Daily catch limits, open seasons, and zone rules for Ontario — all in one place, and all available offline in the TrueNorthAngler fishing app.
Planning a fishing trip in Ontario? This page gives you the general limits and open seasons from the 2026 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. For zone-by-zone rules, special regulations, and real-time updates, use the TrueNorthAngler app — every Ontario zone's rules are stored offline on your phone.
A directory of 10 popular lakes, rivers, and waters in Ontario — with bathymetric depth (where published), key fish species, and the most productive seasons. 4 of 10 have published depth data; depths for the rest are marked “—” until we add them.
| Waterbody | Max depth | Area | Key species | Popular season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Nipissinglake | 50 m / 164 ft | 832 km² | — | Open-water season generally runs May–September, with ice fishing January–March on lakes that freeze safely. Confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the TrueNorthAngler app. |
| Lake Simcoelake | 41 m / 135 ft | 744 km² | Black CrappieLake TroutLake Whitefish+7 more | Year-round. Ice fishing (Jan–Mar) is the peak: Simcoe is Canada's ice-fishing capital. Open-water season runs April–November. |
| Balsam Lakelake | 24 m / 79 ft | 42 km² | — | Open-water season generally runs May–September, with ice fishing January–March on lakes that freeze safely. Confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the TrueNorthAngler app. |
| Rice Lakelake | 9 m / 30 ft | 68 km² | Black Crappie | Open-water season generally runs May–September, with ice fishing January–March on lakes that freeze safely. Confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the TrueNorthAngler app. |
| Georgian Baywaterbody | — | — | — | Open-water season generally runs May–September, with ice fishing January–March on lakes that freeze safely. Confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the TrueNorthAngler app. |
| Lake Erielake (Great Lake) | — | — | Freshwater DrumLake TroutLake Whitefish+6 more | Walleye fishing peaks July–September (trolling is the go-to). Bass opens the fourth Saturday in June. Perch schools form late summer. |
| Lake Huronwaterbody | — | — | — | Open-water season generally runs May–September, with ice fishing January–March on lakes that freeze safely. Confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the TrueNorthAngler app. |
| Lake of the Woodslake | — | — | Black CrappieBluegill & PumpkinseedBurbot+14 more | Walleye season opens the third Saturday in May; peak through July. Ice fishing runs January–March. Muskie opens the first Saturday in June. |
| Rideau Canalwaterbody | — | — | — | Open-water season generally runs May–September, with ice fishing January–March on lakes that freeze safely. Confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the TrueNorthAngler app. |
| Trent-Severn Waterwaywaterbody | — | — | — | Open-water season generally runs May–September, with ice fishing January–March on lakes that freeze safely. Confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the TrueNorthAngler app. |
Tap any column header to sort. Italicized seasons are general Ontario defaults — confirm exact open/closed dates for your zone in the app.
Detailed write-ups for Ontario's most iconic waters — species you'll find, how the fishery changes through the year, and what makes each one special:
Lake Simcoe is Ontario's largest lake after the Great Lakes and one of Canada's most fished inland waters — famous for world-class ice fishing and year-round action.
Lake Erie's Canadian waters produce some of the best walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in North America — and it's the warmest and shallowest of the Great Lakes.
Spanning 65,000 miles of shoreline across Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota, Lake of the Woods is a legendary multispecies fishery with 14,000+ islands.
These are the general limits and seasons from the 2026 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. Zone-specific rules may apply — always confirm on the water with the TrueNorthAngler app, which keeps every zone's rules offline on your phone.
| Species | Daily limit | Open season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 4 | May 1 (varies by FMZ) |
| Northern Pike | 6 | Year-round (most FMZs) |
| Muskellunge | 1 | First Saturday in June (FMZ 15, 19); Third Saturday in June (FMZ 5) |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6 | Fourth Saturday in June (varies by FMZ) |
| Largemouth Bass | 6 | Fourth Saturday in June (varies by FMZ) |
| Lake Trout | 2 | Jan 1 |
| Brook Trout | 5 | Jan 1 (varies by FMZ) |
| Rainbow Trout / Steelhead | 5 | Year-round (most FMZs) |
| Brown Trout | 5 | Year-round (most FMZs) |
| Chinook Salmon | 5 | Year-round |
| Coho Salmon | 5 | Year-round |
| Yellow Perch | 50 | Year-round |
| Black Crappie / White Crappie | 30 | Year-round (most FMZs) |
| Lake Whitefish | 12 | Year-round |
| Channel Catfish | 12 | Year-round |
| Atlantic Salmon | 1 | Year-round |
Learn to identify, find, and catch each species with our in-depth guides — including the best baits for every weather condition:
Yes — anyone 18 to 64 needs a recreational fishing licence to fish in Ontario. Licences are issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources. You can carry your licence digitally in the TrueNorthAngler app's licence wallet — no more scrambling for paper when the warden shows up. See our full guide: Canadian fishing licences explained.
Every Ontario fishing zone's limits, seasons, and special regulations — searchable, offline, on your phone.
A 7-day bite forecast for your target species in Ontario, powered by water temp, wind, pressure, and lunar data.
Store your Ontario fishing licence in the app. Show it instantly to a conservation officer.
Download Ontario fishing zone maps before you leave cell range — they keep working on remote waters.
Every regulation, every zone, every forecast — offline and in your pocket. Free for the 2026 season.