Canada holds roughly 200 freshwater fish species, and around 50 of them are serious angling targets. Here’s every major group — coldwater trout and salmon, coolwater walleye and pike, warmwater bass and panfish — with links to our full species guides covering identification, habitat, baits, and seasons.
Canada holds roughly 200 freshwater fish species, and around 50 of them are serious angling targets. Here’s every major group — coldwater trout and salmon, coolwater walleye and pike, warmwater bass and panfish — with links to our full species guides covering identification, habitat, baits, and seasons.
The salmonids dominate Canada’s cold, clean waters. See the full trout fishing guide and salmon fishing guide.
The classic Canadian Shield fish — the country’s most-caught species live here.
Southern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes hold excellent warmwater fisheries. See the bass fishing guide.
Yellow perch and panfish — abundant, willing, and great eating. Northern pike — aggressive and everywhere. Stocked rainbow trout — most provinces stock accessible lakes. Walleye — Canada’s favourite dinner fish, once you learn to fish deep and slow.
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