As summer fades, the crisp air brings with it a special season for Canadian anglers. For those who love casting a line, autumn is one of the most rewarding times to plan a fly fishing retreat.

Across Canada, the cooler months bring clear-running rivers where trout feed aggressively to prepare for the winter and salmon make their daring runs upstream. A fishing retreat during this time is as much about immersing yourself in the slower pace as it is about the catch. And the good news is that many lodges and retreats embrace this shoulder season, offering guided trips and cozy accommodations at some of the best fly fishing spots across the country.

On British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, Eagle Nook Resort in Barkley Sound offers an unforgettable fall fly fishing experience. Accessible only by boat or floatplane, the resort sits on a sheltered inlet surrounded by old-growth forest. Fall is prime time for coho salmon, and the resort’s guided trips are led by seasoned local captains who know the area’s fishing grounds inside and out. Farther inland, The Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort near Chase sits right on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake. The resort also offers guided fishing charters on the Shuswap, where rainbow trout fishing peaks in the cooler months.

In neighbouring Alberta, Lazy M Lodge invites you to spend your days casting to trout in one of the province’s best fly fishing locations. One hour from Red Deer and two hours from both Calgary and Edmonton, the lodge sits on the banks of the North Raven River, one of Alberta’s premier brown trout spawning streams.

Anglers interested in a more remote excursion will fall in love with Manitoba’s Bakers Narrows Lodge. Situated just outside Flin Flon on the shores of Lake Athapapuskow, this retreat combines the ease of drive-to access with extraordinary fishing opportunities and the option for remote fly-in excursions.

For those heading east to experience Ontario’s legendary fly fishing this time of year, Fernleigh Lodge in Cloyne captures that magic of the season. Situated on Kashwakamak Lake in the Land O’ Lakes region, it’s a prime base for fishing smallmouth bass and walleye well into October. Over in Quebec, ambitious anglers will find Camp Bonaventure to offer exceptional Atlantic salmon fly fishing on three celebrated rivers: the Bonaventure, Petite Cascapedia, and Grand Cascapedia. Here, trophy-sized salmon await.

For those seeking storied salmon fishing in Nova Scotia, Big Intervale Fishing Lodge in the Margaree River valley of Cape Breton is sure to deliver. Fall brings crisp mornings, brilliant foliage, and fish making their final runs, and the lodge’s local guides know the Margaree’s pools like the backs of their hands.

Finally, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Tuckamore Lodge is an angler’s dream in autumn. Set amid spruce forest near Main Brook, it offers guided trips to nearby salmon rivers and trout-filled brooks for all experience levels. The combination of rugged coastal scenery and world-class fishing makes it well worth the trip.

Canada’s fall fly fishing retreats deliver a blend of sport, scenery, and comfort that’s hard to beat. Whether you’re chasing salmon in a forested valley, hunting trout in the shadow of the Rockies, or casting to pike in a quiet northern lake, the season has a charm that begs to be experienced.