Fishing · Ontario
Ontario FMZ 4 — Sport Fishing Regulations
Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 4 (FMZ 4) sport-fishing rules for licence year 2026: seasons, S-n and C-n limits, exceptions and sanctuaries — reproduced from the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary HTML, with citations. The Summary is not the law.
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Official source (Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary): https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-4
Data retrieved: 2026-09-04 · HTML last updated 2026-09-02 · Licence year 2026 (calendar). 14 of 14 zone-wide species included. All 11 waterbody exceptions listed on the Ontario HTML for this FMZ are included. This is not complete Ontario.
Verify on Fish ON-Line (map only) →
Reproduction of the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. The Summary is not the law. Always verify with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Fish ON-Line before you fish. Crown copyright.
General information
- The part of the Berens River that is between Zone 2 and Zone 4, is wholly within Zone 4.
- Refer to general fishing regulations for more information on how to use this summary.
- Non-Canadian residents camping on Crown land must follow conservation fishing licence limits.
- Rainbow smelt may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait.
- The following waterbodies, or portions of them, have different regulations that are listed in the waterbody exceptions :
- Big Vermilion Lake
- Cedar Lake
- Cloudlet Lake
- Hooch Lake
- Lac Seul
- Maskinonge Lake
- Minnitaki, Abram, Pelican, and Botsford Lakes (including Duck Lake, Hidden Lake, English River and Rice River)
- Red Lake and Gullrock System (including Chukuni River, Keg Lake, Ranger Lake and Two Island Lake)
- Sydney Lake Area
- The following species are not present in this Zone and are closed to fishing all year:
- Atlantic salmon
- brown trout
- channel catfish
- Pacific salmon
- FMZ 4 is part of the Northwest 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 rules
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limits for trout and salmon (including splake) | S-5 and C-2; total daily catch and possession limit for all trout and salmon species combined |
January 1 to Labour Day
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | S-5 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 30 centimetres |
open all year
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | S-15 and C-10 | |||
| Lake whitefish | S-12 and C-6 | |||
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined | S-2 and C-1; must be less than 35 centimetres from January 1 to June 30 and December 1 to December 31, S-4 and C-2; no size limit from July 1 to November 30 | must be less than 35 centimetres from January 1 to June 30 and December 1 to December 31 | ||
| Northern pike | S-4 and C-2; none between 70-90 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 90 centimetres | |||
| Rainbow trout | S-5 and C-2 | |||
| Splake | S-5 and C-2 | |||
| Sunfish | S-50 and C-25 | |||
| Yellow perch | S-50 and C-25 |
closed all year
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake sturgeon |
January 1 to September 30
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | S-2; not more than 1 greater than 56 centimetres, and C-1; no size limit |
third Saturday in June to December 15
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | S-1; must be greater than 102 centimetres, and C-0 | must be greater than 102 centimetres |
January 1 to April 14 and third Saturday in May to December 31
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger combined | S-4 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 46 centimetres |
Species exceptions
Brook trout
open all year · S-5 and C-2; no size limit
- Berglund Lake (49°35′50″ N , 91°38′27″ W )
- Bill Lake (50°04′02″ N , 93°58′07″ W )
- Butler Lake (49°29′10″ N , 91°50′13″ W )
- Dog Lake (50°00′51″ N , 94°00′49″ W )
- Highway Lake (50°04′16″ N , 92°01′30″ W )
- Krisko Lake (49°42′33″ N , 91°12′60″ W )
- Little Butler Lake (49°28′41″ N , 91°50′29″ W )
- Little Snowstorm Lake (49°37′26″ N , 91°43′06″ W )
- McLaurin Lake (49°43′13″ N , 91°12′05″ W )
- Nyilas Lake (50°03′57″ N , 92°04′20″ W )
- O’Dell Lake (49°24′01″ N , 91°35′10″ W )
- Reguly Lake (49°38′01″ N , 91°43′40″ W )
- Shrimp Lake (49°35′26″ N , 91°38′55″ W )
- Snowstorm Lake (49°37′17″ N , 91°43′27″ W )
- Snyder Lake (50°03′52″ N , 92°04′40″ W )
- Wreck Lake (50°02′50″ N , 94°08′13″ W )
Lake trout
closed all year
- Cedarbough Lake (49°58′49″ N , 92°11′37″ W ) and all connecting streams to Little Vermilion Lake (50°00'06″ N , 92°09′18″ W )
- Little Vermilion Lake (50°00′06″ N , 92°09′18″ W ) and all connecting streams to Cedarbough Lake (49°58′49″ N , 92°11′37″ W )
Muskellunge
· S-1; must be greater than 91 centimetres, and C-0 Limits : S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres, and C-0
- Confusion Lake (50°40′00″ N , 94°09′00″ W )
- Flat Lake (50°57′43″ N , 93°57′12″ W ) - Baird Township
- Russett Lake (50°58′31″ N , 93°55′45″ W ) - Baird Township
- Unnamed Lake (Paul-Orr Lake) (50°59′24″ N , 93°56′02″ W )
- Unnamed Lake (Spires Lake) (50°58′42″ N , 93°58′45″ W )
- Cliff Lake (50°10′08″ N , 93°17′60″ W ) - at Highway 105
- Longlegged Lake (50°45′00″ N , 94°05′00″ W )
- Perrault Lake (50°17′ N , 93°08′ W )
Walleye
January 1 to March 31 and June 15 to December 31
- Graystone Lake (49°59′11″ N , 91°02′38″ W ) - from Highway 599 to a line drawn across Graystone Lake at 91°03′13″ W
- Post Creek - from the base of the waterfall in Post Bay to latitude 49°55′36″ N on Sturgeon Lake
- Sturgeon Lake (49°55′38″ N , 90°53′49″ W ) - described as Trappers Point Bay from 50°11′55″ N to the intersection of Trout Creek and Second Creek with Highway 599
Waterbody exceptions
Licence year 2026 (calendar). 14 of 14 zone-wide species included. All 11 waterbody exceptions listed on the Ontario HTML for this FMZ are included. This is not complete Ontario.
Big Vermilion Lake — (50°02'00" N , 92°13'00" W )
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only artificial lures may be used | |||
| Only 1 line may be used when angling through the ice | |||
| Lake trout | none between 45-60 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 60 centimetres |
Cedar Lake — (50°10′08″ N , 93°07′11″ W )
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres and C-0 | must be greater than 137 centimetres | S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres and C-0 |
Cedar Lake — Louise Rapids and Nelson Lake
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
no fishing from April 1 to June 14 | no fishing from April 1 to June 14 |
Cloudlet Lake (49°58'50" N. , 92°21'13" W. ), Hooch Lake (49°57'57" N. , 92°19'20" W. ), Muskie (Maskinonge) Lake (49°56'58" N. , 92°17'41" W. ) and all connecting waters - Echo, Lomond, Pickerel and Vermilion Townships
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only artificial lures and 1 barbless hook may be used | |||
no fishing from January 1 to Friday before the third Saturday in June and December 1 to December 31 | no fishing from January 1 to Friday before the third Saturday in June and December 1 to December 31 | ||
| Muskellunge | S-0 and C-0 | S-0 and C-0 | |
| Northern pike | S-0 and C-0 | S-0 and C-0 | |
| Smallmouth bass | S-0 and C-0 | S-0 and C-0 |
Lac Seul — and all connecting waters including, but not limited to Broad (50°26'32" N , 92°37'50" W ), Sunlight (50°29'14" N , 92°34'17" W ), Root River, Vaughan (Whitefish Lake) and Lost Lakes, and Wenasaga River, from the first rapids upstream from Lac Seul approximately three kilometres downstream to the last group of islands.
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| No person may possess any live fish taken by angling other than baitfish | |||
| Muskellunge | S-0 and C-0 | S-0 and C-0 | |
| Walleye and sauger combined | S-4 and C-2; none between 46-53 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 53 centimetres | S-4 and C-2; none between 46-53 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 53 centimetres |
Minnitaki — (49°58'19" N , 91°57'29" W ), Abram (50°03'33" N ,91°55'44" W ), Pelican (50°06'41" N , 91°57'40" W ), and Botsford Lakes (50°08'19" N , 91°39'32" W ) - including Duck Lake, Hidden Lake (50°07'26" N , 91°44'33" W ), English River, and Rice River
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| No person may possess any live fish taken by angling other than baitfish | |||
| Northern pike open from January 1 to April 14 and the third Saturday in May to December 31 | open from January 1 to April 14 and the third Saturday in May to December 31 | ||
| Walleye and sauger combined | S-4 and C-2; none between 46-53 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 53 centimetres | S-4 and C-2; none between 46-53 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 53 centimetres |
Minnitaki Lake - — Red Pine Bay
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species | S-0 and C-0; from third Saturday in May to June 14 | S-0 and C-0; from third Saturday in May to June 14 |
Minnitaki Lake — (49°58'19" N , 91°57'29" W )
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
no fishing from April 1 to June 14 in the following areas: | no fishing from April 1 to June 14 in the following areas: | ||
| Grassy Bay and English River | between English Falls downstream to include all of Grassy Bay of Minnitaki Lake | ||
| Twin Bay and the Rice River | including Twill Lake (49°56'38" N , 91°59'02" W ), Flower Lake (49°56'47" N , 91°57'19" W ), Twinflower Lake (49°56'27" N , 91°55'44" W .), Purity Lake, Parnes Lake (49°56'27" N , 91°54'23" W ) and connecting streams, Twinflower Creek, and Twin Bay of Minnitaki Lake (49°57'48" N , 91°52'56" W ) (collectively known as the Rice River) and waters extending approximately 300 m north, to the parallel of latitude 49°58’34” N , drawn across Minnitaki Lake |
Red Lake and Gullrock System — those waters upstream of Snowshoe Dam (50°54′22″ N , 93°31′05″ W ) on the Chukuni River, including Red Lake (51°03′21″ N , 93°57′12″ W ), Gullrock Lake (50°58′28″ N , 93°37′00″ W ), Keg Lake (50°59′32″ N , 93°41′01″ W ), Ranger Lake (51°03′54″ N , 93°34′33″ W ), Two Island Lake (50º55′30″ N , 93º34′53″ W ) and all portions of the Chukuni River in between these lakes and any waters flowing into the Red Lake/Gullrock System
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only artificial lures and 1 single-pointed barbless hook may be used while angling for lake trout | |||
| Lake trout | S-0 and C-0 | S-0 and C-0 |
Red Lake — (51°03'21" N , 93°57'12" W ) - Fairlie Township
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
no fishing from April 1 to June 14 in the following areas: | no fishing from April 1 to June 14 in the following areas: | ||
| Red Lake and Chukuni River | McDonough and Bateman Townships, from Little Vermilion Lake south to Red Lake, including part of Hoyles Bay | ||
| Red Lake and Golden Creek | Bateman Township, from the Pine Ridge Road, south to Red Lake, including part of East Bay | ||
| Red Lake and Parker Creek | Fairlie Township, from Parker Lake to Red Lake, including an unnamed bay | ||
| Red Lake and Ranger Lake | Ranger Creek and part of North Bay of Gullrock Lake |
Sydney Lake Area — North Kenora Pilot Project area - Waters within boundaries of Manitoba/Ontario border to south shore of the English River System including Goshawk (50°13'07" N , 94°48'48" W ) and Tourist (50°16'05" N , 94°41'58" W ) lakes to Separation Rapids Bridge and South Pakwash Road to Leano Lake (50°47'10" N , 94°26'39" W ), south boundary of Woodland Caribou Provincial Park to Manitoba/Ontario border
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulations for all non-Canadian anglers: | |||
| lake trout | S-1 and C-1 | S-1 and C-1 | |
| lake whitefish | S-6 and C-6 | S-6 and C-6 | |
| largemouth and smallmouth bass combined | S-1 and C-1; must be less than 35 centimetres from January 1 to June 30 and December 1 to December 31 | must be less than 35 centimetres from January 1 to June 30 and December 1 to December 31 | S-1 and C-1; must be less than 35 centimetres from January 1 to June 30 and December 1 to December 31 |
| Muskellunge | S-0 and C-0 | S-0 and C-0 | |
| Northern pike | S-2 and C-2; none between 70-90 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 90 centimetres | S-2 and C-2; none between 70-90 centimetres, not more than 1 greater than 90 centimetres | |
| walleye and sauger combined | S-2 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 46 centimetres | S-2 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 46 centimetres | |
| yellow perch | S-25 and C-25 | S-25 and C-25 |
Bait restrictions
- Rainbow smelt may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait.
- FMZ 4 is part of the Northwest 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.
Fish sanctuaries
No fishing - January 1 to Friday before the third Saturday in June and December 1 to December 31
- Cloudlet Lake, Hooch Lake and Maskinonge Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
No fishing - from April 1 to June 14
- Agimak River and Little Indian Lake - Gour Township, downstream from Sandbar Lake to the mouth of the Agimak River where it enters Indian Lake
- Barnard Creek (50°06′ N , 90°51′ W ) - between Fourbay Lake and Eady Lake
- Bruce Lake - from Bruce Creek at Highway 105 north to, and including, the south half of Bruce Lake
- Camp Creek and part of Indian Lake - Gour Township
- Cedar Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
- English River - from an unnamed island at Talking Falls to latitude 49°33′45″ N drawn across Franks Lake
- Jackfish Creek - from the outflow of Jackfish Lake to the inflow of Perrault Lake
- Megikons River and Sowden Lake - that part downstream from confluence of Megikons River and Reba River to longitude 91°10′ W drawn through Sowden Lake
- Minnitaki Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
- Mud Lake (50°25′25″ N , 93°14′07″ W ) - Kenora District, all waters in the unsurveyed portion of the territorial District of Kenora starting from where its mouth enters Wabaskang Lake
- Nelson Lake - Kenora District, from a line between the western shoreline at approximately 50°13′09″ N , 93°09′44″ W and the eastern shoreline at 50°13′05″ N , 93°09′26″ W upstream including the north part of Nelson Lake and the creek and Richmond Lake
- Ord River - Kenora District, from 50°15′22″ N , 93°01′40″ W upstream to the top of first set of rapids at 50°12′55″ N , 93°01′08″ W
- Pakwash Lake - Fisherman’s Bay
- Perrault Falls and Wabaskang Lake - Town of Perrault Falls, between Highway 105 bridge and a point 500 metres northeast of the bridge
- Puzzle Bay of Ord Lake - south of the narrows at latitude 50°08′18″ N
- Red Lake - refer to waterbody exceptions
- Richmond Lake - Kenora District
- Savant Lake (North Arm) (50°28′ N , 90°25′ W ) - Savant Township
- Troutlake River - from the top of Whitefish Falls to a point 2 kilometres downstream where the river intersects Latitude 50°52′ N
- Vermilion River - and tributaries between Elbow Lake and Expanse Lake
- Wenasaga River - from the first rapids upstream from Lac Seul approximately 3 kilometres downstream to the last group of islands
No fishing - from January 1 to June 14 and September 1 to December 31
- Root River - between latitudes 50°42′30″ N , and 50°52′30″ N
No fishing - from January 1 to June 14 and December 1 to December 31
- Root River (Adamhay River) - between latitudes 50°39′00″ N and 50°42′30″ N
- Vaughan Lake (Whitefish Lake) (50°13′ N , 92°22′ W )