Muddy York Credit River fishing: spots, water level and conditions
The Credit River holds Steelhead, Chinook salmon, Brown trout (lake-run), Atlantic salmon (restoration), Brook trout, Brown trout and Rainbow trout from Mississauga, Port Credit, Streetsville and Belfountain. This page has today's water level and flow, the season on each section, where you can fish, and the flies that work.
Credit River water level and flow today
Lower: mouth to Streetsville
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Upper: Forks of the Credit / Belfountain
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Middle: Norval to Glen Williams
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Credit River fishing spots
The Credit River changes character along its length, and so do the rules. Here are the public places on each section we cover:
Lower: mouth to Streetsville
Chinook and steelhead in Mississauga. Open all year below Highway 403; Highway 403 to Britannia Rd closes August 15.
- Public access: Erindale Park and Port Credit harbour
- Fish: Steelhead, Chinook salmon, Brown trout (lake-run) and Atlantic salmon (restoration)
Lower: mouth to Streetsville: seasons, tactics and spots →
Upper: Forks of the Credit / Belfountain
Wild brook and brown trout in the upper Credit. Artificial lures and barbless hooks above Old Baseline Road.
- Public access: Forks of the Credit Provincial Park and Belfountain Conservation Area
- Fish: Brook trout and Brown trout
Upper: Forks of the Credit / Belfountain: seasons, tactics and spots →
Middle: Norval to Glen Williams
Brown and rainbow trout on the middle Credit. Season runs the fourth Saturday in April to September 30.
- Public access: Norval and Glen Williams
- Fish: Brown trout, Rainbow trout and Steelhead
Middle: Norval to Glen Williams: seasons, tactics and spots →
Park in public lots, follow posted signs and never cross private land without permission. Muddy York Fishing members get parking and walk-in routes for each section, and we never publish anyone's private spots.
Here for the salmon? See Credit River salmon run in Mississauga: Erindale and Port Credit, with this week's run status.
Know which Credit River section to fish tomorrow
Muddy York Fishing scores every section each morning from water temperature, flow and weather, tells you if it's open, and picks the fly.
Try it free for 7 daysCredit River water temperature
Water temperature decides where trout and salmon hold and how hard they feed. Ontario's river gauges report level and flow, but very few report temperature, so Muddy York Fishing estimates the Credit River's water temperature every morning from live air temperature, recent weather and the river's flow. Members can add a thermometer reading when they log a trip, which keeps the estimate honest.
| Water temp | What the fish do |
|---|---|
| Below 4°C | Slow. Fish deep, slow pools at midday with small flies. |
| 4 to 10°C | Cool. Steelhead and browns feed, mostly near the bottom. |
| 10 to 18°C | Prime. Trout feed actively; hatches and dries come into play. |
| 18 to 20°C | Warm. Fish early, play fish fast, keep them in the water. |
| Above 20°C | Too warm. Trout are stressed; leave them be or find colder water. |
Fly fishing the Credit River
- Steelhead: egg patterns (Nuke Eggs, Sucker Spawn), stonefly and Pheasant Tail nymphs, and Woolly Buggers or Intruder style streamers.
- Chinook salmon: large, bright streamers and egg patterns swung slowly through holding pools.
- Brown trout (lake-run): egg patterns and sculpin or minnow streamers.
- Atlantic salmon (restoration): small wet flies and nymphs on light tippet (release every Atlantic salmon).
- Brook trout: small Adams and Elk Hair Caddis dries, beadhead nymphs and tiny streamers.
- Brown trout: Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear nymphs, Elk Hair Caddis and mayfly dries, and sculpin or Woolly Bugger streamers at dawn and dusk.
- Rainbow trout: Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear nymphs, Elk Hair Caddis and Adams dries.
On spinning gear: steelhead, roe bags or soft beads under a float, plus small spinners and spoons in stained water; chinook salmon, spoons, plugs and rattle baits, which trigger strikes from territorial fish; brown trout (lake-run), small spinners and minnow plugs, or baits under a float. Hook and bait rules vary by stretch.
Best months on the Credit River
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelhead | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ○ | ◐ | ● | ◐ | |||
| Chinook salmon | ◐ | ● | ◐ | |||||||||
| Brown trout (lake-run) | ○ | ○ | ○ | ● | ● | ○ | ||||||
| Atlantic salmon (restoration) | ○ | ○ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ○ | ||||||
| Brook trout | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ||||||
| Brown trout | ○ | ○ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ○ |
| Rainbow trout | ○ | ○ | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ◐ | ○ |
● peak · ◐ good · ○ fair. When the fish are active, not the legal season.
Credit River seasons by section
Ontario sets the season stretch by stretch, so the Credit River can be open in one place and closed a few kilometres away. From the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary:
- Lower: mouth to Streetsville: Rainbow trout: open all year; Pacific salmon: open all year; Brown trout: open all year (and 1 more stretch with their own rules).
- Upper: Forks of the Credit / Belfountain: Brook trout: fourth Saturday in April to September 30; Brown trout: fourth Saturday in April to September 30.
- Middle: Norval to Glen Williams: Brown trout: fourth Saturday in April to September 30; Rainbow trout: fourth Saturday in April to September 30.
Each section page lists every stretch, its limits and any sanctuaries, with links to the official wording.
Before you fish the Credit River
- Carry your Outdoors Card and fishing licence.
- Check which section you'll fish and its season above. Rules often change at a bridge, dam or road.
- Look at the level and flow at the top of this page. After heavy rain the Credit River can rise fast and be dangerous to wade.
- Above about 20°C water, trout and salmon struggle. Fish early, or rest them.
- Pack out everything you bring, including line and bait containers.
The Credit Valley Conservation manages the Credit River watershed and posts flood and safety messages at cvc.ca.
Frequently asked
Where are the best fishing spots on the Credit River?
Lower: mouth to Streetsville: Erindale Park and Port Credit harbour. Upper: Forks of the Credit / Belfountain: Forks of the Credit Provincial Park and Belfountain Conservation Area. Middle: Norval to Glen Williams: Norval and Glen Williams. Fish only where access is public, and check the stretch rules first.
What is the Credit River water level today?
The live readings on this page come from Water Survey of Canada gauges on the Credit River itself, one for each section. A rising level means fresh water and moving fish; the drop and clear a day or two later is usually the best fishing.
What is the water temperature of the Credit River?
It changes by the day and by stretch. Muddy York Fishing estimates it every morning from live air temperature, weather and flow. Trout feed best between about 10 and 18°C and struggle above 20°C.
Can you fly fish the Credit River?
Yes. The Credit River is a well-known fly fishing river for steelhead, chinook salmon and brown trout (lake-run). Gear and bait rules differ by stretch, so check the section pages.
Is the Credit River open for fishing?
Each section has its own official season. The status chips on this page are checked against the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary twice a day.
Fish the Credit River on the right day
Live conditions, the official season for your stretch and today's fly, for 30+ Southern Ontario rivers.
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