Zone 10 fishing regulations (FMZ 10)

Seasons, limits, exceptions and sanctuaries for Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 10, from the official Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. Last checked October 18, 2026.

All waters north of Highway 17 and all waters west of where the east bank of the Serpent River crosses Highway 17 are open year-round for largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Waterbodies within the following areas have different regulations that are listed in the waterbody exceptions:geographic townships of Schembri and Scriven in the Territorial District of Sudbury

geographic townships of Way-White, Wlasy, Bracci and Tupper in the Territorial District of Algoma

Zone-wide seasons and limits in FMZ 10

These apply to every water in the zone unless a species exception, waterbody exception or sanctuary below says otherwise. "S" is the sport fishing licence limit and "C" the conservation licence limit.

Species	Season	Limits	Today
Aggregate limits for trout and salmon (including splake)	See the official summary	S-5 and C-2; total daily catch and possession limit for all trout and salmon species combined	See limits
Atlantic salmon	January 1 to September 30 Jan 1 – Sep 30 in 2026	S-1 and C-0	Closed today
Brook trout	January 1 to September 30 Jan 1 – Sep 30 in 2026	S-5 and C-2	Closed today
Brown trout	open all year	S-5 and C-2	Open today
Channel catfish	open all year	S-12 and C-6	Open today
Crappie	open all year	S-30 and C-10	Open today
Lake sturgeon	closed all year		Closed today
Lake trout	January 1 to Labour Day Jan 1 – Sep 7 in 2026	S-2; not more than 1 greater than 40 centimetres, and C-1	Closed today
Lake whitefish	open all year	S-12 and C-6	Open today
Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined	third Saturday in June to November 30 Jun 20 – Nov 30 in 2026	S-6 and C-3	Open today
Muskellunge	third Saturday in June to December 15 Jun 20 – Dec 15 in 2026	S-1; must be greater than 122 centimetres, and C-0	Open today
Northern pike	open all year	S-6; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetres, and C-2; none greater than 61 centimetres	Open today
Pacific salmon	open all year	S-5 and C-2	Open today
Rainbow trout	open all year	S-2 and C-1	Open today
Splake	open all year	S-5 and C-2	Open today
Sunfish	open all year	S-50 and C-25	Open today
Walleye and sauger combined	January 1 to the third Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to December 31 Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 16 – Dec 31 in 2026	S-4 and C-2; none greater than 46 centimetres	Open today
Yellow perch	open all year	S-50 and C-25	Open today

Source: Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, Zone 10 on ontario.ca. The summary is Ontario's guide to the regulations made under the Fisheries Act.

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Species exceptions in Zone 10

These waters have different seasons or limits for the species named. They override the zone-wide rules above.

Brook trout: open all year (68 waters)

Brook trout: open all year (2 waters)

Limits: S-1 and C-0; must be greater than 55 centimetres

Brook trout: fourth Saturday in April to Labour Day (6 waters)

Limits: S-1 and C-0; must be greater than 56 centimetres

Brook trout: see official entry (1 water)

Limits: S-2 and C-1; not more than 1 greater than 40 centimetres

Maquon Lake (47°41′58″N, 84°38′47″W) - Stone Township

Lake trout: see official entry (20 waters)

Limits: S-2 and C-1; no size limit

Lake trout: closed all year (7 waters)

Lake trout: February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to Labour Day (20 waters)

Lake trout: third Saturday in May to Labour Day (2 waters)

Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined: open all year (1 water)

All waters north of Highway 17 and all waters west of where the east bank of the Serpent River crosses Highway 17

Muskellunge: see official entry (5 waters)

Limits: S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres, and C-0

Rainbow trout: see official entry (21 waters)

Limits: S-5 and C-2

Walleye: closed all year (1 water)

La Cloche Lake (46°08′03″N, 82°02′39″W) - Harrow Township

Walleye: see official entry (1 water)

Limits: S-1 and C-0; must be greater than 50 centimetres

Gough Lake (Birch Lake) (46°18′02″N, 81°58′30″W) - Gough Township

Waterbody exceptions in Zone 10

Lakes and rivers with their own rules, in the official wording.

All of the waters

All of the waters within the boundaries and all of the waters of which a portion falls within the boundaries of the geographic Townships of Schembri and Scriven in the Territorial District of Sudbury and Way-White, Wlasy, Bracci and Tupper in the Territorial District of Algoma, excepting those portions of Government Creek and Sawmill Creek in Tupper Townships in the Territorial District of Algoma from the centreline of Highway 17 to the shore of Lake Superior (Refer to Government Creek and Sawmill Creek for additional fish sanctuary restrictions)

Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to February 14 and March 16 to Friday before third Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31

Biscotasi Lake

Closed to angling for all species from April 1 to June 15 in the following areas:100 metres east and west of the centre point of the C.P.R. Hogsback Channel trestle (Lillie Township) and 200 metres north and south of the railway tracks
100 metres east and west of the centre point of the C.P.R. trestle (Margaret Township) and 200 metres north and south of the railway tracks
from the eastern most Ramsey Dam (47°11′03″N, 82°10′06″W) extending downstream 500 metres

Blue Jay Creek

Blue Jay Creek - from bridge on Concession 4 (Tehkummah Township), downstream to the mouth of Blue Jay Creek on Lake Huron

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from March 1 to Friday before second Saturday in May and September 25 to October 31

Blue Jay Creek

Blue Jay Creek - Tehkummah Township

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from March 1 to Friday before second Saturday in May
New Carol Lake (47°34'07"N, 84°37'22"W)
Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish Sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31
Aurora Trout - open from August 1 to October 15
Aurora Trout - S-1 and C-0

East Goulais River

East Goulais River - from Laughing Lake (46°56'57"N, 83°40'29"W) (Menard Township) to the Goulais River (46°52'15"N, 83°58'43"W)

Only artificial flies may be used

French River

French River - those waters north of Highway 64 and west of Highway 69 starting at the Highway 69 bridge on the French River and proceeding downstream to Georgian Bay including all connected waters within the boundaries of the French River Provincial Park

Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined - S-4 and C-2; any size
Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined - open January 1 to third Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to December 31
Muskellunge - S-1, must be greater than 137 centimetres and C-0
Northern pike - open January 1 to 3 Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to December 31
Northern pike - S-4; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetres, C-2; none greater than 61 centimetres
Walleye and sauger combined - S-4 and C-2; none between 43 and 60 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 60 centimetres

Garden River

Garden River - from Ranger Lake (46°52'12"N, 83°34'37"W) to Garden Lake (46°45'21"N, 83°41'55"W)

Only artificial flies may be used

Gong Lake

Gong Lake (47°04′12″N, 83°32′10″W) - Handleman Township

Brook trout - open from February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to September 30
Brook trout - S-2 and C-1; not more than 1 greater than 40 centimetres
Lake trout - open from February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to Labour Day

Goulais River (Whitman Dam to Lake Superior)

Muskellunge - S-1, must be greater than 137 centimetres, C-0
Walleye and sauger combined - open January 1 to March 31 and July 1 to December 31

Greenhorn Lake

Greenhorn Lake (46°39'53''N, 84°07'32''W) - Jarvis Township

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31Aurora trout - open from August 1 to October 15
Aurora trout - S-1, C-0

Kirkpatrick Lake

Kirkpatrick Lake - Sayer and LeCaron Townships, the rivers and streams of Kirkpatrick Lake extending 800 metres from the lake and an unnamed stream connecting Robb and Elbow Lakes

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from fourth Saturday in April to May 25

Kirkpatrick Lake

Kirkpatrick Lake (Blue Lake) - Sayer and LeCaron Townships

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to February 14 and March 16 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31
New Lake 21 (47°37'22"N, 80°57'10"W)
Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish Sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31
Aurora Trout - open from August 1 to October 15
Aurora Trout - S-1 and C-0

Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island - inland waters including Cockburn Island (check exceptions to Zone 10 regulations for lake specific restrictions)

Lake trout - S-2 and C-1; no size limit
Lake trout - open from January 1 to September 30
Northern pike - open from January 1 to March 31 and third Saturday in May to December 31
Rainbow trout - open from fourth Saturday in April to December 31
Yellow perch - open from January 1 to March 31 and third Saturday in May to December 31
Yellow perch - S-25; possession limit of 50, and C-12; possession limit of 25

McGovern Lake

McGovern Lake (47°05′45″N, 84°20′30″W) - Olsen Township

Brook trout - open from February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to September 30
Brook trout - S-2 and C-1; not more than 1 greater than 40 centimetres
Lake trout - open from February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to Labour Day

Pancake Lake

Pancake Lake (47°04′19″N, 84°36′56″W) - Kincaid Township

Brook trout - open from February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to September 30
Brook trout - S-2 and C-1; not more than 1 greater than 40 centimetres
Lake trout - open from February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to Labour Day
New Sorley Lake (46°27'35"N, 82°28'34"W)
Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish Sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31
Aurora Trout - open from August 1 to October 15
Aurora Trout - S-1 and C-0

Spanish River

Spanish River - downstream from the Highway 6 bridge and the Aux Sables River from its confluence at the Spanish River upstream to Highway 17

Muskellunge - S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres, and C-0

Spanish River

Spanish River - Town of Espanola, the waters extending from the dam at Domtar Incorporated to the Highway 6 bridge

Fish sanctuary - closed all year

Spanish River

Spanish River - downstream from Espanola excluding Gagans Pond (Victoria Township)

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31

Solo Creek and Thor Lake

Solo Creek and Thor Lake - Territorial District of Sudbury, the waters of Solo Creek and Thor Lake from the C.N.R. bridge on Solo Creek north to Thor Lake

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from March 15 to June 15

Thor and Edna Lakes

Thor and Edna Lakes - from a line 90 degrees due north and another line 90 degrees due east from the center of the island situated on Edna Lake (47°05′N, 81°13′W), at the mouth of the Vermilion River north through the river 400 metres into Thor Lake (47°09′N, 81°18′W)

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from March 15 to June 15

Thor Lake

Thor Lake - (47°08′05″N, 81°16′52″W) - Frechette Township

Lake trout - open from February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to Labour Day

Fish sanctuaries in Zone 10

No fishing is allowed in these places during the periods shown.

No fishing - closed all year (39)

Acid Lake - Killarney Township
Barron Lake - Stobie Township
Batchawana Lake - Norberg Township
Bonhomme Lake - Aylmer Township
Bowland Lake - Howey Township
Burke Lake - Killarney Township, Killarney Provincial Park
Caswell Lake (46°52′N, 80°45′W) - Aylmer Township
Chief Lake - Tilton and Broder Townships
Colin Scott Lake- McCarthy Township
David Lake - Hansen and Goschen Townships, Killarney Provincial Park
Davis Lake - McConnell Township
Dewdney Lake - Mackelcan Township
Edna Lake - McCarthy Township
Elboga Lake - Muldrew Township
Foy Lake - Foy Township
Franks Lake-Mackelcan Township
Grace Lake - Curtin Township
Great Mountain Lake - Hansen Township, Killarney Provincial Park
Killarney Lake - Killarney Township, Killarney Provincial Park
Lake 27 - Kelly Township
Lake 37 - Aylmer Township
Little Turkey Lake - Wishart Township
Lumsden Lake - Killarney Township, Killarney Provincial Park
Marjorie Lake - McConnell Township
Nellie Lake (46°08′N, 81°31′W) - Roosevelt Township, Killarney Provincial Park
Norway Lake - Killarney and Carlyle Townships, Killarney Provincial Park
O.S.A. Lake - Killarney Township, Killarney Provincial Park
Potvin Lake - Kelly Township
Rand Lake - Bowell Township
Ruth-Roy Lake - Carlyle Township, Killarney Provincial Park
Silvester Lake - Mackelcan Township
Spanish River - refer to waterbody exceptions
Teardrop Lake - Killarney Provincial Park
White Oak Lake - Tilton Township
White Pine Lake - McLeod Township
White Rock Lake - McNie Township
Whitefish Channel (Whitefish Creek) - City of Sault Ste. Marie, between St. Mary’s Island and Whitefish Island
Wishart Lake - Wishart Township
Wolf Lake - Mackelcan Township

No fishing - January 1 to February 14 and March 16 to Friday before third Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31 (1)

Geographic Townships of Schembri and Scriven in the Territorial District of Sudbury and Way-White, Wlasy, Bracci and Tupper in the Territorial District of Algoma - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - January 1 to February 14 and March 16 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31 (10)

Conacher Lake - Shingwaukonce Township
Darragh Lake - Otter Township
Duval Lake - Slievert Township
Elbow Lake (Onedee Lake) (46°39′N, 83°08′W) - Sayer Township
Horner Lake - Shingwaukonce Township
Kirkpatrick Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
Primeau Lake - Shingwaukonce Township
Robb Lake - Sayer Township
Townline Lake - Sayer Township
White Bear Lake - Sayer Township

No fishing - January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31 (3)

New Carol Lake (47°34′07”N, 84°37′22”W) - Beulah Township
New Lake 21 (47°37′22”N, 80°57′10”W) - Tyrrell Township
New Sorley Lake (46°27′35”N, 82°28′34”W) - Buckles Township

No fishing - January 1 to February 14 and March 16 to June 15 and October 1 to December 31 (2)

Government Creek and tributaries - Tupper Township, except the portion between centre of Highway 17 and Lake Superior Shore
Sawmill Creek and tributaries - Tupper Township, except the portion between centre of Highway 17 and Lake Superior Shore

No fishing - January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April (2)

Kukagami Lake - Davis, Kelly, Rahbun and Scadding Townships
Nelson Lake - Bowell Township

No fishing - January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31 (3)

Basswood Lake (Wakwekobi Lake) - Day, Gladstone and Kirkwood Townships
Chiblow Lake - Montgomery, Patton, Scarfe and Juillette Townships
Helenbar Lake - Hembruff Township

No fishing - January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31 (2)

Big Horseshoe Lake - LeCaron Township
Spanish River - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and the day after Labour Day to December 31 (11)

Bobowash Lake - Raimbault Township
Dollyberry Lake - Beange and Raimbault Townships
Ezma Lake - Nicholas Township
Flack Lake - Raimbault Township
Fullerton Lake (Lanark Lake) - Raimbault Township
Gibberry Lake - Beange and Raimbault Townships
Jim Christ Lake - Raimbault Township
Kirk Lake - LeCaron Township
Rawhide Lake - Viel and Piche Townships
Samreid Lake - Raimbault Township
Semiwite Lake - Hembruff and Raimbault Townships

No fishing - from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31 (1)

Greenhorn Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - March 1 to Friday before second Saturday in May and September 25 to October 31 (2)

Blue Jay Creek - refer to waterbody exceptions
Manitou River - from the bridge on the Government Road (Tehkummah Township) downstream to the mouth of the Manitou River at Michael’s Bay of Lake Huron

No fishing - March 15 to June 15 (3)

Solo Creek and Thor Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
Thor and Edna Lakes - refer to waterbody exceptions
Vondet Lake and Vondet Creek - Shelley Township, the waters of Vondet Lake and Vondet Creek

No fishing - April 1 to June 15 (43)

Alton Creek - Peterson Township, flowing into South Old Woman River
Bar River - Laird and MacDonald Townships
Bass Creek - Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, from the culvert at Highway 6 downstream to the mouth of Bass Creek at Shequiandah Bay
Bellevue Creek and tributaries - Vankoughnet Township
Clay River - Goodwillie Township
Cranberry Creek and tributaries - Fenwick and Pennefeather Townships
Crazy Creek - Goodwillie Township
Devlin Creek - Peever Township
Downey Creek and tributaries - Tilley Township, except the portion between centre of Highway 17 and Lake Superior shore
Forte Creek - Rabazo Township, downstream of Mission Lake
Frater Creek - Labonte and Labelle Townships
Havilland Creek and tributaries - Havilland Township
Jones Creek and tributaries - Tilley and Archibald Townships, except the portion between centre of Highway 17 and Lake Superior shore
June Creek - Giles Township
Kelly Creek and tributaries - Pennefeather Township
Lamon Creek and tributaries - Dennis Township
Laughing Creek - Peever Township
Mamainse Creek and tributaries - within the A. McDonnel Mining location and the North Montreal (Sand Bay) Mining location except the portion between centre of Highway 17 and Lake Superior shore
Metheany Creek - Slater Township, between Highway 17 and Lake Superior
Mica Bay Creek and tributaries - Kincaid Township
Montreal River (flowing into Lake Superior) and Indian River - McParland Township, from 300 metres out from the river mouth to the northern boundary of McParland Township
Montreal River (flowing into Lake Superior) at Jeff Creek - Loach Township, from 250 metres out from creek mouth to 2.6 kilometres up creek (at top of rapids)
Montreal River and Bunny Creek - McParland Township, from 400 metres south of the mouth of Bunny Creek northeast 600 metres east of the creek mouth and Bunny Creek upstream 800 metres to top of first rapids
Muldrew Bay - Onaping Township
Nagasin Lake - Caouette and Caverly Townships, all of Bland Bay, Fagus Bay, and Bird Bath Bay
Nebskwashi River and Highbrush Lake - Caverly Township, from a point on the Nebskwashi River at 47°43′11″N, 83°34′23″W northeast to a line drawn between the west shore of Highbrush Lake at 47°44′11″N, 83°33′13″W and a point on the southeast shore at 47°44′00″N, 83°32′44″W
Noisy Creek - Dulhut Township
Northland Creek - Deroche Township, Highway 556 to the Goulais River
Perry Creek and tributaries - Gaudette Township
Probyn Creek and tributaries - Fenwick Township
Rainbow Creek and tributaries - Hodgins Township
Ronnie’s Creek - Labelle Township
Salter Creek - LaRonde Township
Sheppard Creek and tributaries - Deroche Township
Silver Creek and tributaries - Hodgins Township
Stokely Creek and tributaries - Vankoughnet Township
Stony Creek and tributaries - Hodgins Township
Taylor Creek and tributaries - Vankoughnet Township
Thielman Creek and tributaries - Pennefeather Township
Unnamed Creek (47°34’N, 84°58’W) - Bray Township, at Gargantua Harbour of Lake Superior
Wanapitei River - The waters of that part of the Wanapitei River from the outer wall of the northernmost Bailey bridge (Fraleck Township) to the site of the abandoned Poupore Bridge at the mouth of the Wanapitei River (Rathbun Township)
Wenebegon Lake and River - Langlois and Lynch Townships
Whitman Creek - Daumont and Gaudette Townships, between Devil’s Lake (Deil Lake) and the Goulais River

No fishing - fourth Saturday in April to May 25 (1)

Kirkpatrick Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - August 24 to December 31 (1)

Banana Lake - Dalmas Township

No fishing - September 25 to October 31 (6)

Kagawong River - Billings Township, from the bridge on Highway 540 downstream to the bridge on Henry Street in the Village of Kagawong
Mindemoya River - Carnarvon Township, from the bridge on Highway 551/542 downstream to the bridge on Highway 551
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Frequently asked

When does trout season open in Zone 10?

Zone-wide, brook trout season is January 1 to September 30 (Jan 1 – Sep 30 in 2026). Some rivers have species exceptions or sanctuaries listed on this page that change this.

Can I fish in Zone 10 right now?

The table above shows which species are open today under the zone-wide seasons. A specific river or lake may differ, so check its species exceptions, waterbody exceptions and sanctuaries below before you go.

Do I need a fishing licence in Ontario?

Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a valid fishing licence (sport or conservation). Some people are exempt, such as Ontario residents under 18 or 65 and over. Check the official licensing rules for your situation.

How do I know if a river is in Zone 10?

Ontario's Fisheries Management Zones are mapped on Fish ON-Line and in the official summary. River mouths on the Great Lakes are often in a different zone from the rest of the river.

All Ontario fishing zones → · Southern Ontario river guides → · Ontario salmon run →

Zone 10 fishing regulations (FMZ 10)

Zone-wide seasons and limits in FMZ 10

Know what's open before you drive

Species exceptions in Zone 10

Waterbody exceptions in Zone 10

Fish sanctuaries in Zone 10

Frequently asked

Fish the right river tomorrow morning.