The Credit River is one of southern Ontario's most celebrated and diverse fisheries, flowing through a dramatic range of landscapes from its headwaters near Orangeville southward through the Niagara Escarpment and the urban sprawl of Mississauga before emptying into Lake Ontario. Despite running through one of the most densely urbanized regions in Canada, the river maintains remarkable ecological integrity, supporting over 64 fish species, 1,300 plant species, 41 mammals, and more than 240 bird species throughout its watershed. The river carries a rich cultural and natural history — in the 1700s and 1800s, native Atlantic salmon ran so thickly through its waters that early settlers reportedly said you could "walk on their backs." While those original Atlantic salmon populations are long gone, the Credit today hosts impressive runs of Great Lakes steelhead, chinook and coho salmon, along with resident brown trout and native brook trout in its upper reaches. From its average width of roughly 50 feet at the mouth to the intimate, spring-fed headwater streams above, the Credit offers an extraordinary variety of water types — fast rapids, deep pools, riffles, and pocket water — making it a destination worthy of anglers at every skill level.