Zone 11 fishing regulations (FMZ 11)

Seasons, limits, exceptions and sanctuaries for Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 11, from the official Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. Last checked October 18, 2026.

Some brook trout additional fishing opportunities in Zone 11 also have bait restrictions.

The following waterbodies, or portions of them, have different regulations that are listed in the waterbody exceptions:Cut Lake

FMZ 11 is part of the Northeast Bait Management Zone (BMZ). Live or dead baitfish or leeches may not be transported into or out of a BMZ. These rules do not apply to baitfish and leeches which are both dead and preserved. Refer to bait for more details.

Zone-wide seasons and limits in FMZ 11

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	closed all year		Closed today
Brook trout	February 15 to September 30 Feb 15 – Sep 30 in 2026	S-5; not more than 1 greater than 31 centimetres, and C-2; none greater than 31 centimetres	Closed today
Brown trout	fourth Saturday in April to September 30 Apr 25 – Sep 30 in 2026	S-5 and C-2	Closed 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	February 15 to third Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to Labour Day Feb 15 – Mar 15, May 16 – 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	January 1 to third Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to December 31 Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 16 – Dec 31 in 2026	S-6 and C-2	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	January 1 to third Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to December 31 Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 16 – Dec 31 in 2026	S-6; not more than two greater than 61 centimetres, of which not more than 1 is greater than 86 centimetres and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetres	Open today
Pacific salmon	open all year	S-5 and C-2	Open today
Rainbow trout	open all year	S-5 and C-2	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 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 between 43-60 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 60 centimetres	Open today
Yellow perch	open all year	S-50 and C-25	Open today

Source: Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, Zone 11 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 11

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

Brook trout: open all year (44 waters)

Limits: S-5 and C-2; no size limit

Lake Trout: open all year (10 waters)

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

Lake Trout: closed all year (1 water)

Florence Lake (47°13′36″N, 80°33′09″W)

Lake Trout: see official entry (4 waters)

Limits: S-2; not more than 1 greater than 50 centimetres, and C-1

Lake Trout: see official entry (1 water)

Limits: S-1 and C-0

Obabika Lake (47°00’60”N, 80°16’26”W)

Waterbody exceptions in Zone 11

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

Cut Lake

Cut Lake (46°45′47”N, 79°16′02”W) - McAuslan Township

Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and day after Labour Day to December 31

French River

French River - waters lying south of the Five Finger Rapids, and west of the Chaudière Dam downstream to the Highway 69 bridge including Wolseley Bay, the North Channel of the French River, 18 Mile Bay, Ranger Bay and Dry Pine Bay to the Highway 607 Bridge

Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined - S-4 and C-2; any size
Muskellunge - S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres, and C-0
Northern pike - S-4; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetres, C-2; none greater than 61 centimetres

Green Lake

Green Lake (46°48'26"N, 79°14'50"W) - Parkman Township

Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Brook trout - open from May 1 to September 30

McConnell Lake

McConnell Lake (46°44'23"N, 79°20'23"W) - McAuslan Township

Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and day after Labour Day to December 31

Lake Nipissing

Lake Nipissing - Iron Island vicinity, 100 metres around shore

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from March 16 to Friday before third Saturday in May

Lake Nipissing

Lake Nipissing - Wasi Falls, waters of Lake Nipissing lying east of the east boundary of Lot 9, Concession 24, and south of a line joining this projection where it meets Lake Nipissing to the northwest tip of Burford Point, and mouth of the Wistiswasing River (North Himsworth Township)

Fish sanctuary - no fishing from March 16 to May 31 and October 1 to November 30

Lake Nipissing

Lake Nipissing - including the waters of the French River from the Chaudière and the Little Chaudière dams to Lake Nipissing; the west bay of Lake Nipissing in Haddo Township; the northwest bay of Lake Nipissing to the falls of MacPherson Creek; the Sturgeon River from Lake Nipissing to the dam at Sturgeon Falls; the Veuve River from Lake Nipissing to the chutes located in Lot 5 in Concession 1 in Caldwell Township; the Lavase River from Lake Nipissing to the Champlain Park Boat Ramp (46°14'31"N., 79°25'11"W) in the city of North Bay, the South River from Lake Nipissing to Highway 654; and the entire West Arm of Lake Nipissing including Cross Lake

Closed to all species - from March 16 to Friday before third Saturday in May and December 1 to December 31
Muskellunge - open from third Saturday in June to November 30
Muskellunge - S-1 and C-0; must be greater than 137 centimetres
Northern pike - S-4 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetres
Walleye and yellow perch - open from January 1 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to October 15
Walleye - S-2 and C-1; must be between 40-45 centimetres

Lake Temagami

Lake Temagami (46°59'36"N.,, 80°04'15"W)

Only live or dead baitfish less than 13 centimetres in length may be used as bait
Lake trout - open February 15 to third Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to September 30
Lake trout - S-2; not more than 1 greater than 50 centimetres, and C-1, from February 15 to third Sunday in March and third Saturday in May to Labour Day
Lake trout - S-0 and C-0; day after Labour Day to September 30
Lake whitefish - S-25 and C-12
Walleye - none between 46-60 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 60 centimetres
Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Monday after third Sunday in March to June 15 in the following areas:Gull Creek from dam at outlet of Gull Lake to 200 metres in an arc extending into Lake Temagami
Kokoko Bay north of Island 1063
Spawning Creek from Spawning Lake, including all waters of Spawning Bay and Loon Bay

Shanty Lake

Shanty Lake (46°45'45″N, 79°19'41″W) - McAuslan Township

Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to April 30 and October 1 to December 31

Surecatch Lake

Surecatch Lake (46°48'07″N, 79°15'15″W) - Parkman Township

Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Brook trout - open from May 1 to September 30

Trout Lake

Trout Lake - (46°19′09″N, 79°20′11″W) - City of North Bay and East Ferris Township

Lake trout and Atlantic salmon - open from third Saturday in June to Friday before fourth Saturday in June
Lake trout and Atlantic salmon - S-1 and C-1; must be less than 55 centimetres
Fish sanctuary - no fishing from May 15 to July 31 in the following areas:Trout Lake - East Ferris Township, lying between the water’s edge and a line drawn 30 metres in perpendicular distance from Poplar Island along the west side of the island from the northwest tip of the island to the southwest tip of the island
Trout Lake - Widdifield Township, lying within a line drawn from the most westerly tip of Kirkwood Island, commonly known as Camp Island extending 50 metres into the water and paralleling the shore for a distance of 500 metres then back to the south shore

Fish sanctuaries in Zone 11

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

No fishing - closed all year (6)

Aurora Lake - Gamble Township
Four Mile Creek - Widdifield Township, within Lots 8 and 9 in Concession B
Little Aurora Lake - Gamble Township
Little Whitepine Lake - Gamble Township
Whirligig Lake - Gamble Township
Whitepine Lake - Gamble Township

No fishing - January 1 to April 30 and October 1 to December 31 (2)

Blue Lake - McAuslan Township
Shanty Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May (1)

Wicksteed Lake - Kenny, Gladman, Flett, Gooderham and Milne Townships

No fishing - January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and the day after Labour Day to December 31 (2)

Cut Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
McConnell Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - March 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May (4)

Kaibuskong Bay - in front of Bonfield Township
Kaibuskong River - from Sheedy Lake to Kaibuskong Bay
Sharpes Creek - from Highway 17 to Kaibuskong Bay
Talon Lake - in front of Olrig and Calvin Townships, including Kaibuskong Bay

No fishing - March 1 to June 15 (1)

Restoule Lake and River - Patterson Township, that part in Lots 24 and 25, Concessions 3 and 4

No fishing - March 16 to Friday before third Saturday in May (2)

Duchesney Creek - City of North Bay and Commanda Township, from Lake Nipissing to the C.N.R. bridge
Lake Nipissing - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - March 16 to Friday before third Saturday in May and October 1 to November 30 (1)

South River - the waters of the South River lying between the bridge that forms part of Highway 654 and the northerly boundary of Concession 14 (Nipissing Township)

No fishing - March 16 to May 31 and October 1 to November 30 (1)

Lake Nipissing - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - Monday after third Sunday in March to Friday before third Saturday in May (1)

Ferrim Creek - Cynthia Township, from Ferrim Lake to 200 metres in an arc extending out into Kokoko Lake

No fishing - Monday after third Sunday in March to June 15 (1)

Lake Temagami - refer to waterbody exceptions

No fishing - April 1 to June 15 (10)

Anima-Nipissing River - Banting Township, from 100 metres in an arc extending out into Red Squirrel Lake to a point upstream 400 metres
Friday Creek - Cassels Township, including the waters in an arc extending 200 metres out into Obashkong Lake
Kanichee Creek - Strathy Township, from Kanichee Lake to 200 metres in an arc extending out into Net Lake
Mattawa River - Papineau and Mattawan Townships, from the face of Hurdman Dam to 200 metres downstream
Montreal River - Town of Latchford and Gillies Limit Township, Ontario Hydro dam to 30 metres south of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission bridge
Montreal River (Ragged Chute Dam) – Gillies Limit Township, the waters from the Ragged Chute Dam (47°16′33.87″N, 79°40′21.60″W) to 150 metres downstream of the concrete abutments at Fountain Falls (47°16′10.64″N, 79°39′07.25″W).
Net Creek - Cassels Township, from dam on Net Lake to 200 metres in an arc extending out into Cassels Lake
Net Lake - Temagami Township, 100 metres easterly and westerly of the O.N.R. bridge
Thieving Bear Creek - Best Township, from Thieving Bear Lake to 200 metres in an arc extending out into Net Lake
Tomiko River - from the bridge in Lot 8, Concession 4, Grant Township to Tomiko Lake

No fishing - April 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May (1)

Memesagamesing Lake and Rainy Creek - Hardy Township, waters that fall within Lots 22, 23, 24, 25, Concession 7

No fishing - May 15 to July 31 (5)

Trout Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
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Frequently asked

When does trout season open in Zone 11?

Zone-wide, brook trout season is February 15 to September 30 (Feb 15 – Sep 30 in 2026). Some rivers have species exceptions or sanctuaries listed on this page that change this.

Can I fish in Zone 11 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 11?

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 11 fishing regulations (FMZ 11)

Zone-wide seasons and limits in FMZ 11

Know what's open before you drive

Species exceptions in Zone 11

Waterbody exceptions in Zone 11

Fish sanctuaries in Zone 11

Frequently asked

Fish the right river tomorrow morning.