A Day on the Morell River — PEI Fishing at Its Finest

I first visited Prince Edward Island two years ago and it left a mark on me and my family. There’s something about the pace of life here — charming small towns, open waters, beautiful sand dunes, salted air and the steady sound of waves in the background. This week, I found myself on the Morell River and what a day it turned out to be.

The alarm went off at 4:20 a.m. and I stumbled out of bed, still half-asleep but buzzing with anticipation. Outside, it was pitch black, that deep, quiet darkness you only get before dawn. The roads were empty and the air was cool as I made my way to the meeting point. Just as the first hints of sunlight began to break the horizon, a fox trotted across my path — a silent and graceful welcome to the day ahead.

At the river, I met up with my guide, Craig Ono. I’ve been guided a couple of times before but this felt different — like royal treatment! Craig was calm, friendly and incredibly attentive. He had a two-rod system ready to go, which meant if I got caught in a tree (and I sure did — it’s a pretty technical river!) or lost a fly, he’d hand me the other rod instantly so I could keep fishing while he fixed the first one. No downtime, just constant action. He knew exactly what would work: a small butterfly pattern. The fish started biting right away.

The river was calm and crystal clear. As we waded downstream, we spotted a beaver swimming past and kingfishers darting overhead. What struck me most was the solitude — we didn’t see another soul on the water the entire day. It felt like we had the whole river to ourselves.

And the fish? Over 30 in total — brook trout and salmon parr. Schools of brookies were everywhere, so thick that I joked I had to watch where I stepped to avoid bumping into them. Beyond the fun and the sheer numbers, something else stood out to me. Seeing so many salmon parr gave me a real sense of hope. We hear so many depressing stories these days about rivers in decline, about runs that are shadows of what they once were. But here, on this stretch of the Morell, I couldn’t help but think: maybe the salmon will come back in greater numbers. I sure hope so.

Before I knew it, we’d been fishing for 10 hours straight. I couldn’t believe it was already 4 p.m. The day had flown by in a rhythm of cast, hook, release and repeat — the kind of pace that fills you with both excitement and peace.

As we packed up, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the healthy river, for the beauty of PEI and for Craig’s easygoing expertise that made the day so effortless. I left the Morell River tired but happy, with the kind of memories that stay with you long after you hang up your waders. I know I’ll be back, drawn again to this island’s waters and the peace they bring.

If you’re looking for a great experience on the water, you can get in touch with Craig at www.flyfishpei.com(This is not a paid advertisement — just a genuine recommendation).