Where to Fish
Already planning your warmer-weather fishing trip? And who can blame you? BruceGreySimcoe has some of Ontario’s ultimate fishing holes, including well-known Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe and Lake Huron. Below is just a sample of the outstanding fishing you can expect here. No matter what bait or equipment you use or whether you cast your line from onshore or in deep, open waters, you are sure to have a memorable fishing experience. Book a local
fishing charter to help get you safely out on the big water and, who knows? You might just hook the big one!
Looking for ice fishing information? Visit our
ice fishing page for the hottest spots to drop a line this winter.
Information on fishing seasons in Georgian Bay and Lake Huron can be found in
Zones 13 and 14, while Lake Simcoe is in
Zone 16.
(Note: if you are between the ages of 18 and 64 years old, make sure you have an up-to-date Ontario fishing licence – mandatory for all residents and visitors).
Georgian Bay
When the hard water season is over, Georgian Bay is a hotspot for anglers and justifiably so. Part of Lake Huron, it covers 15,000 square kilometres and is close to the same size as Lake Ontario, with similar fish species. Lucky anglers can hook both largemouth and smallmouth bass, salmon, trout, walleye, sturgeon, catfish, pike and others. Thousands of islands, inlets, points, saddles, reefs, shorelines and smaller bays make up this extensive habitat. In some places, there’s up to 30 feet visibility in the crystal-clear waters. In Tobermory, try your luck for lake trout, whitefish and herring under the calm surfaces of both Little and Big Tub Harbours.
Lake Simcoe
Welcome to Ontario’s most popular inland lake for fishing year round - Lake Simcoe! Many may know it only as an
ice fishing destination but there’s great fishing to be had here year-round. The variety of fish found in Lake Simcoe is pretty sweet with pike, bass, and perch just a few of the lake’s species. Try your luck at some of the
fall derbies for a chance to win big prizes. Several
marinas on Lake Simcoe and in adjoining rivers have launching services and access points, as well as tips on where to fish and info on weather and water conditions. During the winter months, check out our list of
ice fishing operators.
Lake Huron
During the winter, this lake rarely freezes over so angling’s at is best in spring, summer and fall. Salmon and trout love the cold, clear, deep water of Lake Huron, third largest of the Great Lakes. This lake is home to some of the most spectacular trophy fishing in Ontario, where you can angle for Chinook salmon or drop a line for rainbow, brown and lake trout. There are plenty of habitats – underwater reefs, sunken islands and drop offs - for small and largemouth bass. Lake Huron can be extremely temperamental any time of year, so be sure to check the
marine forecast before heading out on the lake.
Saugeen River
Bait, lure and fly-fishing opportunities are plentiful in this long, winding river. Upstream from Lake Huron, you’ll find one of Ontario’s best rainbow trout and Chinook salmon runs. In early spring, rainbow trout (steelhead) make their annual migration up this river and the salmon faithfully climb the fish ladder at Denny’s Dam in early fall.
With naturally sheltered feeder systems and spring-fed lakes, the
Saugeen River is an angler’s mecca for brown and brook trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike and muskie. Download this handy
Fishing Map, a useful tool in knowing where to fish for your species of choice.
Fishing Events of Note
Other Fishing Spots in BruceGreySimcoe
Depending on the season and the weather, there are more places to fish from harbour walls, banks of rivers or streams, or from scenic rocky shorelines. Always check
weather conditions before heading out!