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Best Fishing Lakes in Ontario
Twelve iconic Ontario lakes, why they matter, and the guides that show you how to fish them.
Ontario has more fishable lakes than any other jurisdiction on earth. These twelve are the biggest names — the water that defines Ontario fishing and the water that draws anglers from around the world.
Top 12 Ontario lakes
#1 · Central Ontario
Lake Nipissing
Big-water walleye factory with strong pike, muskie and smallmouth to back it up. North Bay and Callander launches.
Read the full guide →#2 · Eastern Ontario
Bay of Quinte
The province's #1 producer of double-digit walleye. Peak seasons: April, November, and through the ice.
Read the full guide →#3 · Central Ontario
Lake Simcoe
Jumbo perch capital, deep-water lake trout, whitefish, and a legendary hardwater season.
Read the full guide →#4 · Central Ontario
Georgian Bay
Trophy smallmouth, muskie, and lake trout across 30,000 islands of Canadian Shield structure.
Read the full guide →#5 · Central Ontario
Kawartha Lakes
Bass, walleye and muskie chain — Sturgeon, Pigeon, Buckhorn, Stoney, Rice and more.
Read the full guide →#6 · Northwestern Ontario
Lake of the Woods
The Canadian Shield's crown jewel: 65,000 miles of shoreline, trophy walleye, muskie and lake trout.
Read the full guide →#7 · Northwestern Ontario
Lac Seul
Numbers-plus-size walleye water with strong pike and muskie. Sioux Lookout access.
Read the full guide →#8 · Northwestern Ontario
Rainy Lake
Trophy walleye, smallmouth, muskie, and crappie — one of the most diverse lakes in the country.
Read the full guide →#9 · Southwestern Ontario
Lake Erie (Ontario side)
Best-in-world walleye numbers, jumbo perch, and hard-charging smallmouth.
Read the full guide →#10 · Northern Ontario
Lake Nipigon
Home of world-record brook trout and giant lake trout. Remote, cold, breathtaking.
Read the full guide →#11 · Eastern Ontario
St. Lawrence 1000 Islands
Trophy smallmouth and muskie in current, plus pike and walleye in the same drift.
Read the full guide →#12 · Eastern Ontario
Ottawa River
Massive muskie, walleye numbers, and bass everywhere. City access from Ottawa/Gatineau.
Read the full guide →
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FAQs
What is the #1 fishing lake in Ontario?
It depends what you're chasing. For walleye numbers and trophy potential combined, Bay of Quinte and Lake Nipissing lead the pack. For diversity, Lake of the Woods is unmatched.
Where can I catch trophy walleye in Ontario?
Bay of Quinte (April and November for double-digit fish), Lake Nipissing, Lake Erie's western basin, Lac Seul, and Lake of the Woods.
What lake in Ontario has the biggest muskie?
Georgian Bay, the Ottawa River, and Lake of the Woods are the province's top producers of 50"+ muskie.