Last Sunday, Eric and I drove around for 5 and a half hours checking out the Saugeen river in preparation for the opening of bass season. In the past, accompanying Eric on fishing trips to points along the Grand River were hit or (mainly) miss. You can’t get a lot of short stories read while sitting under highway underpasses or next to high-traffic boat launches. So it was a smart idea to drive to potential fishing spots and to determine their “fishability” for Eric’s sake, as well as their comfort level for an avid picnicker with a large bin of books and two schnauzers.

We geeked out about this mission by using Eric’s GPS watch to get mileage readings while taking notes at all stops along the way. He’s now uploaded the route map to the watch software’s website, though we haven’t yet gotten around to exporting the map to Google and adding my notes to exact points on the Google map route. Maybe by Saturday?

Fishing Related Stops

@ 37.23 miles — Hanover Dam Rehabilitation Project / Karl Wilken Park
– has “potential”
– river access at parks on both sides of the street
– access may be tricky above rail bridge
– a lot of pressure (bobbers in trees)
– canoe launch
– walking trail

@ 40.60 miles — Saugeen Access Point 4 on Maple Hill Rd.
– private property: canoe access / portage point, but nothing else
– river is beautiful here

@ 45.17 miles — Walkerton
– next to shooting range (South Bruce Game and Fish Protective Association = “Walkerton Gun Club”)
– barricades on trail

@ 45.5 miles — Walkerton
– wide, shallow river
– fishing access for Eric, but nothing for me

@ 46.73 miles — Walkerton, Saugeen River trailhead
– saw numerous minnows get eaten (!!!!!)

@ 49.27 miles — still Walkerton (Bend Park?)
– park with meadow & river
– trail & benches
– “very good candidate”

@ 51.32 miles — Lobies Park
– campground
– toilet and showers
– high pressure
– good for canoe launch
– otherwise: not interesting

@ 57.59 miles — Bridge over ?
– looks like the Grand
– deep off banks ?
– not good for dogs or Karen
– great for road riding
– park at roadside before the bridge

@ 60.30 miles — Cargill, Teeswater river
– town has a cool church
– river next to the Cargill Village Inn
– kids fishing on rocks next to the river

@ 74.55 miles — Dr. Milne Park, Paisley
– sign for “Park & Paddle”
– nice stretch of river for fishing
– riverside trail connects to larger park (Rotary Park)
– good for everybody!

@ 75.85 miles — Rotary Park
– picnic tables
– muddier than upstream
– can’t tell depth
– 2 rivers meet here
– canoe / kayak rentals @ 76.04
– worth checking out

@ 78.85 miles — Access Point
– can’t tell depth
– good for wading
– parking = yes
– mowed trail through long grass
– saw a crawdad on shore
– next to a pet motel

@ 81.85 miles – entrance to Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area / Access Point 11
– day use = $4 / adult
– canoe launch = $5.50
– camping = $38 / day
– canoe / kayak rental at Park Store

@ 82.55 miles
– river wide, wadeable, not sure about depth
– woodsy, mosquito heaven

@ 83.45 miles
– wide, deep, slow water reminds Eric of Brant Park (!!!!!)

Non-Fishing Related Notes

Scone — @ 37 miles
– just after Scone, Bierman’s sign says “craft beer on tap”
– Hell of a Fry chip truck next to Harley’s Blues Cafe.
– http://www.biermans.ca
– https://www.facebook.com/pages/Biermans-Bar-and-Grill/169876999706726
– http://www.explorethebruce.com/cafe-deli-take-out/The-Road-Warrior-Chip-Wagon-12272.php

Elmwood – “Rare Bird Antiques”
– http://www.explorethebruce.com/antiques-collectibles/The-Rare-Bird-12340.php
– http://www.rubylane.com/shop/rarebird1976

Hanover — after leaving, saw sign for “Hanover Trail System”
– http://www.hanover.ca/trail-system

Cargill — Country & Bluegrass Festival in July
– http://www.cargillcdcf.com/drupal/index.php

Walkerton ?
http://www.walkertongunclub.com/

Pinkerton — @ 65.45 miles
– General Store / Library + barn = Antiques (closed on Tuesdays)
– sign for “Bruce Trail Tract” = old rail trail

Paisley
– Farmers’ Market, Saturdays 9 – 1

[car stopped at stop sign at busy intersection]
K: You need to signal… you need to signal your intentions.
E: My intentions are to sit here and look at this map! There’s no signal for that.