Two Canadian filmmakers have filmed coaster brook trout spawning on the outer islands of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area.
The footage is part of a cutting-edge documentary called Hidden Below: The Great Lake, which will premiere on TVO in 2028.
The documentary examines fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes watershed. As part of filming, Yvonne Dreber and Zach Melnick of Inspired Planet Productions captured what is believed to be the first footage of coaster brook spawning in this habitat.
Working with Parks Canada staff, the filmmakers used an underwater drone.
“This is a genuine freshwater breakthrough,” Melnick said. “Moments like this show what’s possible when conservation science and cinematic storytelling come together.”
Parks Canada is one of more than a dozen partners supporting the doc, which is being created in collaboration with a network of scientists, conservation organizations, and community partners.
Select footage from the doc is available at: inspiredplanet.ca
[Photo sourced from Inspired Planet Productions]
Originally published in the Summer Bassin' 2026 issue of Ontario Out of Doors magazine
