20 years experience

Ontario's Premier
River Guide Service

From first cast to final net-lift, our veteran guides work every seam, pocket, and pool to put you on fish. Expect pro gear, dialed-in instruction, and an unforgettable day chasing chrome and trophy browns on Ontario’s finest water.

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We Help Existing Anglers Improve Their Skills

We have been Ontarios Best River Guide service for the last 10 years with over 250 days booked per year. While other guide services only offer one method of fishing, Our guides offer guide trips with fly rods, centerpin rods, and spinning rods.

We Offer Guided River Adventures

Slip into a drift boat or wade a clear riffle while our licensed guides tailor every move to the day’s conditions and your goals. We supply premium rods, reels, waders, and hand-tied rigs, plus on-the-water coaching that sharpens your cast and reading of the river in real time.

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A Perfect Drift Guide Company

Take a peek inside our World

It's Spring Steelhead And Trout Time!

The steelhead start to enter some rivers in late February and the runs get bigger and better into March and April. Last year we had double-digit days of hard fighting bright silver steelhead starting in early March.

Our Dates Are limited so DON’T MISS OUT!

Trout fishing starts on the 4th Saturday in April and we recommend booking your trout trip from May 6th to June 15th. We are always fully booked during this time so let us know what works for you and we will book you in. Guide Trips and Rates

Book Your Trip Now

Being the #1 guide service means we often book up fast. . . See you on the water.

Still Going Strong As Ontario's Top River Guide Service

We continue to be Ontario’s top river guide service because our guides are well trained and our customer service is exceptional.

Our guides are highly skilled in fly fishing, float fishing and spin fishing and we guide the best trout and steelhead rivers in Southern Ontario. What more can you ask for?

Check out or Guide Trips and Guide Rates page

Check out our Lesson and Classes page.

You won’t find a better and more well rounded river guide service in Ontario.

Fly fish, Float Fish, and Spin Fish with us

WHAT WE OFFER

Most frequent questions and answers

WHERE WE'RE LOCATED

We are based in Orangeville Ontario which is known as the “Hills of the Headwaters” and is centrally located minutes from 4 of Southern Ontario’s best trout and steelhead rivers. The Grand River, The Credit River, The Humber River, and the Nottawasaga Rivers are all located within a 15 minutes drive from us.

THE FISHING

With plenty of brown trout and brook trout in the headwaters and lots of Steelhead and Salmon in the middle and lower sections of many rivers this is what many anglers consider to be the best river fishing in Ontario. River small-mouth bass, musky, and pike are also available in good numbers during the summer months if you know where to go.

OUR EXPEREINCE

Our Co-Founder Graham Bristow has over 37 years of fly fishing and float fishing/centerpin fishing experience with over 20 years of guiding experience. Graham has fished with and trained with many great anglers and shares that knowledge with our top guides. Graham now trains the guides at A Perfect Drift Guide Company so you know that you are still getting his expertise and knowledge through your guide.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer our beginner and experienced clients professional, friendly and educational guided river trips by drift boat or by foot to over 12 rivers and creeks. We specialize and teach the most modern and most effective methods that are not yet used by most Ontario anglers or other guide services.

River fishing Methods

Fly fishing, Centerpin fishing, Float Fishing or Spin fishing: what ever fishing style you prefer, we can provide you with a fun filled and educational guided river trip, lesson or a class. We can also provide nearly everything you need for your trip out at no extra charge. Click HERE to see what we can provide and what you should bring.

LESSONS AND CLASSES

River Fishing Classes / Lessons: There are a lot of firsts for us and that includes our river fishing classes. No where else in Ontario can you take river fishing classes that cover beginner to advanced fly fishing tactics or get Centerpin/float fishing classes. Our classes are always on the river so you may even catch some fish while learning.

RIVER FISHING TIPS AND ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS

New to Fly Fishing and Centerpin fishing? That’s Ok, you’re not alone.

Brand new anglers ask me all the time about what rods and reels and other gear that I recommend, or they ask me about my best flies, best methods or even which rivers are good to fish. I simply got to the point where I couldn’t keep up with the questions anymore, there just wasn’t enough time in the day, so I build a website that cover’s all of that. You should checkout our sister site where we tell you exactly what gear you need and tips and tricks to help you get started. Check out www.ontariotroutandsteelhead.com

Jordan

Head Guide / Owner

We're the longest running full time river guide in Ontario!

Our Clients Says

We have received thousands of thank you emails and testimonials and we are highly recommended.

Cole D

Fly Angler

Graham is good natured, easy going and is a patient coach/guide. Match that with his diverse skills as an angler and willingness to share his knowledge of Ontario's waterways and you are guaranteed to learn something new. Thanks for a great day on the water Graham!

Mike P

Angler

By far the best trout and steelhead guide in Ontario and the only guide I will go out with or recommend. If you want to learn float fishing or fly fishing on the best rivers in Ontario then these are the guys for you.

Sasha S

Fisherman

Graham is a fantastic coach and guide. Whether you want to learn the finer points of fly or float fishing. Incredible knowledge base, patient and a lot of fun. Graham got us into the the biggest fish ever. An absolute professional! We can't wait to go out again.

We're the first and only full time
float fishing / Centerpin guide Service in Ontario!

Watch Us!

If you want to see what a day on the water is like with us, check out these TV shows we did with The New Fly Fisher TV show.

FISHING FOR BIG BROWNS

Watch as Host Colin and Graham explore the Credit River in search of it’s big elusive brown trout.

FISHING FOR FALL STEELHEAD

Watch Graham as he teaches Bill Spicer how to catch steelhead on the Nottawasaga River.

FISHING FOR SPRING STEELHEAD

Bill Spicer and Mark Melnyk take a boat trip with Graham on the lower Credit river for some spring steelhead.

We're the only guide service to provide a unique summary
of the many things you'll learn on your trip with us!

CenterPin and Float Fishing

Glide every presentation like it’s on rails. Learn optimum shot patterns, reel control, and river positioning so your float tracks true and your hook-ups skyrocket. Start here, then binge the rest of our float-fishing masterclass.

Advanced Nymphing

Sharpen your dead-drift game and hook more picky trout. This quick read walks you through leader tweaks, weighted rigs, and fly picks that turn refusals into takes—plus links to even deeper tactics.

Fishing Ontario Rivers

Not sure where to cast this weekend? Our guide pinpoints public access, seasonal hot spots, and hidden gems from the Saugeen to the Credit. Plan your mission, gear up, and explore a trove of local intel inside.

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Free Fishing

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Float Fishing

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Solo & Team Fishing

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We Help Existing Anglers Improve Their Skills

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