2022 Fishing Seasons – Zone 16

General Information

• See general fishing regulations for more information on how to use this summary.
• There are several Great Lakes tributaries that have aligned regulations for Atlantic salmon, brown trout, Pacific salmon and rainbow trout – see species exceptions.
• Warmouth is listed as endangered in Ontario and may not be caught or possessed under a recreational fishing licence.
• The following waterbodies, or portions of them, have different regulations that are listed in the waterbody exceptions:
  • Bayfield River
  • Big Creek
  • Credit River
  • Grand River
  • Green River
  • Humber River
  • Lake Couchiching
  • Lake Simcoe
  • Maitland River
  • Nine Mile Creek (Lucknow River)
  • Nottawasaga River
  • Pretty River
  • Saugeen River
  • Sydenham River
  • Thames River
  • Waterbodies in Grey and Bruce Counties
  • Whitemans Creek (Horner Creek)
• FMZ 16 is part of the Southern Bait Management Zone (BMZ). Baitfish or leeches, whether live or dead, may not be transported into or out of a BMZ. See bait for more details.

Zone-wide seasons and limits

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.

Aggregate limits for trout and salmon (including splake)

Limits: S-5 and C-2; total daily catch and possession limit for all trout and salmon species combined

Species exceptions

Brook trout

Additional fishing opportunities

Season: open all year

• Bells Lake (44°19′15″N., 80°44′09″W.) – Glenelg Township

Brown trout and rainbow trout

Additional fishing opportunities

Season: open all year

Limits: S-5 and C-2

• Big Creek – Walsingham Township, downstream from Regional Road 21 to Long Point Bay of Lake Erie
• North Thames River (main branch only) – Middlesex County

Atlantic salmon, brown trout, Pacific salmon and rainbow trout

Additional fishing opportunities

Season: open all year

Limits: Zone-wide limits apply

Additional fishing opportunities

Season: open from fourth Saturday in April to December 31 (extended fall season)

Limits: Zone-wide limits apply

Walleye

Additional fishing opportunities

Season: open all year

Limits: S-6 and C-2; no size limits

• Chenail Ecarte – from the mouth of the Chenail Ecarte at Lake St. Clair to the mouth of the Sydenham River
• Sydenham River – from the mouth of the Sydenham River at the Chenail Ecarte to the downstream side of the St. George Street Bridge in the Town of Dresden
• Thames River – from the mouth of the Thames River at Lake St. Clair to the downstream side of the Keil Street Bridge in the Municipality of Chatham

Waterbody exceptions

Bayfield River – on upstream side of Highway 21 bridge in Huron County

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April

Bayfield River Tributaries – Huron County

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Big Creek – Walsingham Township, south of the Quance Dam to Regional Road 21 at Lynedoch

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April

Big Creek – Walsingham Township, lying southerly of the dam in the Hamlet of Teeterville to the Quance Dam in the Town of Delhi

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Bruce and Grey Counties inland rivers and streams only, excluding those waters identified for this area in Zone 16 Additional fishing opportunities

• All species (except Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge and Lake Sturgeon, Northern Pike, Walleye and Sauger) – open from fourth Saturday in April to September 30
• Largemouth and smallmouth bass – open from fourth Saturday in June to September 30
• Muskellunge – open from first Saturday in June to September 30
• Northern pike – open from second Saturday in May to September 30
• Walleye and sauger – open from second Saturday in May to September 30

Credit River and its tributaries – Town of Caledon in Regional Municipality of Peel, Upstream of Old Baseline Road

• Only artificial lures may be used
• Only one single-pointed barbless hook may be used
• Brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout – S-0 and C-0

Credit River and tributaries – from the south side of the Britannia Road bridge in the Village of Streetsville, upstream to the south side of the Old Baseline Road bridge in the Town of Caledon, Regional Municipalities of Peel and Halton, excluding Levi’s Creek (43°37′N., 79°44′W.) and Fletchers Creek (43°37′N., 79°43′W.)

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April

Credit River and tributaries – from the south side of the Highway 403 bridge in the City of Mississauga, upstream to the south side of the Britannia Road bridge in the Village of Streetsville

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and August 15 to December 31

Credit River and tributaries – from the south side of the Old Baseline Road bridge in the Town of Caledon, Regional Municipality of Peel, upstream to Highway 9

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Grand River – between the West Garafraxa second Line and Scotland Street in the Town of Fergus; between Tower Street in the Town of Fergus and the Bissell Dam in Nichol Township; between 100 metres downstream of a bridge located at the southern boundary of the Elora Gorge Conservation Area and a point 100 metres upstream of Pilkington 8^th Line in Pilkington Township; between 100 metres downstream of Pilkington 8^th Line bridge and 100 metres upstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line; and between 100 metres downstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line and 100 metres upstream of Highway 86 bridge

• Only artificial lures may be used
• Only one barbless hook may be used
• Brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout – S-0 and C-0

Grand River – between the former Town of Paris (City of Brant) and Brantford from a line across the Grand River in Paris at 100 metres downstream of the Highway 2 (Dundas Street West) bridge downstream to the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford

• Only artificial lures may be used
• Only one barbless hook may be used
• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from March 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April
• Brown trout, northern pike, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and walleye – S-0 and C-0

Grand River – from the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford to the edge of Lake Erie

• Brown trout and rainbow trout (combined) – S-1 and C-0; from October 1 to December 31

Grand River – from the Penman Dam downstream to the William Street Bridge in the former town of Paris (City of Brant)

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from October 1 to November 30

Grand River – Haldimand County, from the water’s edge of Lake Erie upstream to the dam in the Town of Caledonia

• Walleye – S-4 and C-2; any size

Grand River and its tributaries – downstream of the Onondaga and Tuscarora Townships line to Lake Erie

• Walleye and northern pike – open from January 1 to last day in February and second Saturday in May to December 31

Humber River and its tributaries – upstream from Eglinton Avenue

• Brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout, combined – S-2 and C-1

Humber River and tributaries – Regional Municipalities of York and Peel and Counties of Dufferin and Simcoe, upstream of Highway 407

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching, Green River, Trent Canal System and their tributaries – downstream from Lake Couchiching to Lock 42, the Trent Canal System in Brock and Ramara Townships, and the Severn River and its tributaries (excluding the Black River) downstream from Lake Couchiching to Wasdell Falls, all within the Regional Municipalities of York, Durham and Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka

• Lake herring (cisco) – open from January 1 to March 15 and second Saturday in May to September 30
• Lake herring (cisco) – S-2 and C-1
• Lake trout – open from January 1 to March 15 and second Saturday in May to September 30
• Lake whitefish – open from January 1 to March 15 and second Saturday in May to September 30
• Lake whitefish – S-2 and C-1
• Muskellunge – closed all year
• Yellow perch – S-50; in one day, possession limit of 100, and C-25; in one day, possession limit of 50

Maitland River – Colborne and Goderich Townships, extending 550 metres downstream from Falls Reserve Waterfall to the first natural waterfall

• Fish sanctuary – closed to night fishing from September 15 to October 31 (one- half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise)

Maitland River – Huron County, between the bridge on Highway 21 and the bridge on County Road 4

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April

Maitland River tributaries – County of Huron, extending upstream from the upstream side of the bridge on Highway 21 to the downstream side of the bridge on Highway 4

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Nine Mile River – Ashfield Township, from the Port Albert Fishway to 100 metres upstream

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from fourth Saturday in April to May 15 and September 1 to November 30

Nine Mile River (Lucknow River) – Ashfield and West Wawanosh Townships, between County Road 86 and Lake Huron

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April

Nine Mile River tributaries – Huron County, Highway 86 downstream to Lake Huron

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Nottawasaga River – Essa Township, waters lying within Lot 1, Concession 5, from Highway 89 above Nicholson Dam downstream to near the confluence of the Boyne River

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before second Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31

Nottawasaga River – from the Boyne River downstream (north) to the Pine River

• Rainbow trout – S-0 and C-0

Pretty River and tributaries – Collingwood and Osprey Townships

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from fourth Saturday in April to May 31

Pretty River and tributaries – Town of Collingwood and Nottawasaga Township

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Saugeen River – Amabel and Saugeen Townships, Denny’s Dam to the concrete abutments downstream

• Fish sanctuary – closed to night fishing from October 1 to October 31 (one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise)

Saugeen River – Township of Brant in the County of Bruce, from the dam face of the Maple Hill Dam to a point 300 metres downstream and including the hydro- electric power channel

• Fish sanctuary – closed all year

Sydenham River – Derby Township, Artificial Spawning Channels Numbers 1 and 2

• Fish sanctuary – closed all year

Sydenham River – City of Owen Sound, from the Mill Dam to a point 177 metres downstream

• Fish sanctuary – closed all year

Sydenham River – City of Owen Sound and Derby Township, from Inglis Falls to Mill Dam, excluding Artificial Spawning Channels Numbers 1 and 2

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from fourth Saturday in April to May 31

Sydenham River and tributaries – City of Owen Sound and Derby Township, from the base of Inglis Falls downstream to a line drawn due east from the north end of the bridge known locally as either Chinese or Rainbow Bridge to the permanent steel post marker affixed to the shore of the Sydenham River in Harrison Park

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from September 1 to September 30

Thames River – between the dam at Gordon Pittock Reservoir and the bridge at Highway 59

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from March 15 to Friday before second Saturday in May

Thames River – from the mouth of the Thames River at Lake St. Clair to the downstream side of the Keil Street Bridge (Municipality of Chatham)

• Muskellunge – S-1; must be greater than 112 centimetres, and C-0

Whitemans Creek (Horner Creek) – Brantford Township, between Robinson Road and Cleaver Sideroad

• Only artificial lures may be used
• Only one barbless hook may be used
• Brown trout or rainbow trout – S-1 and C-1; must be greater than 50 centimetres

Whitemans Creek (Horner Creek) and tributaries – from the East Quarter Town Line Road downstream to the edge of the Grand River

• Fish sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to Friday before fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

Fish sanctuaries

No fishing – closed all year

• Colpoy’s Creek – Albemarle Township, from the upper bridge on County Road 9 downstream to the mouth
• Gleason Brook – Keppel Township, from the bridge on County Road 26 to the mouth
• Saugeen River – see waterbody exceptions
• Sydenham River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – January 1 to Friday before the fourth Saturday in April

• Bayfield River – see waterbody exceptions
• Big Creek – see waterbody exceptions
• Big Otter Creek – Town of Tillsonburg, from Black’s Dam to the north side of the bridge at Oxford Street
• Bradleys Creek – Yarmouth Township, from the Elgin County Road 35 dam to Catfish Creek
• Credit River – see waterbody exceptions
• Lafontaine Creek and its tributaries – Township of Tiny in the County of Simcoe, at 44º43′15.167″N., 80º01′48.461″W.
• Maitland River – see waterbody exceptions

• Nine Mile River – see waterbody exceptions
• North Creek – Walsingham Township, south of Highway 3
• Stoney Creek – Walsingham Township, south of Highway 3 to Big Creek
• Sturgeon River and tributaries – Tay and Oro-Medonte Townships, upstream (south) from the lamprey barrier
• Young’s Creek (Ryerse Creek) – Woodhouse Township and the City of Nanticoke, between the dam on Lot 23, Concession 3 (former Township of Charlotteville) and the downstream side of the bridge on the Lakeshore Road at Port Ryerse

No fishing – January 1 to Friday before the fourth Saturday in April and August 15 to December 31

• Credit River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – January 1 to Friday before the fourth Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31

• Bayfield River tributaries – see waterbody exceptions
• Big Creek – see waterbody exceptions
• Bronte Creek – City of Burlington and Flamborough Township, from the C.P.R. track in the Village of Progreston downstream to the south side of Highway 407, including part of Limestone Creek upstream to Steeles Avenue in the Town of Milton
• Credit River – see waterbody exceptions
• Fisher’s Creek – Walsingham Township
• Galt Creek (Mill Creek) – upstream from the boundary of North Dumfries and Puslinch Townships, including Aberfoyle Creek
• Grindstone Creek – Flamborough Township and City of Burlington, from Waterdown Road to Highway 2 (Plains Road)

• Gully Creek and tributaries – Goderich Township
• Humber River – see waterbody exceptions
• Maitland River – see waterbody exceptions
• Naftel’s Creek and tributaries – Huron County
• Nine Mile River – see waterbody exceptions
• Normandale Creek (Potters Creek) – Walsingham Township
• Pretty River and tributaries – see waterbody exceptions
• Whitemans Creek – see waterbody exceptions for details

No fishing – January 1 to Friday before the second Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31

• Boyne River – Tosorontio Township, from the dam in Earl Rowe Provincial Park downstream (east) to the park boundary
• Nottawasaga River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – January 1 to May 31 and October 1 to December 31

• Silver Creek and tributaries – Town of Collingwood, Collingwood and Nottawasaga Townships

No fishing – March 1 to Friday before the fourth Saturday in April

• Grand River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – March 1 to Friday before second Saturday in May

• Beaver River – Thorah Township, from the CNR railway bridge in the town of Beaverton upstream to Highway 12/48
• Pefferlaw River- Town of Georgina, from Highway 48 upstream to the dam in the village of Pefferlaw
• Severn River – Morrison Township, between Coopers Falls Road bridge, downstream to a line extending southerly across the river from the westerly limit of Lot 17, Concession A
• Talbot River and tributaries excluding the Trent Canal system – Thorah and Mara Townships, the area between the eastern side of Highway 12 upstream to the dam in Lot 6, Concession 11

No fishing – March 15 to Friday before second Saturday in May

• Thames River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – fourth Saturday in April to May 31

• Beatty Saugeen River and tributaries – Normanby and Bentinck Townships and that part of Egremont Township from Highway 6 upstream to the dams at Orchard Park
• Bighead River tributaries – Sydenham, St. Vincent and Holland Townships
• Indian Brook and tributaries – Collingwood Township
• Indian River – Sarawak Township, from Georgian Bay to Indian Falls
• Judges Creek – Eastnor Township, from the first falls above County Road 9 to Georgian Bay
• Keefer’s Creek – Sydenham Township, between the water’s edge of Owen Sound and Slattery Mills Falls
• Little Sauble River and tributaries – Bruce Township, all waters upstream of a line drawn across the river at a point 180 metres upstream from the foot bridge in Inverhuron Provincial Park
• Meux Creek – Neustadt Village in Normanby Township, from dam face to South Saugeen River

• Mill Creek and tributaries – Euphrasia and Collingwood Townships, downstream of Mitchell’s Falls to the Euphrasia and Collingwood Townline
• Orchard Creek (Centreville Creek) and tributaries – St. Vincent Township
• Park Head Creek – Amabel Township, from the confluence of Park Head Creek with the Sauble River upstream to Bruce County Road 10
• Pretty River and tributaries – see waterbody exceptions
• Sangs Creek and tributaries – Arran Township
• Sydenham River – see waterbody exceptions
• Telfer Creek (Bothwell’s Creek) – Sydenham Township, Grey County
• Willow Creek – St. Edmunds Township

No fishing – fourth Saturday in April to May 15 and September 1 to November 30

• Nine Mile River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – fourth Saturday in April to May 31 and September 1 to September 30

• Pottawatomi River and Maxwell Creek – City of Owen Sound and Derby Township, from the fourth Avenue West Bridge upstream to the base of the escarpment

No fishing – September 1 to September 30

• Sydenham River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – September 15 to October 31 (No night fishing)

• Maitland River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – October 1 to October 31 (No night fishing)

• Saugeen River – see waterbody exceptions

No fishing – October 1 to November 30

• Grand River – see waterbody exceptions