Detroit River – Windsor
Detroit River – Windsor is an Ontario fishing location near Windsor, Southern Ontario, targeted for Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie. It sits in FMZ 19 (Lake Erie). Common methods here are jigging, drifting.
Fishing Quick Facts
- Location
- Detroit River – Windsor
- Waterbody
- Detroit River
- Water type
- River
- Region
- Southern Ontario
- Nearest town
- Windsor
- Fishing Management Zone
- FMZ 19 — Lake Erie
- Latitude
- 42.31490
- Longitude
- -83.03640
- Primary species
- Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie
- Fishing methods
- Jigging, Drifting
- Shore fishing
- Unknown
- Boat fishing
- Unknown
- Kayak / canoe
- Unknown
- Boat launch
- Unknown
- Ice fishing
- Unknown
- Parking
- Unknown
- Fishing regulations
- Ontario fishing rules and licences
- Official zone regulations
- Ontario MNRF FMZ 19 summary
- Live conditions
- Live Ontario fishing conditions and reports
About this water
Spring walleye run rivals anywhere in the Great Lakes; heavy jigs bounced on the drift.
FMZ 19 regulations — Lake Erie
The Canadian waters of Lake Erie — the shallowest and most productive Great Lake — together with Lake St. Clair and the Detroit, St. Clair and Upper Niagara Rivers. It is not the Lake Ontario zone.
- Walleye: open all year on Erie; S-4/C-2 – 46 cm min (varies by area, check).
- Yellow perch: open all year; S-50/C-25 (Erie).
- Muskie (St. Clair): 3rd Sat in June – Dec 15; 137 cm min, S-1/C-0.
- Smallmouth bass: last Sat in June – Dec 15 on Erie; S-6/C-2.
Water-specific exceptions at Detroit River – Windsor
- Border water: The Detroit River is an international boundary water — the shipping-channel line separates Ontario and Michigan rules.
Zone check: FMZ 19 set by review — Great Lakes water body: access point on Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair or a connecting channel. Coordinate falls on the land side of the mapped boundary, so the zone is set from the water actually fished. Reviewed 2026-08-12.
Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 19 page before your trip.
Seasonal availability
Open-season windows for the species found at Detroit River – Windsor, taken from the FMZ 19 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.
- S-4/C-2 – 46 cm min (varies by area, check).
Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 19 page before your trip.
Solunar Calendar— Detroit River – Windsor
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 19 works and which Ontario waters it covers
- Explore more fishing spots in Southern Ontario
- Learn more about fishing for Walleye 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 Detroit River – Windsor
- Fishing near Windsor: Detroit River – Amherstburg
- Fishing near Windsor: Belle River – Lake St. Clair
- Fishing near Windsor: Lighthouse Cove – Lake St. Clair
Keep Exploring Ontario
Dive deeper into Ontario's #1 fishing resource