FISHING GUIDE · KENORA, ONTARIO

Lake of the Woods (Ontario side) Fishing Guide

Lake of the Woods is a huge island-filled lake known for walleye, trophy muskie and smallmouth bass. Fish can be caught all year, from open-water trips in summer to ice fishing in winter, but Ontario sets closed seasons for walleye, muskie and bass. The lake crosses the Canada-U.S. border, so anglers need the right licence and must follow border reporting rules.

📍 Lake of the Woods, northwestern Ontario, Canada, on the Manitoba and Minnesota borders. Kenora is the largest town on the lake. The Ontario side is in Fisheries Management Zone 5.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Northern Ontario map →

Quick facts

The lake has 14,522 islands and about 65,000 miles of shoreline counting the islands.
It covers about 1,727 square miles and is shared by Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota.
The deepest spot is about 310 feet, in Whitefish Bay.
A 57.5-pound muskie was caught within sight of the downtown Kenora boat launch.
On most of the Ontario side, walleye from 43 to 70 cm must be released.

What you can catch

Walleye
The main target; good all season. Slot limit on the Ontario side.
Muskellunge (muskie)
Trophy fish; Whitefish and Sabaskong bays are known areas. Only fish over 137 cm may be kept.
Smallmouth bass
Many fish over 4 pounds; catch and release only until June 30.
Northern pike
Plentiful; fall is a good time for big pike.
Crappie
Plate-sized crappie in the lake.
Yellow perch
Common; good table fish.
Lake whitefish
Often caught jigging through the ice in winter.
Lake sturgeon
Present in the lake, but closed to fishing all year in Zone 5.

Month by month

January	Ice fishing; walleye season open (Jan 1 to Apr 14). Whitefish jigging.
February	Ice fishing for walleye, whitefish and perch.
March	Late ice; walleye still open.
April	Walleye closes April 15. Sabaskong Bay fish sanctuary closed from April 1.
May	Walleye opens the third Saturday in May (May 16 in 2026). Bass catch and release only.
June	Sabaskong Bay sanctuary ends June 14. Muskie opens third Saturday in June (June 20 in 2026). Bass catch and release only to June 30.
July	Bass harvest opens July 1. Muskie prime time starts mid-July.
August	Muskie prime time; walleye on rocky points and weedlines.
September	Muskie good to mid-September; pike pick up in fall.
October	Late fall is best for the biggest muskie.
November	Late-fall muskie and walleye before freeze-up.
December	Muskie season closes December 15. Walleye open through the ice.

Tips

Buy your Ontario Outdoors Card and licence online before the trip; non-residents can buy an 8-day licence.
Carry a measuring board; most walleye between 43 and 70 cm must go back.
Do not bring bait from the U.S. into Canada; buy it in Ontario.
If you touch land or a dock in Canada coming from the U.S., report to CBSA first (888-CAN-PASS).
Use big nets and long pliers for muskie and release large fish quickly.

Rules and license

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) · Official rules page ↗

Ontario licence: an Outdoors Card plus a sport licence (normal limits) or a conservation licence (lower limits). A one-day sport licence does not need an Outdoors Card. Under 18 can fish on a licensed adult's limit.
Walleye/sauger: open Jan 1 to Apr 14 and third Saturday in May to Dec 31. Lake of the Woods (most waters): sport 4, none 43-70 cm, only 1 over 70 cm; conservation 2, none over 43 cm. Non-Canadians: 2 per day.
Muskie: third Saturday in June to Dec 15; sport limit 1, must be over 137 cm; conservation 0.
Bass: catch and release only Jan 1 to June 30 on Lake of the Woods; zone limit after that is 4 (sport) or 2 (conservation).
Sabaskong Bay fish sanctuary: no fishing April 1 to June 14. Lake sturgeon closed all year. Lake trout no-keep on most of the lake; some bays need a lake trout tag.
Non-Canadian residents may not have more fish on the boat than the daily limit, and must follow conservation limits when camping on Crown land in marked parts of Zone 5.
Zone 5 is in the Northwest Bait Management Zone: no moving live or dead baitfish or leeches in or out. No bait may be brought from the U.S. into Canada.
Border waters: U.S. waters follow Minnesota rules. Coming from the U.S., report to CBSA if you land, dock or anchor in Canada, or hold a Remote Area Border Crossing permit where allowed.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 17 boat ramps and 3 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Boat ramp near Golf Course Bay
Boat ramp near Keewatin Bay
Boat ramp near Little Tunnel Bay
Boat ramp near McDougall's Bay
Boat ramp near Mink Bay
Boat ramp near Rat Portage Bay
Boat ramp near Regina Bay
Catastrophe Lake Boat Lauch
Clytie Bay Access Point
Darlington Bay (Keewatin) Boat Launch
Devil's Gap Marina
Pye's Landing Marina and Campground
Rockeries Marina

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.