Ontario is home to over 250,000 lakes and rivers, and while plenty of anglers chase fish from a boat, some of the province's finest fishing is done with both feet planted firmly on the bank. Whether you're a seasoned angler without a vessel or just getting started, Ontario's shore fishing scene is nothing short of world-class.
We've put together this guide to ten of the best spots across the province — complete with GPS coordinates, parking info, target species, and seasonal tips to help you make the most of every cast.
Reminder: An Ontario Outdoors Card and the appropriate fishing licence are required for anglers aged 18 to 64. Always check current regulations at ontario.ca/fishing before heading out, as seasons and limits can vary by location and species.
1️⃣ St. Marys Rapids — Sault Ste. Marie
46.5065° N, 84.3374° W — Sault Ste. Marie Canal / Whitefish Island access
Ernest Hemingway once wrote that 'the best rainbow trout fishing in the world is in the rapids of the Canadian Soo,' and a century later anglers are still proving him right. The St. Marys River connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron and runs through downtown Sault Ste. Marie. The Canal National Historic Site and downtown boardwalk give walk-up access with fishing platforms and paved paths. Best seasons: spring steelhead (Apr–May); summer Atlantic salmon and bass; late-summer to fall Chinook, Pink and Coho salmon plus the fall steelhead run.
Roe bags and small spinners for spring steelhead; bead-head nymphs and drift rigs for summer Atlantics. Wading is possible but rocks are slick — non-waders do equally well from the boardwalk and platforms.
2️⃣ Niagara Whirlpool — Niagara Falls
43.1215° N, 79.0688° W — Whirlpool parking area, Niagara Parkway
A bucket-list shore destination on the lower Niagara River, halfway between Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls. The water is cold, clear, and stuffed with big fish, but you earn it: roughly a 75 m descent on trail and stairs into the gorge. Travel light — carrying a big fish back up is a workout. Best seasons: fall (Sept–Nov) for Chinook, Coho, brown trout and steelhead; spring steelhead; summer bass, pike and muskie.
1/2 oz Little Cleos or size 3–5 Mepps, or drift roe bags along the shoreline. Fish hold tight to the banks. Use your Ontario licence on the Ontario side — Canadian and U.S. regulations differ here. Footwear with serious grip is essential.
3️⃣ Ganaraska River — Port Hope
43.9513° N, 78.2960° W — Mill Street South public access, Port Hope
The 'Ganny' runs right through downtown Port Hope and is one of southern Ontario's most convenient and consistent shore rivers. Multiple public access points along the lower river; free street parking near the mouth. Some upper sections cross private land — always confirm before fishing. Best seasons: spring (Mar–May) steelhead; fall (Sept–Nov) Chinook and fall steelhead; some winter steelhead on the lower river.
Roe bags are the go-to for trout and salmon; small pink plastic worms, beads and flies also produce. Arrive early during steelhead runs — this river draws crowds.
4️⃣ Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Street Spit) — Toronto
43.6205° N, 79.3318° W — Leslie Street & Unwin Avenue entrance
A man-made peninsula extending into Lake Ontario that is open to the public on weekends and holidays only (weekday access is restricted). Rocky shoreline, sheltered bays, and an eclectic species mix that would be remarkable even in remote country. Free parking at Leslie and Unwin; TTC also services the area. Best year-round shore fishing in spring and fall; summer evenings shine for bass and pike.
Soft plastics along the rocky edges for pike and bass; small jigs tipped with wax worms for perch and panfish. Walk the spit — different sections fish very differently.
5️⃣ Rice Lake — Bewdley / Gores Landing
Bewdley: 44.0956° N, 78.3002° W • Gores Landing: 44.0755° N, 78.2168° W
South-central Ontario's most accessible bank fishery, with shallow weedy water and an exceptional species mix. Both Bewdley (west end) and Gores Landing (south shore) offer walk-up public access with free parking and shops nearby. Best seasons: spring walleye and bass; summer bass, muskie and crappie; fall muskie as the water cools.
Bring a rod pod or bank sticks — Rice Lake carp fishing is among the best in Ontario for sheer numbers. For muskie, cast large bucktails and swimbaits along weed edges in late summer and fall.
6️⃣ Humber River Mouth — Toronto (Humber Bay)
43.6334° N, 79.4801° W — Humber Bay Park East, off Lake Shore Blvd W
Where the Humber meets Lake Ontario, shore anglers get a combination of river-mouth fishing and open lakefront casting. Paid on-site parking; the paved Martin Goodman Trail runs through the area. Best seasons: fall (Sept–Nov) for peak salmon; spring (Mar–May) steelhead and trout; summer bass, pike and warm-water species along the breakwalls.
Fish dawn and dusk during salmon runs. Roe bags, bright yarn flies, and spoons all produce. The breakwalls at Humber Bay Park hold bass and perch year-round.
7️⃣ Colonel Samuel Smith Park — Etobicoke
43.5993° N, 79.4944° W — 65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive
An underrated west-end Toronto waterfront park with sheltered marina water and open Lake Ontario exposure — known as one of the GTA's best fall salmon shore spots. Free on-site parking; trails throughout; seasonal washrooms. Best seasons: fall salmon; spring steelhead and trout in the creek and along the shoreline; warm-water species through summer.
Work the rocky points for bass in summer; focus on the creek mouth and sheltered pockets during salmon season. Western exposure makes for beautiful early-morning sessions.
8️⃣ Bay of Quinte — Belleville / Deseronto
Zwicks Island, Belleville: 44.1629° N, 77.3831° W • Deseronto: 44.1970° N, 77.0488° W
Known internationally as the 'Walleye Capital of the World.' Zwicks Island Park in Belleville and the Deseronto public dock area both give free, easy shore access. Best seasons: fall (Oct–Dec) is the prime walleye window; the bay also supports one of Ontario's most famous winter ice fisheries; spring post-spawn walleye return to near-shore structure.
Walleye are most active at dawn, dusk and after dark. Jig 1/4–1/2 oz lead-heads with soft plastic grubs or minnows along the bottom. Fish over 24 inches are common in peak fall season.
9️⃣ Credit River — Port Credit / Streetsville
Port Credit mouth: 43.5502° N, 79.5823° W • Streetsville: 43.5899° N, 79.7011° W
One of southern Ontario's most versatile year-round shore fisheries. Park along Lakeshore Road East at Port Credit Harbour for the mouth, or near Thomas Street in Streetsville for upriver access. Credit Valley Conservation manages many of the access points — check seasonal closures for spawning periods. Best seasons: fall salmon runs are the main event; spring steelhead; summer bass and warm-water species in the lower river.
The lower river near Port Credit sees the heaviest fall salmon pressure — arrive early. Moving upstream toward Streetsville gives you more solitude. Roe bags, beads, and nymphs all produce.
🔟 Long Point Bay — Port Rowan (Lake Erie North Shore)
Port Rowan Harbour: 42.6218° N, 80.4533° W • Long Point Prov. Park: 42.5677° N, 80.3971° W
One of the finest walleye and bass shore fisheries in the country, with an enormous stretch of accessible shoreline along the north shore of Lake Erie. Port Rowan Harbour offers free parking; Long Point Provincial Park (day-use fee) opens up extensive beach access. Best seasons: spring (Apr–Jun) walleye along the shallow shoreline; summer bass, perch and catfish; fall walleye return plus steelhead entering the tribs.
Blade baits and jigging spoons worked along the bottom in 4–12 feet of water are deadly for Erie walleye. Night fishing is highly productive in spring. The shallow water of Long Point Bay warms quickly — one of the earliest spring walleye bites in Ontario.
| # | Location | Region | Key Species | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Marys Rapids | Northern ON | Steelhead, Salmon, Bass | Spring & Fall |
| 2 | Niagara Whirlpool | Southern ON | Salmon, Steelhead, Trout | Fall & Spring |
| 3 | Ganaraska River | Southern ON | Steelhead, Salmon, Trout | Spring & Fall |
| 4 | Tommy Thompson Park | Toronto | Pike, Bass, Perch | Spring–Fall |
| 5 | Rice Lake (Bewdley) | South-Central ON | Walleye, Muskie, Bass, Carp | Year-round |
| 6 | Humber River Mouth | Toronto | Salmon, Steelhead, Bass | Fall & Spring |
| 7 | Colonel Samuel Smith Park | Toronto / Etobicoke | Salmon, Trout, Bass | Fall & Spring |
| 8 | Bay of Quinte | Eastern ON | Walleye (trophy), Bass, Perch | Fall & Winter |
| 9 | Credit River | Mississauga | Salmon, Steelhead, Bass | Fall & Spring |
| 10 | Long Point Bay | Lake Erie | Walleye, Perch, Bass | Spring & Summer |
Ontario's shore fishing scene is every bit as impressive as its boat fishing reputation suggests — you just have to know where to look. Whether you're chasing trophy walleye on the Bay of Quinte, world-class steelhead on the Ganaraska, or the surreal experience of hooking a 20-pound Chinook from the bank of the Niagara Whirlpool, these spots deliver experiences that rival anything a boat can offer.
As always, pick up your fishing licence before heading out, check the latest regulations for your target species and location, and practise catch-and-release where possible to protect these fisheries for generations to come.
Tight lines from the bank! — Hooked Ontario
All GPS coordinates are provided in decimal degrees (WGS84) and are accurate for the primary public access points described. Always verify current access and parking conditions locally before your trip, as conservation areas and parks may adjust their hours and fees seasonally.
More fishing near Toronto & GTA
Topic Hub
Walleye Fishing Ontario
Everything you need on this topic
Related Articles
Fishing Spots
Niagara River Fishing Guide: Ontario's Year-Round Trophy Fishery
Steelhead, browns, lakers, smallmouth, and muskie — all in 58 kilometres of powerful water.
Fishing Spots
The Complete Kawartha Lakes Fishing Guide 2025–2026
Walleye, bass, muskie, pike and panfish across the Trent-Severn chain — lake-by-lake profiles, hotspots, access and local tips.
Fishing Spots
Where Ontario's Biggest Bass Are Caught Every Year
Discover the top Ontario bass fishing destinations — St. Lawrence River, Georgian Bay, Bay of Quinte, Lake of the Woods, and Rice Lake — where trophy smallmouth and largemouth bass are caught every season.
