Bookings now openBrook trout · Landlocked salmon · Lake troutDepartures from Montreal
Truite mouchetée tenue dans les mains d'un pêcheurFrédéric Mayeu — Guide de pêcheTrout & landlocked salmon · Laurentians
Angler holding a Chinook salmon on the bank of an Ontario river

Your trip preparation guide

What to bring for
Ontario salmon fishing

Your complete checklist: everyday essentials, clothing, fly fishing and spinning equipment for six hours beside the river.

What to bring for salmon fishing in Ontario

For our walk-and-wade trips in Lake Ontario tributaries, bring your own equipment. Waders and grippy wading boots are mandatory: water shoes are not a substitute. Fishing equipment is not provided.

Waders + wading boots: mandatory
Bring your own fishing equipment.

01Your basic packing checklist

  • Waders in good condition + grippy wading boots + wading belt.
  • A hat or cap.
  • Polarized sunglasses.
  • Layered clothing suited to the weather.
  • A light waterproof shell.
  • Water, lunch and snacks.
  • Insect repellent.
  • A towel and dry clothes left in the car, including spare dry socks.
  • A small backpack or chest pack.
  • A charged phone in a waterproof pouch for photos.
  • Unhooking pliers and line cutters.
  • The Ontario fishing licence and documents required for your situation.

Documents

The Ontario fishing licence and documents required for your situation; check before departure.

Wading & safety

Waders in good condition, grippy wading boots and a properly fitted wading belt.

Clothing & dry change

Layered clothing, a rain jacket, and dry clothes and socks left in the vehicle.

A cap or hat and a small towel. Long sleeves and trousers help protect against insects.

Protection & lunch

Protective eyewear, preferably polarized, drinking water, lunch and snacks.

Insect repellent.

Tools & waterproof storage

Unhooking pliers, line cutters and a waterproof bag or pouch for your belongings.

Your personal kit

A small backpack and a charged phone.

Chinook salmon caught beside a wooded Ontario river

On the river

Equipment suited to Ontario salmon

Fly fishing or spinning: bring a rod, a reliable reel and a setup suited to salmon. Your guide checks your equipment before departure. The complete lists for both techniques follow below.

Angler with a Chinook salmon beside an Ontario river
Chinook salmon · Ontario river · September 24, 2026
02

Your fishing technique

Fish beside a fly reel and a yellow flyFly fishing
Fly reel and yellow fly.

Salmon fly fishing

  • Rod & reel

    An #8–9 fly rod is ideal; #6–7 may be manageable depending on conditions, with guide approval. Reel with a reliable drag.

  • Line & backing

    Floating fly line matched to your rod and backing in good condition.

  • Leader, flies & accessories

    20–35 lb leader + 12–20 lb tippet. The guide’s top three: egg/roe flies, streamers and Woolly Buggers. Bring small strike indicators and tiny split shot.

Before buying a new rod or flies, send your guide a photo of your equipment to check the setup.

Fish on a boat surface beside a colourful spoon lureSpinning
Spoon example, not a recommendation for every river.

Salmon spinning — conventional spinning rod and reel

  • Rod & reel

    A salmon-appropriate spinning rod and reel with a reliable drag, not an ultralight outfit for small trout.

  • Line & spare tackle

    Main line in good condition, leaders and spare tackle suited to the chosen setup.

  • Bait, lures & colours

    Size #8 or #6 hooks, salmon roe, small foam balls, spawn bags or cured salmon roe, split shot and floats where permitted. Mepps Aglia #4 or #5 for salmon. Toronto Wobbler spoons come in several brands and sizes; send your model to the guide to confirm river suitability. Recommended colours: pink, blue, silver, orange and green.

Send your guide photos of your rod, reel and lures to confirm suitability before the trip.

Size references: Mepps #4–5 · Williams Toronto Wobbler : 2¼, 2¾, 3½ po / in. Catalogue sizes are not a universal river recommendation.

Setups, flies, lures, bait and hooks must comply with the rules for the river and season. Your guide confirms the choices before your trip. Do not wade into water that is too deep or fast; follow the guide’s safety instructions.

Explore Ontario salmon trips

Your equipment in photos

The basics, one photo at a time

Waders, glasses, clothing and a dry change: the same practical basics as the original packing list, with the mandatory Ontario salmon equipment clearly identified.

Waders

Waders

Mandatory, with grippy wading boots and a wading belt. Check for leaks before departure.

Polarized sunglasses

Polarized sunglasses

Reduce glare to see the riverbed, rocks and changes in depth more clearly.

Rain jacket

Rain jacket

A light layer against rain and wind, worn over your layered clothing.

Cap or hat

Cap or hat

For sun protection and comfort beside the water.

Small backpack

Small backpack

Carry your water, lunch, snacks and accessories. A chest pack also works.

Insect repellent

Insect repellent

Keep it in your bag. Long trousers and sleeves also help protect against insects.

Socks, towel and water

Socks, towel and water

Keep dry socks, a towel and spare clothes in the vehicle.

Bait, flies & accessories

Recognize each piece of tackle

These existing equipment photos illustrate the items. Your salmon rod, line strength, fly pattern and lure size must still match the recommendations above and be checked with the guide.

Imitation egg

Imitation egg

Visual example of an egg on a hook. Roe, foam balls and spawn bags: have your setup and local regulations checked.

Floats

Floats

Set depth and detect bites when spinning. For fly fishing, bring small strike indicators.

Size #8 or #6 hooks

Size #8 or #6 hooks

Recommended sizes for your salmon setups where permitted. Your guide confirms the choice.

Small split shot

Small split shot

Adjust the presentation in the current. Bring tiny split shot for fly fishing.

Leaders and tippet

Leaders and tippet

For fly fishing: 20–35 lb leader and 12–20 lb tippet. Check line condition and bring spares.

What a streamer looks like

What a streamer looks like

An illustrative small streamer from the trout list, to identify this fly family. Have the size and pattern checked for salmon; this is not a recommended salmon pattern.

Clothing, comfort & river safety

Which shoes should I wear?

Comfortable wading boots with good grip. Wet rocks, roots and riverbanks are slippery: avoid smooth soles. Water shoes are not a substitute for the mandatory waders and wading boots on Ontario salmon trips.

How should I dress?

Bring several light layers you can remove as the day warms up. Pack a rain jacket, a hat, spare socks and dry clothes left in the car. Long sleeves and trousers also help against insects. Prepare for the forecast, not only the temperature when you leave home.

Why polarized sunglasses?

They reduce reflections and help you see the riverbed, rocks, structures, depth changes and sometimes the fish. They also protect your eyes while fishing. Keep them on when casting and moving beside the river.

What if it has rained?

Rain is not automatically bad news, but water level, flow, temperature and recent rainfall affect the river. The guide adapts the area and technique to conditions. Never enter water that is too deep or fast; follow the safety instructions.

Do I need to buy everything?

Send photos of what you already own before buying anything. Your guide can check your rod, reel, flies, lures and setup. Unlike the trout trips, Ontario salmon equipment is not provided: bring your own suitable fishing equipment, waders and wading boots.

Phone and personal belongings

Charge your phone before departure and keep it in a waterproof pouch for photos. Pack unhooking pliers and line cutters, and protect your personal belongings from water. Leave a towel and a complete dry change in the vehicle.

Chinook salmon caught in an Ontario stream on October 3, 2026
Chinook salmon · Ontario stream · October 3, 2026
Chinook salmon beside an Ontario river

Before departure

Water, lunch & snacks

Bring your lunch, snacks and plenty of water for your six-hour trip. Pack them in your backpack so you have them with you beside the river. Do not depend on a nearby shop: prepare everything before departure.

Angler holding a salmon beside a wooded Ontario river
Chinook salmon · Ontario river · September 24, 2026
Chinook salmon caught in Ontario in October 2026

Ready for your Ontario salmon adventure?

Send me photos of your rod, reel, flies and lures before buying anything. I’ll help you prepare your equipment so you can head to the river with confidence. Let’s plan your next salmon fishing adventure together!

Plan my salmon adventure
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