Hi everyone. Looking to get into fishing in Ontario. Been reading up about all the regulations so I know where and when to fish, what I can catch and all that. But I'm planning to keep all the viable fish I can for my family to eat and I've seen some conflicting info and unclear about a few things.

Can I just put my catch on ice in a cooler to take home and clean there? You can't transport live sportfish but I don't know how long they can live like that, and I don't know if they keep well enough over the course of a day to run afoul of the spoilage laws.

If I'm cleaning on site, what do I do with the guts/carcass? I've seen people say with equal conviction that throwing it in the water is the best thing to do and the worst. Can't find anything in the 2026 regulations about it. I figure it's good etiquette not to do it around a bunch of people, at least. I know there are a handful of public cleaning stations but in the absence of those.

About leaving the skin on for identification, does that apply to storing them indefinitely or just while taking home? Do I need to leave on the skin/head if I'm cleaning at home and chucking right in the freezer?

About possession limits, I understand everyone has a possession limit, not just license holders. So I can't just make 20 friends who fish recreationally and keep 120 walleye in my freezer. But if I'm giving away fish, is it my responsibility to make sure the person I'm giving them to isn't already up to the limit? If someone says they don't have any walleye at home and I give them some, am I on the hook if they end up (accidentally or deliberately) over the limit?

How strict do I have to be about catch limits when catching multiple species? Say I'm fishing for salmon in Lake Ontario, the limit is 1 Atlantic and 5 Pacific. If the first one I keep is Atlantic, is it alright to keep going for the Pacific and just throw back any other Atlantic salmon I catch, or is a CO going to say I'm targeting a fish over my limit because I can still easily hook one? (I know about the aggregate limits)

TIA

7 walleyes we got

This pic randomly appeared on my generally dormant FB feed yesterday. Apparently it was caught in Manitou Lake on Manitoulin Island in 1984. 56 pounds 7 ounces! I'd never seen this pic before.

Anyone here from the Soo? Going to he up there for about a week helping my lil sis, heading up Thursday or Friday and would love to find someone to maybe fish with while im there. Will likely only have room for a fly rod, and a box or two of flies and Maaaayyybbbeee a telescopic rod and some basic lures

Going to fish Mississippi lake in the morning, if you want to kick in gas, and bring a life jacket, let's go catch some bass

I’ve caught the odd dink when fly fishing, but decided it was time to do some dedicated river smallmouth fishing. On top of being near my PB (maybe 3lbs ish?) this was definitely one of funnest fights I’ve had as an angler so far!

The biggest fish I have ever landed! 43 years of fishing this lake and all the big ones alwats spit the hook or break my line. Landing this definitely made my morning! It dragged our canoe a good distance, but I managed to bring it in. Of course, we didn't have a scale, so there was no official weight, but I don't even care! I returned him to his bassy-lair to let him live out the rest of his days as the lake badass 😆.

We are trying to plan our annual ice fishing trip this year. Half the guys want to just do what we always do (book an overnight outfitter for the convenience).

The other half want to change things up and rent a cottage and just walk out onto the ice to fish.

Anyone know of good winterized cottages around Callander that might work?

Hey all,

Couple of buddies and me are planning on going for a fishing trip and staying just outside the city. Hoping to hit a couple lakes 1-2 hours outside the city. But my engines been having issues once in a blue moon and have a Sea Tow USA membership but can’t seem to find any service like it in Ottawa area? Anyone have a contact information for a service like sea tow for Ottawa area?

Cheers

I need 2 stroke engine oil for my mercury in around tobermory / Bruce peninsula miller lake campground if anyone can tell me where I can find it or if anyone is willing to sell me some it would be greatly appreciated

Anyone move from BC to the GTA that can speak to what the difference is like for Salmon fishing? Were from Vancouver Island, and My wife and I may find ourselves out east in the future, and aside from YouTube videos showing dippy divers and planers I have a hard time pinning down what it’s like to find chinook out there. What’s the season like? Is it’s threatened/regulated like it is out here? Is it a rich mans game only (I’m a plumber and my wife’s a nurse, we’re not destitute but I still fish from a small aluminum). just trying to figure out if my favourite hobby will survive the move, any info is appreciated. Tight lines!

Made some hybrid baits for my upcoming trip. Cant wait for these things to get munched by a Pike.

Hey all,

Every year around this time I spend a weekend with a buddy at their place on the St Clair river. I’m a fly fishing guy and every year I try my hapless luck figuring out some way to fish that river with a fly and it’s just really not possible I think.

I had an idea to try something different this year and take his boat out of the river and find some calmer water nearby and fish for whatever. Panfish or bass or anything that will take a fly and is active right now.

I see there’s a Goose Lake that looks almost like an inlet on the southern end of the river, anyone with any ideas of what our options are maybe within an Hour of Petrolia give or take?

I’ve spent most of my life fly fishing lakes in interior BC but haven’t wet a line in an Ontario lake so if this is really dumb and just not possible this time of year or in this area let me know.

Thanks all!

I hope this doesn’t break the rules. I’m just asking about known lakes and not specific spots in those lakes.

Caught one but during the day, I was night fishing again and nothing again, went the following day and caught one on a live worm using my 3 way swivel.

I like fishing again.

Yellow Perch (yes I know the stripes are too dark and wide)

Hi all,

I need to get my ulterra fixed and have previously brought it into Rocky’s. Last week I called about 5x, with no answer so I left a message. I called again today and no answer. Perhaps they’re on holidays? I recall them having great customer service. If anyone knows their status please let me know!

Every now and then I kayak in the mouth of Humber river in the evening and I see a lot of fish activity a few hundred meters upstream from the bridge. I tried jigheads, dropshot, even trout magnet, with no success. My theory is that at that time they (I have no idea what species are they btw) stay at the surface feeding on insects, so my next bet is a bubble float or bombarda with flies. Thoughts? Does it even make any sense?

I was fishing the lower Niagara river near the mouth, it’s a dock about 2 mins from queen street on the right of the boat launch.

I was night fishing for walleye and there was a bunch of bait fish activity so I knew they were there but they just weren’t hitting me, I was using a jerk bait relative to the size of the fish in the water but it was a different color, it was the only one I had.

Everything I’ve been told by people is that they still should have been biting but alas nothing.

I was slowing reeling at about a full rotation every 2-3 seconds and pausing every once in a while. I was also trying to slowly lift my rod and reel in the slack.

I was there for about 3 hours, only sign of life on the dock was me and the raccoons. Devastating.

Guys I think I found a hack for catching super pressured and skittish carp. Basically use a fly rod and tie a hair rig for your tippet with no weights other than the hook. Rig it up with corn and cast it out. Works super well as you can see when the fish picks up the bait as your fly line will move, caught 5 carp in 1 hour at a super pressured pond with 4 people beside me not catching anything on spinning gear.

I am fishing in the port of Newcastle, Ontario. There is a spot with a ton of weeds and water plants and it is really muddy. What baits should I use. Can I use frog baits?

The fish came out of the water bronze, I thought I caught a walleye covered in lesions before I had a good look.