15 or 20 |
| my first fishing trip on the Grand River. I was with my | | | | minutes. The amount of fish caught made the five hour |
| 12 year old. The guide was setting up the gear so we | | | | trip go fast. |
| helped carry some of the equipment down to the | | | | At the end, my son said "Dad, when we were coming |
| water. As I looked up the river, I watched the mist flee | | | | back?" I was thinking the same. And coming back we |
| before the morning sun. A breath-taking sight I have | | | | have... happy and intoxicated with our newest love... |
| never seen in Toronto. The guide was awed, pulled out | | | | fishing the Grand River. |
| his camera and took a shot. | | | | This river offers a fishing experience with maximum |
| Within 20 minutes we were away. The raft setup was | | | | fishing and minimum travel. So if looking for a nearby |
| spacious. We had front row seats of the river before | | | | family day of fishing... then knock at the door of the |
| us, with the guide rowing in the back. Our fishing deck | | | | Grand River Valley. |
| was a 64 square foot platform with room to fish from | | | | |