Big Rideau Lake
Big Rideau Lake is an Ontario fishing location near Eastern Ontario, Ontario, targeted for Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass. It sits in FMZ 18 (Eastern Ontario — Rideau & inland southeastern watersheds).
Fishing Quick Facts
- Location
- Big Rideau Lake
- Water type
- Lake
- Region
- Eastern Ontario
- Fishing Management Zone
- FMZ 18 — Eastern Ontario — Rideau & inland southeastern watersheds
- Latitude
- 44.73330
- Longitude
- -76.16670
- Primary species
- Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass
- Other species
- Muskie
- Shore fishing
- Unknown
- Boat fishing
- Unknown
- Kayak / canoe
- Unknown
- Boat launch
- Unknown
- Ice fishing
- Unknown
- Parking
- Unknown
- Maximum depth
- 106 ft
- Fishing regulations
- Ontario fishing rules and licences
- Official zone regulations
- Ontario MNRF FMZ 18 summary
- Live conditions
- Live Ontario fishing conditions and reports
About this water
Largest Rideau system lake — deep enough for native lake trout plus a strong mixed-bass fishery.
FMZ 18 regulations — Eastern Ontario — Rideau & inland southeastern watersheds
Southeastern Ontario, built around the connecting lakes and rivers of the Rideau waterway, with the Canadian Shield at its heart and the St. Lawrence Lowlands to the east and west. It covers the Crowe, Mississippi, Napanee, Cataraqui, Rideau, Salmon, South Nation and Raisin River watersheds. It ends at Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to the south (FMZ 20) and follows the Ottawa River (FMZ 12) to the north and east — the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers themselves are not in FMZ 18.
- Walleye: 3rd Saturday in May – March 15; S-4/C-2.
- Muskie: 3rd Saturday in June – Dec 15; 137 cm min, S-1/C-0.
- Bass (large & small): 3rd Saturday in June – Nov 30; S-6/C-2.
- Lake trout (Big Rideau, Charleston): Jan 1 – Sept 30; S-2/C-1.
Zone check: FMZ 18 confirmed from this water's coordinates against the official Ontario zone boundaries (reviewed 2026-08-12).
Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 18 page before your trip.
Seasonal availability
Open-season windows for the species found at Big Rideau Lake, taken from the FMZ 18 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.
Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 18 page before your trip.
Solunar Calendar— Big Rideau Lake
Waning Crescent
20% illuminated · Age 25.2d
🌘 Mon, Sep 7
20% · Rating 82🌘 Tue, Sep 8
12% · Rating 89🌘 Wed, Sep 9
6% · Rating 95Major windows (~2 h) cluster around moon transit and antitransit; minor windows (~1 h) around moonrise and moonset. Local approximations — verify against a printed almanac for planning.
Related fishing information
- How FMZ 18 works and which Ontario waters it covers
- Explore more fishing spots in Eastern Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Lake Trout in Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Largemouth Bass in Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Muskie in Ontario
- Ontario fishing seasons, limits and licence rules
- Check live conditions before fishing Big Rideau Lake
- Fishing near Eastern Ontario: Big Rideau Lake – Portland
- Fishing near Eastern Ontario: Murphys Point Provincial Park – Big Rideau Lake
- Fishing near Eastern Ontario: Rideau Canal – Rideau Lakes
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