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Zone 8 fishing regulations (FMZ 8)

Seasons, limits, exceptions and sanctuaries for Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 8, from the official Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. Last checked October 18, 2026.

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

The following species are not present in this Zone and are closed to fishing all year:Atlantic salmon

FMZ 8 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 8

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.

SpeciesSeasonLimitsToday
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 combinedSee limits
Brook trout January 1 to September 15
Jan 1 – Sep 15 in 2026		 S-5 and C-2Closed today
Lake sturgeon January 1 to April 30 and July 1 to December 31
Jan 1 – Apr 30, Jul 1 – Dec 31 in 2026		 S-0 and C-0Open today
Lake trout February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to September 30
Feb 15 – Mar 15, May 16 – Sep 30 in 2026		 S-3 and C-1Closed today
Lake whitefish open all year S-25 and C-12Open today
Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined open all year S-6 and C-2Open today
Northern pike open all year S-6; not more than 2 greater than 61 centimetres, of which not more than 1 greater than 86 centimetres, and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetresOpen today
Rainbow trout open all year S-5 and C-2Open today
Splake open all year S-5 and C-2Open today
Sunfish open all year S-50 and C-25Open today
Walleye and sauger combined January 1 to April 14 and third Saturday in May to December 31
Jan 1 – Apr 14, May 16 – Dec 31 in 2026		 S-4 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 46 centimetresOpen today
Yellow perch open all year S-50 and C-25Open today

Source: Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, Zone 8 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 8

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

Brook trout: open all year (138 waters)
Lake Trout: open all year (40 waters)
Northern pike: see official entry (1 water)

Limits: S-2; not more than 1 greater than 71 centimetres and C-1; must be less than 71 centimetres

Walleye: see official entry (1 water)

Limits: S-2 and C-2; none between 35-55 centimetres

Waterbody exceptions in Zone 8

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

Blanche River

Blanche River - Marquis Township

  • Fish sanctuary - no fishing from April 1 to June 15
Blanche River and its tributaries

Blanche River and its tributaries - including the Moose, Wright, Pontleroy and St. Jean Baptiste creeks, and the Englehart, Larder and Misema rivers, and the Wabi River and tributaries

  • Lake sturgeon - closed all year
Commando Lake

Commando Lake (49°04′N, 81°01′W) - Glackmeyer Township

  • Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to Saturday before second Sunday in February and September 16 to December 31
  • Lake trout - open from second Sunday in February to September 15
Edgar Lake

Edgar Lake (50°22′N, 80°23′W)

  • Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and November 1 to December 31
  • Northern pike - S-2; not more than 1 greater than 71 centimetres, and C-1; must be less than 71 centimetres
Groundhog River

Groundhog River (The Pot) - Beardmore and Tucker Townships

  • Fish sanctuary - no fishing from April 15 to July 15
Groundhog River

Groundhog River - Reeves, Melrose, Strachan, Montcalm and Poulett Townships, from the bridge on Highway 101, downstream to the mouth of the Nat River

  • Lake sturgeon - open from January 1 to April 14 and July 1 to December 31
Groundhog River

Groundhog River - Keith Township, between the base of the Horwood Dam downstream to where it enters Groundhog Lake

  • Fish sanctuary - no fishing from April 1 to June 15
Labyrinth Lake

Labyrinth Lake (48°13′46″N, 79°31′18″W) - including that part of Waterhen Creek downstream from the Access Road Bridge

  • Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
  • Northern pike - open from January 1 to April 15 and third Friday in May to December 31
  • Smallmouth bass - open from January 1 to April 15 and Friday before fourth Saturday in June to December 31
  • Walleye - open from January 1 to March 31 and third Friday in May to December 31
Little Abitibi River

Little Abitibi River - McQuibban and Sangster Townships, from boundary between the two townships to a line at longitude 80°36′30″W

  • Fish sanctuary - no fishing from April 1 to June 15
Little Abitibi River

Little Abitibi River

  • Fish sanctuary - no fishing from April 15 to June 30 in the following areas:Little Abitibi River - McQuibban Township, from Pierre Lake Road to part of Pierre Lake lying east of longitude 80°39′30″W
  • Little Abitibi River and Montreuil Lake - Swartman Township, between northern narrows of Pierre Lake to portion lying east of longitude 80°47′W

Fish sanctuaries in Zone 8

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

No fishing - closed all year (6)
  • Alexander Lake (48°17′N, 80°35′W) - McEvay Township
  • Big Club Lake (48°27'45"N, 80°48'39"W)
  • New Lake 57 (48°17'N, 80°40'W)
  • Nayowin Lake (47°47'27"N, 81°22'39"W)
  • New Pack Can Lake (48°27'54"N, 79°59'29"W)
  • Pallet Lake (48°16'31"N, 80°39'05"W)
No fishing - January 1 to Saturday before second Sunday in February and September 16 to December 31 (1)
  • Commando Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
No fishing - January 1 to February 14 and October 1 to December 31 (1)
  • Larder Lake - Hearst, McFadden, McVittie and McGarry Townships
No fishing - January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and November 1 to December 31 (47)
  • Anthead Lake (49°58′N, 80°40′W)
  • Bateman Lake - Tomlinson Township
  • Bill’s Lake (50°07′N, 80°36′W)
  • Bounce Lake (49°48′N, 80°42′W)
  • Brayley Lake - Blakelock Township
  • Burnt Lake (49°42′N, 80°33′W)
  • Deluxe Lake (49°52′N, 80°45′W)
  • Echo Lake (50°00′N, 80°36′W)
  • Edgar Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
  • Esker Lake (49°50′N, 80°45′W)
  • Floodwood Lake - Tweed and Blakelock Townships
  • French Lake (49°39′N, 80°30′W)
  • Hill’s Lake (49°53′N, 80°34′W) - Cochrane District
  • Keith Lake (Walter’s Lake) (49°45′N, 80°38′W)
  • Larry Lake (49°44′N, 80°34′W)
  • Lauzon Lake (49°49′N, 80°48′W)
  • Little Wakwayowkastic Lake (49°49′N, 80°33′W)
  • Louise Lake (Choppa Lake) (49°50′N, 80°36′W)
  • Magiskan Lake - Blakelock Township
  • Marsh Lake (49°58′N, 80°36′W)
  • McParlon Lake (50°09′N, 80°42′W)
  • Mego Lake - Blakelock Township
  • Mikwam Lake - Blakelock Township
  • Moose Lake (49°40′N, 80°34′W)
  • Moving Rock Lake (49°49′N, 80°38′W)
  • Nettogami Lake (50°13′N, 80°34′W)
  • North Choppa Lake (49°51′N, 80°35′W)
  • North French Lake (49°45′N, 80°38′W)
  • North Unknown Lake (49°48′N, 80°41′W)
  • Partridge Lake (50°24′N, 80°19′W)
  • Payntouk Lake - Tomlinson Township
  • Piyagoskogau Lake (50°14′N, 80°25′W)
  • Pot Hole Lake (50°08′N, 80°40′W)
  • Rainy Lake (50°05′N, 80°36′W)
  • Sand Lake (49°44′N, 80°43′W)
  • Snare Lake - Newman Township
  • South Choppa Lake (49°49′N, 80°37′W)
  • South West Kesagami Lake (50°17′N, 80°23′W)
  • Steve’s Lake (50°05′N, 80°38′W)
  • Today Lake (49°51′N, 80°41′W)
  • Tomorrow Lake (49°55′N, 80°41′W)
  • Twopeak Lake - Newman Township
  • Unknown Lake (49°47′N, 80°39′W)
  • Verana Lake (49°49′N, 80°33′W)
  • West Choppa Lake (49°50′N, 80°38′W)
  • Yesterday Lake (49°50′N, 80°43′W)
  • Yesterday River Lake (49°49′N, 80°46′W)
No fishing - April 1 to June 15 (37)
  • Blanche River - refer to waterbody exceptions
  • Borden Lake - Borden Township, waters east of a line drawn from a point on the south shore at 47°51′23″N, 83°13′25″W to a point on the north shore at 47°51′55″N, 83°13′32″W
  • Borden Lake - Cochrane Township, waters north of a line drawn from a point at the east shore at 47°51′58″N, 83°16′55″W to a point on the west shore at 47°51′58″N, 83°17′25″W
  • Chapleau River (Kebsquasheshing River) - Chapleau Township, from the centerline of the C.P.R. track upstream for 100 metres and downstream for 300 metres
  • Crooked Creek System - Marquis, Blain, and Eby Townships
  • Duckbreast and Groves Lakes - beginning at the narrowing of the south end of Duckbreast Lake (47°40′N, 81°38′W), continuing in a southerly direction through the creek and extending 100 m into the north end of Groves Lake (47°38′N, 81°36′W), encompassing the waters locally known as Spruce Lake
  • Firth Creek (Spawning Creek) - Milner Township
  • Floodwood River - McQuibban Township, the part of the river within McQuibban Township
  • Groundhog River - refer to waterbody exceptions
  • Horwood Lake - Dale Township, from a point on the Woman River 1 kilometre upstream from its confluence with the Rush River, downstream to Horwood Lake and all waters of Horwood Lake within Dale Township
  • Horwood Lake - Horwood and Keith Townships, Cornice Creek downstream from the Keith Township boundary to Horwood Lake including all waters of Horwood Lake within 2 kilometres of the Cornice Creek mouth
  • Horwood Lake - Horwood Township, from the outflow of Great Pike Lake downstream to Horwood Lake and including all waters of Horwood Lake within 300 metres of the creek mouth
  • Horwood Lake - Horwood Township, Marl Creek downstream from the Horwood Township boundary to Horwood Lake and including all waters of Horwood Lake within 1.8 kilometres of the Marl Creek mouth
  • Horwood Lake - Horwood Township, Swayze River downstream from the Horwood Township boundary to Horwood Lake and including all waters of Horwood Lake within 800 metres of the Swayze River mouth
  • Horwood Lake - Keith Township, the portion known as Hoodoo Lake or Hoodoo Bay
  • Kapakita Creek - Maisonville Township
  • Kenogaming Lake - Kenogaming Township, from the outflow of Kaneki Lake downstream to Kenogaming Lake and including the waters of the adjacent bay
  • Little Abitibi Lake - McQuibban Township, waters in the northern part of the lake within McQuibban Township
  • Little Abitibi River - refer to waterbody exceptions
  • Mattagami River - Gouin and Hassard Townships, between the dam at Kenogamissi Falls to a point on the Kenogamissi Lake at approximately (48°02′N, 81°32′30″W)
  • Mattagami River - Mahaffy Township, lying between the Lower Sturgeon hydro dam and downstream to the northern boundary of Mahaffy Township
  • Mattagami River - Mountjoy Township, from the face of Sandy Falls power dam downstream to the boundary of Mountjoy Township
  • Mesomikenda Lake - waters known as the West Arm - Somme and Neville Townships including waters of the Somme River in Neville Township
  • Michiwakenda Lake - from the outflow of Okawakenda Lake downstream to Michiwakenda Lake and including the waters of the northwest bay
  • Minisinakwa Lake - from the northern point of the first island at the mouth of the Makami River (47°40′N, 81°45′W) continuing north for 13 kilometres to 100 metres north of the top of the falls on the Makami River (47°46′N, 81°46′W)
  • Minisinakwa Lake - from Benneweis Bay (47°34′N, 81°43′W) and continuing west for 3 kilometres up Benneweis Creek to the first small pond excluding the unnamed Lake (47°34′N, 81°44′W)
  • Minisinakwa River - Noble, Togo and Mattagami Townships
  • New Mollie River - Champagne Township, Territorial District of Sudbury
  • Mons Creek (Hay Creek) - Usnac Township
  • Nabakwasi River - all waters east of the power transmission line to the mouth of the Opikinimika River and upstream to the outflow of Ola Lake
  • Nabakwasi River - from the outflow of Nabakwasi Lake downstream to the confluence with the Minisinakwa River
  • Nebskwashi River - Chapleau Township, from Highway 129 downstream to a narrowing of the river at 47°49′34″N, 83°23′36″W
  • Opasatika River, Crow Creek, Wolfe Creek, Montcalm Creek, and South Crow Creek - McCrea Township
  • Opishing Lake - Hillary Township, waters of Kamiskotia River and Opishing Lake between Highway 101 and first narrows on Opishing Lake at latitude 48°14′06″N
  • Porcupine River - from 200 metres upstream of the old N.R. Crossing on the South Porcupine River downstream to Porcupine Lake and all waters within 200 metres of the river mouth
  • Twenty-Six Mile Creek - Robb and Turnbull Townships, between Kamiskotia Lake and Christmas Lake
  • Waterhen Creek - Ossian Township, from Waterhen Lake to the mouth of the creek as it flows into Labyrinth Lake
No fishing - April 1 to June 30 (1)
  • Departure Lake and Poplar Rapids River - Haggart Township, lying south of a line from a point on the west shore of Departure Lake at 49°13′22″N, 81°48′22″W and the peninsula on the east shore at 49°13′44″N, 81°48′11″W and the inflow of the Poplar Rapids River upstream to the first rapids, including 500 metres of Sydere Creek measured upstream from the mouth where it enters the Poplar Rapids River
No fishing - April 15 to June 30 (2)
  • Little Abitibi River - refer to waterbody exceptions
  • Thorning River - from the mouth of the river at Harris Lake upstream to the junction of the first creek
No fishing - April 15 to July 15 (1)
  • Groundhog River - refer to waterbody exceptions
No fishing - from day after Labour Day to December 31 (5)
  • Wakusimi River - Griffin, Seaton and Lisgar Townships
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Frequently asked

When does trout season open in Zone 8?

Zone-wide, brook trout season is January 1 to September 15 (Jan 1 – Sep 15 in 2026). Some rivers have species exceptions or sanctuaries listed on this page that change this.

Can I fish in Zone 8 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 8?

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 →

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