Fishing for northern pike in Ontario is an exciting experience.
Fishing for northern pike in Ontario’s countryside landscape jeweled with bright blue lake waters and brown ribbons of river is a memorable experience. The largest pikes are found in Northwestern Ontario. No matter where you are in this Canadian province, you are near fly fishing spots. Michigan’s 10,000 lakes are matched 10 times over in Ontario, with an abundance of northern pike, in addition to trout, musky and salmon. Don’t miss the adventure of chasing the water wolf in Ontario’s lakes and rivers.
Lakes
Two large, shallow Northwestern Ontario lakes known for large pike and musky are Wabigoon and Eagle Lakes. Wabigoon Lake is a large clay-bottomed lake with murky fresh water and many bays, islands and weedy shallows that are perfect environments for pike. Eagle Lake is a clear, sandy-bottomed lake with sandy beaches and many fishing resorts for vacationers. Huge hatches of mayflies are fodder for the whitefish, herring, walleye, bass and perch that are prey for pike and are responsible for the rich fish populations and large musky and pike specimens in these lakes. Smaller lakes in Quetico Park’s 4,800 square kilometers of untamed wilderness are ideal for smaller pike in the 5 to 15 lb. range.
Rivers
Slow-moving rivers have the most pike, and the weedy shorelines and oxygenated water flows of rivers are ideal environments for pike. Rivers in Northwestern Ontario with pike populations include the English River, Rainy River, Marten River, French River, Ogoki River and White River. Many have fishing lodges with guides who will take you to the hot spots for the kinds of fish you want.
Fishing Licenses
A license to fish in Ontario is a three-year Outdoors Card plus an annual fishing license tag. The tag is usually attached to the card or accompanies the card, with both available from the Outdoors Card Center reached by an 800-phone number or website. Cards and licenses are required of residents and nonresidents alike. Temporary permits are available for immediate use while the applications are being processed, as well as eight-day and one-day licenses.
Fishing Regulations
Ontario is divided into 20 zones for recreational fishing. Zones have general regulations as well as specific prohibitions and definitions for ice fishing, bait, transporting fish, fishing methods and laws. The zones have their own open seasons for fishing, catch and possession limits and size limits (which are different for sports fishing and conservation fishing licenses). Those wishing to fish in Canadian waters must review the current Fishing Regulations Summary for the zone in which they’ll be fishing.
Conservation
Pike populations are very vulnerable to and easily affected by fishing pressure. Because of this, fishery and wildlife conservation managers protect local pike populations with open and closed seasons, limits and catch and release requirements. For this reason, bigger fish will be found in more remote areas, which tend to be further north. Fishing pressures reduce the numbers of larger pike, more than 30 lbs., leaving smaller fish between 5 and 12 lbs. Larger pikes tend to be more aggressive and curious, giving more sport than juvenile fish but requiring stronger fishing gear. Returning pikes, under catch and release, protects and supports the pike populations.
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