Big Water at Brennan Harbour

Your best opportunity to jump on some big water bass fishing on the fly.

Oh boy. This was a fun one. I had never visited Brennan Harbour Resort, let alone fished the Whalesback Channel, or water on the North Shore of Lake Huron before. Let me just start by saying, it was more than I had hoped for. Brennan Harbour is a fishing resort located near Spanish, Ontario. It’s a cozy little spot, with friendly staff, and comfortable accommodations. It’s a drive-up lodge, which makes it exceptionally accessible, and it’s right on this epic water—the North Shore of the mighty, mighty Lake Huron. When we had the opportunity to jump on some big water bass fishing on the fly, we couldn’t resist.

Here are the details behind our weekend fishing and what you can expect when you visit this special little resort, tucked away in Algoma paradise.

First Impressions

brennan-harbour-2

Apart from the classic, terrible Toronto traffic that seems to be unavoidable, the drive from the city was great. Beautiful scenery, straight, simple roads, and perfectly spaced apart coffee stops. Getting up north is always such a relief. Peace and that feeling of, ahhhhh, usually sets in around Huntsville for me. The trees get a little thicker, the people get a little sparser, and things just feel right. On this trip, the excitement really picked up when we rolled into the resort grounds for the first time. The property was well-manicured, well-kept, clean, and tidy. The staff came to greet us right away and made us feel at home and comfortable. Smiling faces, friendly hellos, and instant fishing reports—are exactly what you want when getting to a new place. Right away, you can feel the power of the water. The resort is perched right on the banks of Lake Huron. Cabins sit upon protruding, big smooth rocks, trees are windswept and weathered, and the British flag flown by James, the owner, flutters in the wind gracefully. It’s a beautiful spot and a place we felt right at home.

Comfy and Cozy

Next, we got into our cabin for the weekend and got set up. The cabins are also clean, comfy, and perfect for a weekend fishing getaway. Just what you need in a place to put your feet up at the end of a busy day chasing hungry fish. I picked a room furthest from my friend and So Fly podcast co-host, Yilma. His snoring is just something I try to avoid as much as possible on these trips. I hopped on the bed to give it a quick test. Ah yes, fluffy, soft, perfect. But now wasn’t sleeping time—now was smallmouth bass time.

Big Water, Big Fish

brennan-harbour-4

We head outside and met up with our guide, the amazing Scott Currie. Scott is the owner of Flymart and is a guide in the area. He guides guests at Brennan Harbour often, and we were lucky enough that he was able to take us out and show us the water. We jumped in the lodge boats—Lunds with 50HP tiller motors. We got our setups figured out, and powered off to the first fishing spot. These boats are perfect for this water, which at times can be quite choppy and precarious. 50HP motors made short work of getting to our destination.

We fished for smallmouth and pike while hitting various deep drop-offs under rock cliffs and Huron scenery. It wasn’t long until we were into some big fish. We found a steep drop-off located off one of the many islands, and simple dead drifted and slowly stripped minnow patterns. Here is where we’d find the biggest fish of the trip, a solid four-to-five-pound smallmouth, caught by Yilma.

An Easy, Awesome Trip

brennan-harbour-6

That night, we sat around the BBQ cooking up hotdogs, drinking wine, and enjoying the Huron sunset. We’d have a great sleep with the lake air rolling off and into our cabin and get up the next day to fish again. The best thing about it all? The ease. From the accessibility to the perfectly kept cabins and boats to the BBQ pavilion, ready for you to use, this trip was easy, easy, easy, and oh-so awesome. It wasn’t tough for us to have a great weekend outside the city, enjoying some northern air and catching fish. And that gets an A+ in my books.

About The So Fly Crew

We're a fly fishing podcast here to tell your stories. Our goal is to connect the Ontario fly fishing community one episode, video, and event at a time.

Recommended Articles

Food Trucks & Chip Stands in Algoma

Burgers, Fish & Chips and Twists on Favourites

All About Blind River

Fun Facts and Hidden Gems

Pike and Spoons

Fishing Techniques and Advice

A Trip into the Past

With the Mennonites of Algoma

Pukaskwa National Park

A Must-Visit for Paddling & Hiking

Fishing Esnagi Lake

Tips for Fishing This Remote Lake

The Ultimate Group of Seven Road Trip

See the inspirations for their greatest works.

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

The Best Song About Lake Superior

Have You Hiked Orphan Lake Trail Yet?

Cedar Groves, Pebble Beaches & Waterfall Views Along Lake Superior

Minnows, Leeches, Nightcrawlers

Which Bait is Best for Walleye

Robertson Cliffs

A Spectacular View in Autumn

A Lake Huron Road Trip

What to See and Do on the North Channel

Jackfish

A Connection to Canada's Group of Seven

Attractor Trolling for Lake Trout

Tips & Tricks You Need to Learn

Life Under The Dome

Glamping on the edge of Lake Superior at Rock Island Lodge

Whitefish island

A Rich Cultural Site for Over 2000 Years

The Grand Algoma

From a 60-Mile Walk to an Epic Touring Route

Spinners are Winners

How to Use Spinners to Catch Brook Trout

Fishing Tackle and Bait

Where to Buy in Algoma

The Pier Sports Bar

A Beautiful Waterfront Spot in Blind River