What You Can Expect to Catch

With 250,000 inland lakes, hundreds of rivers and shorelines on four of the five Great Lakes, Ontario offers many kinds of fishing experiences. Though probably best known for its muskellunge waters and walleye (pickerel) fishery, Ontario is home to an astounding 160 of Canada's 228 species of freshwater fish. Here are some of the species you can find in Ontario waters.

Walleye

Ontario Record 22.25 lbs. (10.09 kg)
The most sought-after species in the province. Why? Because they're fun to catch and great to eat! From the pristine wilderness waters of northern Ontario to reservoirs in the south or even the Great Lakes - good walleye fishing is just around the corner. In a typical year, more than 8 million walleye are caught in Ontario. The average size of our walleye is a couple of pounds (1 kg) but 4 - 5 pounders (1.8 - 2.2 kg) are available almost anywhere you wet a line. Some water bodies consistently yield trophies over 10 pounds (4.5 kg) and a few lakes even produce the occasional monster! Arguably the tastiest freshwater fish in North America; fresh golden walleye fillets go hand-in-hand with an Ontario fishing experience.
 
Northern Pike

Ontario Record 42.12 lbs. (19.10 kg)
These toothy critters roam many Ontario lakes. Always in the mood for a fight, Ontario's northerns average 3-6 pounds (1.3 -2.7 kg) but fish topping 15 pounds (6.8 kg) are common in both the northern and southern parts of the province. Although considered by many as an added bonus when bass or walleye fishing, an increasing number of anglers fish Ontario waters strictly for a fabulous pike fishing adventure!

Smallmouth Bass

Ontario Record 9.84 lbs. (4.46 kg)
Some of the finest smallmouth fishing in the world takes place right here in Ontario. Often encountered in schools, Ontario's bronzebacks are found throughout most of the province. Many Ontario lakes offer the ultimate trophy smallmouth fishing - where fish over 4 pounds (1.8 kg) are common. Others provide anglers with quantities of 2 and 3 pound (0.9 - 1.3 kg) fish. Whatever your choice, Ontario's smallies are still pound for pound and inch for inch, the fightingest fish that swims in fresh water.
 
Largemouth Bass

Ontario Record 10.43 lbs. (4.73 kg)
Largemouth are found throughout southern Ontario and even in parts further north. Canadian largemouth may not grow to world-record size, yet the sheer number of 2-6 pounders (0.9 - 2.7 kg) in many water bodies more than makes up for it. Often overlooked by local anglers, there are many parts of the province where big bucketmouths rarely see a lure. When they see yours - be prepared for a bone-jarring strike!
 
Muskellunge

Ontario Record 65 lbs. (29.48 kg)
Ontario's muskie fishing is so phenomenal, that it is not a question of whether Ontario will produce the next world record, but exactly when and where in the province it will happen. World-class fish are caught every year from several water bodies. In other areas not known for producing record-breaking fish, seasoned muskie anglers just laugh when they hear their favorite gamefish referred to "as the fish of a thousand casts". Careful management utilizing high minimum size limits, very low possession limits and a strong catch and release ethic among anglers, will help Ontario remain as the world's premier muskie destination.
 
Yellow Perch

Ontario Record 2.42 lbs. (1.10 kg)
This tasty panfish is everywhere. Whether you like to relax in a boat fishing with the family on a hot sunny day, or gaze through a hole in the ice waiting for another big one, Ontario's perch fishing is second to none. Yellow perch average 6-8 inches (15.2 - 20.3 cm) in many of the smaller water bodies; in larger lakes jumbos in the 11-13 inch (27.9 - 33 cm)range are plentiful.
 
Black Crappie

Ontario Record 3.78 lbs.  (1.71 kg)
Once found only in certain limited waterbodies in southern and northwestern Ontario, the black crappie's range is now spreading faster than any other fish species in the province. A fast growing, delicious panfish, the number of one pound (.45 kg) slabs that swim our waters is simply mind-boggling!
 
Lake Trout

Ontario Record 63.12 lbs. (28.63 kg)
With so many deep, cold, clean lakes, it is no wonder that Ontario boasts some of the finest lake trout fishing in the world. In fact, we have more than 2,000 lake trout lakes - more than anywhere else on the planet. Small inland lakes typically produce fish in the 3-6 pound ( 1.3-2.7 kg) range, yet even here much larger trout are taken regularly. Larger lakes and the Great Lakes regularly yield lakers of 20 pounds (9 kg) or more.
 
Brook Trout

Ontario Record 14.50 lbs. (6.57 kg)
As a rule, not many anglers around the world can consistently measure their speckled or brook trout `by-the pound'. In parts of Ontario however, rules were made to be broken! Here, anglers consider a two or three pound (0.9 - 1.36 kg) brookie as just "another nice fish". With their delicate markings and brilliant hues, brook trout are often considered the most beautiful of all freshwater gamefish. Brook trout are widely distributed throughout the province - in small streams of the south, in cold, small lakes of central Ontario and in brawling rivers of the north. Whether you like to toss a fly to a brookie that will be measured in inches, or cast a spinner to one challenging our own 14.50 pound (6.57 kg) world record, Ontario is the place for you!

Chinook Salmon

Ontario Record 45.38 lbs. (20.58 kg)
Ontario's side of the Great Lakes produces world-class salmon fishing on the doorstep of Canada's most populated metropolitan region - the Greater Toronto Area. To fish the Great Lakes you can haul your own big-water boat, or use the services and expertise of an experienced charter boat captain. Millions of salmon stocked into Great Lakes waters every year help to maintain this outstanding fishery.
 
Lake Whitefish

Ontario Record 14.77 pounds. (6.70 kg)
If walleye are at one end of the popularity scale, then whitefish are at the other. Why? We really don't know! Whitefish are found across the province, they fight hard when taken from either open water or through the ice, and they taste absolutely fantastic! Throughout much of Ontario whitefish remains an underutilized species. Limits vary, from as low as 2 in parts of the south to as high as 25 in much of the north. Sizes may average a couple of pounds in most waters yet certain lakes are prime to break the next world record - Ontario's current 14.77 pounder (6.7 kg)!
 
Of course these are not the only species of fish available to anglers in Ontario. There are also big brown trout, coho salmon, bountiful bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, catfish, carp, cisco and more.

Try the Fish ON-Line interactive map tool to plan your next fishing adventure

For consumption advisories refer to the Ministry of the Environment's Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish