Saugeen River, ON - Canada

Article and photos by Jules Jelev

The largest Lake Huron tributary, the Saugeen starts southwest of Owen Sound as two seperate rivers - the North and South Saugeen. Along its 140km course, it picks up the waters of Rocky Saugeen, Beatty Saugeen, Styx, Teeswater river and Camp creek. Some of these tribuatries have populations of brook trout in them and also serve as spawning grounds for salmon and steelhead. Fishing in the uper parts of the river is possible in fall, but most fishing pressure is concentrated in or near Southampton. Saugeen's lower section below Denny's Dam is exempt from spring closure and attracts a lot of anglers in March and April. During good fishing times, finding a spot can be difficult. The prefered method on the river is floatfishing, but lures and flies are work.

In its lower section the Saugeen is a wide freestone river with depths typically between 3 and 9'. The bottom is rather unpredictable which may lead to the loss of many lures. Shore access is good on both sides. There is a caravan park below Denny's dam providing access to a great piece of water.

The Saugeen has a variety of fish in it. In August and September it has a run of chinook salmon. It is also inhabited by suckers, smallmouth bass, muskie, carp and other species.

Steelhead, though, is what makes the river popular with anglers. Harsh winter conditions, cover the watres with floating ice. In periods of persistent rain or snowmelt the Saugeen rises and can be unfishable. If weather cooperates, an angler may catch as many as 10 steelhead on a good day. Not all steelhead travel far upstream in this river; many stay in the area below Denny's dam to spawn. Unfortunately these fish are hit hard by both shore and boat fishermen while they are on the reds.