French River Provincial Park

Image displaying the difference between Northern Pike and Longnose Gar. Image on the left shows a woman holding a Pike. The other image on the right shows a man holding a Longnose Gar. Both images were captured in the French River Provincial Park in Northeastern Ontario Canada

Northern Pike vs Longnose Gar: The Toothiest Fish in Ontario

Did you ever wonder if a Gar or a Pike are the same species? Looking at them, they both have long, slender bodies, sharp teeth, and voracious appetites. But don’t let their looks fool you. They’re very different fish, with different origins, habitats, and fishing methods. I’ve worked in Ontario’s fishing industry for nearly two …

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Image of a sexual mature male sea lamprey. The adults' skin colours change like salmon with the male lamprey developing a "rope-ridge" across their back.

Sea Lamprey: A Parasitic Pest in the French River and Beyond

Sea lampreys are vampiric invasive species that have caused significant damage to the native fish populations in the Great Lakes. The French River in Northeastern Ontario is one of the many waterways they have invaded. While sea lampreys are monitored and population controlled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and Fisheries and …

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Fall River Fishing Tips for Largemouth Bass 

Fall is a fantastic time to fish in many of Ontario’s rivers, especially the French River Delta. You don’t have to be a professional to catch trophy Largemouth Bass at this time of year! For over 30 years, we’ve witnessed many guests catch bigger bass on the French River, especially during our shoulder seasons.  Below …

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Come Staycation with Us: Discover French River

What Is A Staycation? The term, Staycation, was originally coined in a market crisis in 2008 in our neighbor across the border. However, since Covid-19 has dictated the need for tourism to be faced to restrict travel plans for holidays of travel abroad or within our Canadian boundaries, Ontarian are now immersing themselves in immediate …

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French River Spring Pike Fishing

Spring is a lively and a prime fishing time for northern pike on the French River. In Northern Ontario, after the spawn is a period that offers excellent odds for catching trophies; as well as catching copious amounts of energetic young-lings. Depending on weather and water temperatures, a variety of fishing patterns and baits are …

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Come Staycation with Us: Discover French River

What Is A Staycation? Staycation is a term that was originally coined in the market crisis of 2008. Now in 2020, Covid-19 has dictated the need for public health and tourism to restrict travel plans for holidays of travel abroad or within our Canadian boundaries. Ontarian residents are now immersing themselves in their immediate surroundings …

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Bear’s Den Lodge: An Inspiration to Live a Dream

Bear’s Den Lodge, a number one tourism full-service business in the French River, Municipality of Killarney area, has gone through a major transformation over the past 35 years. Since 1986, the daily operations and maintenance at the lodge located along Highway 69 now 400 North in Alban, Ontario have been managed by owners Art and …

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Musky Historical Report of the French River 1961 – 1994

Guess what we found? As we were cleaning out our old files we stumbled upon this old report. We thought we should share these significant historical records supplied by Bear’s Den Lodge and compiled by Biologist George E. Moran of the French River Cooperative Fisheries Unit. This data includes musky historical records from 1961 – …

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Fall Fishing: French River Musky

One of the best times to fish for French River Musky is in the fall season (from late-August to October). The cooler autumn days change a Musky’s behaviour. They go from territorial couch potatoes snatching up easy prey to nomadic hunters as they move from structure to structure with the shortening daylight cycle. Musky Fall …

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