Fishing in Ontario: Top Species and Best Spots

Ontario is a fishing giant. With four of the five Great Lakes, over 250,000 lakes, and countless rivers, the province offers an incredible diversity of fishing opportunities. From the warm-water bass fisheries of the south to the cold, clear trout lakes of the north, Ontario has something for every angler. This guide covers the top species and where to find them across the province.

1. Lake Erie (Walleye, Smallmouth Bass & Yellow Perch)

Best time: April through October

Lake Erie is the most productive of the Great Lakes and offers world-class fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. The western basin is famous for its incredible walleye population, with fish in the 3-6 pound range common. The eastern basin offers excellent smallmouth bass fishing around the rocky shoals and islands. Yellow perch are abundant throughout the lake and provide excellent family fishing. Popular access points include Leamington, Wheatley, Port Dover, and Long Point. Trolling, jigging, and drift fishing are all productive.

2. Lake Ontario (Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon & Lake Trout)

Best time: April through September (salmon), May through August (lake trout)

Lake Ontario offers world-class salmon and trout fishing. The lake's stocked Chinook and Coho salmon populations provide incredible sport, with Chinook regularly exceeding 25 pounds. The spring and summer salmon runs into tributaries like the Credit River, Ganaraska River, and Salmon River are legendary. Lake trout fishing is excellent in the deeper waters, particularly around the Niagara Bar and off Kingston. Trolling with downriggers, spoons, and flasher-fly combinations is the standard technique.

3. Georgian Bay / Lake Huron (Smallmouth Bass, Pike & Salmon)

Best time: May through September

Georgian Bay is renowned for its world-class smallmouth bass fishing. The bay's clear, rocky waters and countless islands create perfect smallmouth habitat, with fish in the 2-4 pound range common and trophies over 6 pounds. Northern pike are abundant in the weedy bays and river mouths. The bay also holds Chinook salmon and lake trout in the deeper waters. Top access points include Parry Sound, Honey Harbour, Midland, and Tobermory.

4. Lake of the Woods (Walleye, Smallmouth Bass & Muskie)

Best time: May through September

Lake of the Woods, straddling the Ontario-Manitoba border, is one of North America's premier fishing destinations. The lake's 14,000 islands and 65,000 miles of shoreline provide endless fishing opportunities. Walleye fishing is world-class, with healthy populations of 2-6 pound fish. Smallmouth bass are abundant and aggressive. The lake also supports a trophy muskie fishery, with fish over 50 inches caught each year. The Ontario side offers numerous lodges, outfitters, and access points near Kenora and Sioux Narrows.

5. St. Lawrence River (Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike & Muskie)

Best time: May through September

The St. Lawrence River, particularly the Thousand Islands region, offers exceptional fishing for smallmouth bass, northern pike, and muskie. The river's clear, deep water and abundant structure create ideal habitat. Smallmouth bass fishing is world-class, with fish in the 2-4 pound range common. Muskie fishing is excellent, with the river producing trophy fish over 50 inches. The Thousand Islands area is also a popular destination for pike and walleye. Access points include Gananoque, Brockville, and Cornwall.

6. Lake Nipissing (Walleye & Northern Pike)

Best time: May through September, and winter ice fishing

Lake Nipissing, near North Bay, is a massive, shallow lake that's incredibly productive for walleye and northern pike. The lake's stained water and abundant structure hold dense fish populations. Walleye in the 2-5 pound range are common, and the lake's ice fishing is legendary. The lake is easily accessible from North Bay and has numerous lodges, resorts, and public launch points. Jigging with minnows and trolling worm harnesses are the most productive techniques.

7. French River (Walleye, Pike & Muskie)

Best time: June through September

The French River, connecting Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay, is a historic Canadian Heritage River that offers exceptional fishing. The river's current, deep pools, and rocky structure create ideal habitat for walleye, northern pike, and muskie. The river is particularly famous for its walleye fishing, with fish holding along current edges and deep structure. The French River is a popular destination for canoe and kayak trips that combine fishing with wilderness exploration.

8. Lake Simcoe (Lake Trout, Perch & Walleye)

Best time: May through August, and winter ice fishing

Lake Simcoe offers excellent year-round fishing and is a favourite destination for anglers from the Greater Toronto Area. The lake holds lake trout, rainbow trout, whitefish, yellow perch, and walleye. Lake Simcoe is one of the most popular ice fishing destinations in Ontario, with thousands of ice huts set up each winter. Perch fishing is excellent throughout the year. The lake's walleye population has rebounded strongly in recent years. Access points include Keswick, Beaverton, and Orillia.

9. Ottawa River (Walleye, Bass & Pike)

Best time: May through October

The Ottawa River offers excellent fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and muskie along its entire length. The river's current, deep channels, and rocky structure provide diverse habitat. The stretch near Pembroke and the Lac Deschenes area near Ottawa are particularly productive. Walleye fishing is excellent throughout, with fish in the 2-4 pound range common. Smallmouth bass fishing is outstanding in the river's rocky sections. The river is easily accessible from numerous parks and launch points.

10. Northern Ontario & Algoma Region (Brook Trout, Lake Trout & Pike)

Best time: May through August

Northern Ontario, from the Algoma region to the James Bay coast, offers remote, pristine fishing for brook trout, lake trout, and northern pike. The region's countless cold, clear lakes and streams provide perfect habitat for brook trout, Ontario's provincial fish. Fly-in lodges in the Wawa, Chapleau, and Hearst areas offer access to remote waters where brook trout exceeding 5 pounds are possible. Lake trout fishing in the shield lakes is excellent, with deep, cold lakes producing trophy fish. This is true wilderness fishing at its best.

Fishing Tips for Ontario

• Get a licence — All anglers 18+ need an Ontario fishing licence. Buy online at ontario.ca/fishing. Non-residents need a separate licence.
• Know the zones — Ontario is divided into 20 Fisheries Management Zones, each with its own regulations, limits, and seasons. Always check the zone you will be fishing in.
• Watch the weather on the Great Lakes — The Great Lakes can be dangerous. Lake Erie is particularly notorious for sudden, violent storms. Check marine forecasts and be prepared to head for shelter.
• Try ice fishing — Ontario has some of the best ice fishing in the world. Lakes Simcoe, Nipissing, and the Bay of Quinte are premier destinations. Ice huts can be rented at most popular lakes.
• Protect the resource — Many of Ontario's fish populations are carefully managed. Follow catch limits, practise catch-and-release for trophy fish, and never transport live bait between water bodies.

Published July 2026 by the CatchTales team.