Fishing in Ontario

Ontario is a world-class fishing destination. With over 250,000 lakes, thousands of rivers and the Great Lakes on its doorstep, the province offers virtually unlimited angling possibilities. Fishing is deeply embedded in Ontario's culture — particularly in Franco-Ontario communities of the North, where ice fishing is as much a social institution as a sport.

Key Species

• Walleye (Doré jaune): Ontario's signature fish and the most prized table fare in the province. Most active at dusk in shallow water. Found province-wide.
• Smallmouth and largemouth bass: Aggressive fighters. Rocky shorelines of Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay are prime habitat. Surface lure fishing in summer is thrilling.
• Northern pike: The apex predator of weedy bays. Regularly exceed one metre in Shield lakes with low fishing pressure.
• Rainbow and lake trout: In cold northern rivers and the depths of the Great Lakes. Fly fishing on the Grand River or Credit River is a classic Ontario experience.
• Pacific salmon (Chinook, Coho): Introduced in the Great Lakes in the 1960s. Trolling on Lake Ontario from May to September yields fish up to 20 kg.
• Lake sturgeon: A prehistoric giant that can live over 100 years. Strictly catch-and-release — a once-in-a-lifetime encounter in the Ottawa or Moose River.

Fishing Licences

Any person 18 or over must hold a valid sport fishing licence to fish in Ontario. Non-resident licences are available online or at local sporting goods stores.

• Non-resident (8-day): approx. $25–35 CAD
• Non-resident (annual): approx. $55–75 CAD
• Digital licence: Available via the Ontario Outdoors Card app
• Regulations: Ontario is divided into fishing zones with varying seasons, bag limits and size minimums — always check the current year's guide

Best Spots — Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario offers remarkable diversity. In deep water (20–80 metres), salmon trolling runs from May to September. Near shore, the piers and jetties at Kingston, Brighton and Trenton are excellent for walleye and bass — no boat required. The Bay of Quinte at the lake's eastern end is renowned for winter ice fishing for walleye, a living tradition in the Franco-Ontario communities of Hastings County.

Northern Ontario — The Ultimate Destination

The true angler's paradise lies in Northern Ontario — thousands of remote lakes accessible only by floatplane or logging road. The Sudbury, Cochrane and Northwestern Ontario (Thunder Bay) regions hold fish populations rarely disturbed by angling pressure: walleye exceeding 5 kg, metre-long pike and exceptional lake trout. Many francophone fishing outfitters operate fly-in camps from Timmins, Kapuskasing and Hearst — some of the most authentic wilderness fishing experiences in North America.