Slamming Coasters on Lake Superior with Jerry Darkes

Episode 153 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – September 25, 2025
Our destination is Canada’s Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area for giant coaster brook trout—3,800 square miles of crystal-clear water and steep, rocky drop-offs hiding the biggest brook trout on earth. Joining me is author, guide, and Great Lakes expert Jerry Darkes, who gives us a whirlwind tour of fly fishing the Great Lakes and a deep dive into where, how, and when to find these genetically supercharged brookies.
Jerry’s been fishing the Great Lakes for 50 years and this remote area for 15. Today he shares his strategies on sinking lines and tag-teaming for big fish, plus top flies and the logistics of getting there. And as a bonus, Jerry dishes out smallmouth hotspots, flats fishing for carp, and even lake trout and pike bulldogging in the shallows.
With host Steve Haigh
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Recorded Sep 10, 2025