Fishing and Hunting

Hunting and fishing have a rich history in and around Lake Weslemkoon. The lake itself is a world class Bass fishing destination as well as holding a healthy and important strain of Lake Trout. An interesting article by TVO (Sept 2018) highlights some concerns about the decline of lake trout as freshwater lakes in Ontario continue to warm up.

The lands surrounding the lake is home to a wide variety of game animals and game birds including (but not limited to) white tail deer, moose, elk, bear, rabbit, grouse, duck, goose, turkey, etc.

Please ensure that you fish and hunt within the legal regulations provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Fishing

Lake Weslemkoon is a popular fishing lake for both local residents and visitors. It is designated a “Natural Lake Trout lake”. Lake Trout Lakes are rare; According to the Ministry of Natural Resources "Only about one percent of Ontario’s lakes (i.e. ~ 2,300) contain Lake Trout, but this represents 20-25% of all Lake Trout lakes in the world." To learn more about Lake Trout Lakes and how they are being managed visit OMNRF Lake Trout Lakes.

Lake Weslemkoon and the surrounding bodies of water reside in Fisheries Management Zone 18 (FMZ 18). This zone has the Canadian Shield at it's heart, contains mainly warm-water fish (e.g. bass, crappie, sunfish, muskellunge) and cool-water fish (e.g. walleye, northern pike, yellow perch), as well as Ontario's most southerly lake trout populations, other than in the Great Lakes.

FMZ 18 is part of the Southern Bait Management Zone (BMZ). Remember that baitfish or leeches, whether live or dead, may not be transported into or out of a BMZ. Zone-wide seasons and limits apply to all waters in the Zone except for the specific waters and species listed in the Species Exceptions, Waterbody Exceptions and Fish Sanctuaries.

Here is a list of the aggregate limits and season for each species. (S=sporting fishing license, C=Conservation fishing licence)

Trout and Salmon (including Splake) Limits: S-5 and C-2; total daily catch and possession limit for all trout and salmon species combined

Atlantic Salmon Season: closed all year

Brook Trout Season: open all year Limits: S-5 and C-2

Brown Trout Season: open all year Limits: S-5 and C-2

Channel Catfish Season: open all year Limits: S-12 and C-6

Crappie Season: open all year Limits: S-30 and C-10

Lake Sturgeon Season: closed all year

Lake Trout Season: fourth Saturday in May to September 8 Limits: S-2 and C-1 Lake Whitefish Season: open all year Limits: S-12 and C-6

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass combined Season: third Saturday in June to December 15 Limits: S-6 and C-2

Muskellunge Season: 1st Saturday in June to December 15 Limits: S-1; must be greater than 91 cm, and C-0

Northern Pike Season: January 1 to March 31 and second Saturday in May to December 31 Limits: S-6 and C-2

Pacific Salmon Season: open all year Limits: S-5 and C-2

Rainbow Trout Season: open all year Limits: S-5 and C-2

Splake Season: open all year Limits: S-5 and C-2

Sunfish Season: open all year Limits: S-300; only 30 may be greater than 18 cm, and C-15

Walleye and Sauger combined Season: January 1 to March 1 and second Saturday in May to December 31 Limits: S-4 and C-2; must be between 40-50 cm Yellow Perch Season: open all year Limits: S-50 and C-25

To learn more visit the Recreational Fisheries requirements and how fish resources are managed for Weslemkoon

Please ensure that you are following the guidance of the latest Fishing Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary while fishing. To view or download a PDF of the full 2022 Fishing Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary CLICK HERE

If you are planning on eating the fish you catch be sure to read up on the latest Fish Consumption Advisory from the MNRF. It is also a good idea to check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch for an in-depth guide to fish consumption guidelines.

Want to see an interesting map related to fishing on Lake Weslemkoon?

Check out the Fish ON-Line map viewer, created by the MNRF: CLICK HERE

(Note: If you are on the lake, it will show your location on the lake. You can then click on the blue fish icon that identifies your location. If you are not on the lake, type Lake Weslemkoon in the search bar.) This map contains very interesting data related to the fisheries monitoring on the lake. It can be found in the drop down on the left under “Broad Scale Fisheries Monitoring” bulletins.