Muddy York Ontario Fishing Seasons for Trout and Salmon
"Is it open?" is the first question every Ontario trout and salmon angler should ask, and the answer is rarely a single date. Seasons in Ontario are set by fisheries management zone, then changed for specific rivers, and sometimes for specific stretches of the same river. This guide explains how the system works and gives the key dates for Southern Ontario.
How Ontario sets fishing seasons
Ontario is divided into 20 fisheries management zones. Each zone has its own seasons and limits for each species. On top of the zone rules sit:
- Waterbody exceptions: a lake or river with its own rules.
- Additional fishing opportunities: stretches, often the lower parts of Great Lakes tributaries, that stay open longer than the zone.
- Sanctuaries: areas closed for part or all of the year, often around dams, fishways and spawning grounds.
Southern Ontario's trout and salmon rivers fall mostly in three zones:
- Zone 16: west and north of Toronto, including the Credit, Humber, Grand, Nottawasaga, Saugeen and Bronte Creek.
- Zone 17: east of Toronto, including Duffins Creek, Bowmanville Creek, Wilmot Creek and the Ganaraska.
- Zone 20: Lake Ontario itself and the Niagara River.
We keep plain language versions of each zone, updated from the official summary twice a day: Zone 16, Zone 17 and Zone 20.
Trout and salmon seasons in Zones 16 and 17
In both zones, the default season for brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Pacific salmon and Atlantic salmon runs from the fourth Saturday in April to September 30. In 2027, the fourth Saturday in April is April 24.
Limits differ by species and licence. "S" is a sport licence and "C" a conservation licence:
| Species | Zone 16 | Zone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | S-5, C-2 | S-2, C-1 |
| Brown trout | S-5, C-2 | S-5, C-2 |
| Rainbow trout | S-2, C-1 | S-2, C-1 |
| Pacific salmon | S-5, C-2 | S-5, C-2 |
| Atlantic salmon | S-0, C-0 | S-0, C-0 |
All trout and salmon together are limited to S-5 and C-2 a day.
The stretches that stay open
The spring opener and September 30 closing are only the default. Many of the lower stretches of Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay tributaries have additional fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, brown trout, Pacific salmon and Atlantic salmon. A few examples from the current summary:
- Humber River: open all year from Eglinton Avenue down to Lake Ontario. See the lower Humber.
- Credit River: open all year below the Highway 403 bridge, with a sanctuary from Highway 403 to Britannia Road from August 15 to December 31. See the lower Credit.
- Durham Region creeks: open all year below the CNR tracks, and to December 31 between Highway 2 and the tracks. See Duffins Creek.
- Ganaraska River: three different sets of rules in Port Hope alone, including a sanctuary closed all year from Highway 401 to the Jocelyn Street bridge.
These are summaries. The legal wording, with the exact landmarks, is in the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary.
The Muddy York Fishing app shows "Open", "Closed" or "Check" for each stretch today, straight from the official summary, with a link to the exact paragraph. Free for 7 days.
Lake Ontario (Zone 20)
In Lake Ontario, brown trout, rainbow trout and Pacific salmon are open all year. Lake trout are open January 1 to September 30 and December 1 to 31. Atlantic salmon can be kept only on a sport licence, one fish greater than 63 centimetres; conservation licence holders must release them. Brook trout are listed as not present in Zone 20 and are closed all year.
Why trout seasons close in the fall
Brook trout and brown trout spawn in the fall, on gravel in cold, clean water. The September 30 closing protects them on their spawning beds. The tributary stretches that stay open are mostly the lower reaches, where lake run fish travel through on their way upstream.
Licences and free fishing
To fish in Ontario you need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence, bought through the province's licensing service. Some anglers do not need one, including Ontario residents under 18 and 65 or older, and veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members who live in Ontario. Canadian residents can also fish licence free during four family fishing periods a year. Check the province's page for current dates and the ID you must carry.
How to check a season before you go
- Find the zone for your river. Our river guides list it on every page.
- Look up the zone wide season for the species you are after.
- Check the waterbody exceptions and additional opportunities for the exact stretch.
- Look for sanctuaries near dams, fishways and in towns.
- Read the province's fishing notices for any in season changes.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a whole river shares one season. On the Credit and the Ganaraska, the rules change several times between the lake and the first dam.
- Fishing a sanctuary by accident. Sanctuaries are often in the most popular watching spots, right below fishways and dams, so a crowd is not a sign that fishing is allowed.
- Using last year's rules. The summary changes, and in season notices can close or open water with little warning. Check before every trip, not once a year.
Quick answers
When does trout season open in Ontario? In Zones 16 and 17, on the fourth Saturday in April. That is April 24 in 2027.
When does trout season close? September 30 in most of Zones 16 and 17, but many lower tributary stretches stay open longer, some all year.
Can I fish for salmon all year in Ontario? In Lake Ontario, yes. In rivers, only on the stretches listed as additional fishing opportunities.
For a deeper look at opening day, see our Ontario trout opener guide, or open the app to see what is open near you right now.
Cover photo: the Credit River at Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, by The Cosmonaut, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed CC BY-SA 2.5 CA.
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