Where and when to fish close to Toronto

Trout

When to fish for trout

Generally, trout season opens in Ontario on the fourth Saturday in April and runs until the end of September. Always check the exact dates before casting.

Note that an open fishing doesn’t guarantee that the fishing will be good. Fishing earlier in the open season is usually best, from late April to late June.

Weather and water temperatures affect trout fishing; trout are most active in cooler water temperatures, so you’ll want to set out early in the morning while the water is still cool. Trout fishing will slow down when the rivers warm up in July.

Steelhead and trout are present in the rivers simultaneously, and when they overlap, approximately in the second week of May, it is an ideal time to fish.

Where to fish for trout near Toronto

While the number of places to fish for trout in Ontario is nearly endless, several rivers near Toronto have become very popular due to their accessibility and exciting fishing opportunities.

West of the city, the Credit River flows almost 90 kilometres from the Headwaters region near Caledon into Lake Ontario at Port Credit in Mississauga. The Credit River Anglers Association is a great resource for fish species, regulations and conservation on the Credit.

To the east, the Ganaraska River flows from the Oak Ridges Moraine into Lake Ontario at Port Hope with several public access points. Northumberland Tourism and Ganaraska Conservation provide useful information on fishing the river.

Heading northwest from Toronto, the Saugeen River and the Nottawasaga River flow into Southampton and Wasaga Beach, respectively. They’re both popular fishing spots; downriver from Denny’s Dam on the Saugeen is a perfect spot to fish for trout.

Salmon

Best time to fish for salmon

The salmon season generally opens on the fourth Saturday in April and runs until the end of September. Check for exceptions on the Fish ON-Line website.

While the season begins in the spring, salmon don’t start travelling up the rivers until late August or later, so September is generally the best time to catch them. Salmon that are just coming up the river from the lake are a beautiful silver and will put up a good fight.

The day after the first significant rain in September is often a great time to catch salmon, once the muddy runoff clears. Colder morning water temperatures will also help, as the fish will be more active.

Best places to fish for salmon

Several rivers near the Greater Toronto Area with significant salmon runs in the fall are popular with anglers.

To the west, these include the Credit and Humber Rivers and Bronte Creek. The Humber River flows from the Niagara Escarpment into Lake Ontario at Humber Bay and is the largest watershed in Toronto. Further west, Bronte Creek runs through the Hamilton and Halton region.

In addition to trout, the Ganaraska is home to one of the most extensive salmon runs in Southern Ontario. It attracts a large number of anglers, so you’ll want to be on the river early. Just east of the city, Duffins Creek is another popular spot.

The Nottawasaga River and any other river or creek that flows into Georgian Bay will provide excellent salmon fishing opportunities. Be sure to check fishing regulations on where you can and cannot fish.

On the massive Saugeen River, anglers gather around the Denny’s Dam Conservation Area and all the way downstream to Lake Huron in Southampton.

Walleye/pickerel

Best time to fish for walleye/pickerel

Walleye, also known as pickerel, is a species you can fish for in the winter as well as the summer.

As a general rule, the season is open from January 1 to March 15 and the third Saturday in May to December 31. Double-check the exact dates and look for exceptions on Fish ON-Line website.

Spring and fall are usually the popular seasons to catch walleye. The best time of day is around sunset, or the final hour of daylight during walleye’s most active feeding period. The first hour of daylight is also good, especially when the days are hot as the river will have cooled down overnight.

Great spots to fish for walleye/pickerel

Approximately two and a half hours’ drive east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, the Bay of Quinte is well-known as a walleye hotspot. Belleville’s Zwick Park is one of several good options for fishing from shore.

In the Kawartha Lakes region, Balsam Lake has great walleye potential. It can be accessed from Balsam Lake Provincial Park and Indian Point Provincial Park.

Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes, is another excellent spot to cast for walleye; the pier at Sugarloaf Marina in Port Colborne provides easy access.

Bass

Bass fishing season

As always, you will need to know when bass are legally in season. Although the season typically runs from late June to November, always check to confirm this in the area you’ll be fishing. In some regions of the province, there are year-round seasons for bass.

Late spring, before spawning, is a good time to catch bass. It’s unlikely they’ll take any bait while spawning, but they’ll start again afterwards, around mid-summer, so late July through August.

Bass prefer low light conditions, so it’s best to be on the river as the sun rises. They’ll also be actively feeding as the sun goes down, which makes sunset another great time to get out on the water. Interestingly, bass can see in very low light, so fishing at night can also be successful. Full moons are great opportunities to catch bass.

Best places to catch bass

Smallmouth and largemouth bass are found throughout Ontario, including in the south, and don’t be surprised if you hook into one while casting off the smallest of docks.

West of Toronto in Southwestern Ontario, London’s Thames River is a good bet for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Greenway Park and Harris Park both offer access to the river.

Likewise, the Kawartha Lakes boasts over a dozen great fishing lakes with lots of public access points; the town of Bewdley is a great place to fish from shore on Rice Lake.

Enjoy the great fishing opportunities in and nearby the Greater Toronto Area.