Fishing at The Franklin Club
Where Fishing Meets the Private Club Experience
For over a century, The Franklin Club has been known as “Fishing at its Finest.” Set on a private 200 acre property, the Club offers members and their guests access to three peaceful bodies of water, including Franklin Lake, Harrison Pond and Douglass Pond.
Located within the Lake Simcoe watershed and protected by the Oak Ridges Moraine, the Club benefits from natural spring fed waters and a setting that feels quiet, secluded and carefully preserved. With limited membership, fishing at The Franklin Club offers more room to cast, more time to enjoy the water and a peaceful alternative to the crowds often found on public lakes.
Fishing here is about more than access to private waters. It is part of a larger Club experience built around tradition, natural beauty, outdoor enjoyment and time well spent with family, friends and fellow members. Whether visiting for a morning, an afternoon, a full day or a weekend, The Franklin Club offers an inviting escape close to home.
Exclusive Fishing Opportunities
Fishing at The Franklin Club is reserved for members and their invited guests, giving each visit a quiet and private feel. With access limited to those connected to the Club, members can enjoy the water with more space, less interruption, and the freedom to fish at their own pace.
This exclusivity is part of what makes the fishing experience so meaningful. Members have access to a private fishery where the water, the grounds, and the rhythm of the day are carefully protected for those who belong to the Club.
The result is a fishing experience that feels personal, relaxed, and deeply connected to the traditions of The Franklin Club. It is a place to cast, gather, learn, and enjoy time on the water in a setting that remains distinctly private.
A Map of Our Private Trout Fishing Waters
Franklin Lake, Harrison Pond & Douglas Pond
Fishing at The Franklin Club is built around three private bodies of water, all stocked with vibrant and energetic trout raised through the Club’s private hatchery program. This careful fishery management supports consistent fishing opportunities across the property and helps maintain the quality of trout fishing our members have enjoyed for generations.
Harrison Pond is a fly fishing only water located near the outflow of Franklin Lake. With casting platforms and moving water influenced by the outflow, it offers members the opportunity to swing flies, drift patterns and practise different fly fishing techniques. Harrison Pond is also a popular area for demonstrations and instruction. With a bubbler helping keep the water open through winter, members can enjoy fly fishing here 365 days a year.
Franklin Lake is the main lake on the property and gives members the choice to fish by boat or from casting platforms positioned around the shoreline. This allows anglers to access different areas of the lake, adjust to changing conditions and enjoy a varied stillwater trout fishing experience throughout the season.
Douglass Pond is also fly fishing only and offers a quieter, more deliberate fishing experience. Its clear water rewards a stealthy approach, where anglers slow down, watch their movement and avoid alerting fish before making a cast. Under the right conditions, sight fishing is possible, making Douglass Pond a rewarding water for members who enjoy patience, observation and a more refined approach to trout fishing.
Rainbow Trout & Brook Trout Fishing
The Franklin Club is known for its private trout fishing, supported by spring fed waters and a carefully managed on-site hatchery program. The Club raises rainbow trout and brook trout, also known as speckled trout, and stocks Franklin Lake, Harrison Pond, and Douglass Pond each year to maintain a strong and active private fishery for members.
What makes the experience especially rewarding is the natural way the fish live once they are introduced into the Club’s waters. After release, trout are not artificially fed. They must adapt, forage, and survive within the Club’s natural aquatic ecosystem, creating a more authentic fishing experience for members.
With over 100,000 fish typically in the hatchery system and a goal of stocking at least 10,000 new fish annually, members can enjoy a consistent and rewarding trout fishing experience across private waters that are actively cared for, thoughtfully managed, and true to the spirit of the sport.
Fly Fishing Lessons & Instruction
The Franklin Club’s Club Pros are accomplished anglers who help members build skill, confidence, and a deeper understanding of fly fishing. Instruction is available for all experience levels, from entry level lessons for those new to the sport to more advanced guidance on casting, presentation, fly selection, reading the water, and fishing tactics.
Access to our Club Pros is a key part of the fishing experience. Members can take part in group instruction or arrange private lessons to sharpen their technique and get more from their time on the water. For anyone looking to learn fly fishing or level up their existing skills, The Franklin Club offers a supportive and highly knowledgeable environment to improve.
Enjoy Fishing 365 Days a Year
Membership gives you access to fishing at The Franklin Club throughout the year. As a private Club fishery, members and their guests can enjoy the Club’s private waters without a provincial fishing licence, with fishing available 365 days a year.
From open water fishing in spring, summer, and fall to winter fishing opportunities, the Club offers members more ways to enjoy time on the water in every season. One of the Club’s ponds also remains open during the colder months, creating a rare opportunity for winter fly fishing.
The Franklin Club gives members the privilege of returning to the water throughout the year, making fishing a regular part of Club life in every season.
Types of Fishing at The Franklin Club
Fishing at The Franklin Club is centred around private trout waters, quiet outdoor experiences, and traditions that have shaped the Club for generations. Across Franklin Lake, Harrison Pond, and Douglass Pond, members can enjoy open lake fishing, casting platforms, and shoreline access along the water’s edge.
Family Friendly Fishing for All Ages
Fishing at The Franklin Club is designed to be safe, accessible, and enjoyable for members of all ages. With private waters, well maintained shoreline areas, and a welcoming Club setting, families can spend time outdoors with greater comfort and confidence.
For children and newer anglers, the Club offers a supportive place to learn, practise, and build confidence around the water. For parents and grandparents, it creates opportunities to pass along skills, share stories, and enjoy meaningful time together in a setting that is calm, familiar, and easy to enjoy.
For family members who may not be as interested in fishing, the Club offers plenty of other ways to enjoy the day. From clubhouse dining and relaxing in the lounge area to spending time on the patio surrounded by the natural beauty of the property, every visit can become a shared family fishing experience both on and off the water.
Featured Fishing Videos at The Franklin Club
A few fun videos filmed at The Franklin Club, showcasing the fishing, scenery, and outdoor experiences that make the Club such an exciting and memorable place for anglers of all skill levels.
The Franklin Club Fishing at its Finest!
A cinematic look at the Club, showcasing fishing, dining and friendships.
A Day Fishing at The Franklin Club
SoFly Podcast visits the Club and goes fishing with one of our Club Pros.
Rick Mercer Fly Fishing at The Franklin Club
A fun and lighthearted day with the Mercer Report Series from years ago.
Toronto’s Hidden Fishing Destination
The Club was featured on Fish’n Canada’s Outdoor Journal Radio.
Ready to Visit or Need More Info?
Contact Us Today.
Come see The Franklin Club for yourself and explore the grounds, fishing, and amenities firsthand. If you have any questions before your visit, please give us a call at (905) 473-1469
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
