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Fisheries Management Zone 12

Zone 12 fishing seasons & limits (2026)

A plain-English guide to what is open, what you can keep, and which Zone 12 species deserve your first check before a trip. Specific waters can still carry exceptions.

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Zone 12 is part of Near North & Nipissing.

Zone 1 1 Zone 2 2 Zone 3 3 Zone 4 4 Zone 5 5 Zone 6 6 Zone 7 7 Zone 8 8 Zone 9 9 Zone 10 10 Zone 11 11 Zone 12 12 Zone 13 13 Zone 14 14 Zone 15 15 Zone 16 16 Zone 17 17 Zone 18 18 Zone 19 19 Zone 20 20

Start with likely targets

Best species to check first in Zone 12

For beginners, start with the fish people actually ask about at the launch: whether it is open now, how many you can keep, and what caveat to check before you cast.

Walleye WalleyeOpen now S-5 / C-2 sport / conservation The classic Ontario table fish: low light, wind, current, and structure are your friends. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth BassPartial S-6 / C-2 sport / conservation Great for beginners once open: rocks, points, shoals, and current edges. Largemouth Bass Largemouth BassPartial S-6 / C-2 sport / conservation A friendly starting target around weeds, docks, wood, and warm shallow cover. Northern Pike Northern PikeOpen now S-6 / C-2 sport / conservation A practical confidence target around weeds, bays, and shore-access water. Muskellunge MuskellungePartial S-1 / C-0 sport / conservation Low numbers, high commitment: confirm the size rule and handle fast for release. Yellow Perch Yellow PerchOpen now S-50 / C-25 sport / conservation One of the best family targets: schooling, simple tackle, and generous limits.

When can I fish in Zone 12?

At-a-glance open seasons by species and month. Green = open, amber = partly open, grey = closed.

SpeciesJFMAMJJASOND
WalleyeJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: closedMay: partialJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
SaugerJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: closedMay: partialJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
Smallmouth BassJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: closedMay: closedJune: partialJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: closed
Largemouth BassJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: closedMay: closedJune: partialJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: closed
Northern PikeJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: closedMay: partialJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
MuskellungeJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: closedMay: closedJune: partialJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: partial
Yellow PerchJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
Black CrappieJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
Lake TroutJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: partialMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: closedNovember: closedDecember: closed
Brook TroutJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: partialMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: closedNovember: closedDecember: closed
Brown TroutJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: partialMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: closedNovember: closedDecember: closed
Rainbow Trout / SteelheadJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: partialMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: closedNovember: closedDecember: closed

Seasons & limits detail

SpeciesSeasonSport / Conservation
Walleye & Sauger Seasonal
January 1 to March 31 and Friday before the third Saturday in May to December 31 · Must be less than 40 cm from March 1 to June 15
 S-5 / C-2
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Seasonal
Friday before the fourth Saturday in June to November 30
 S-6 / C-2
Northern Pike Seasonal
January 1 to March 31 and Friday before the third Saturday in May to December 31
 S-6 / C-2
Yellow Perch Open all year
Open all year
 S-50 / C-25
Crappie Open all year
Open all year
 S-30 / C-10
Muskellunge Seasonal
Friday before the third Saturday in June to December 15 · Must be greater than 137 cm
 S-1 / C-0
Lake Trout Seasonal
Friday before the fourth Saturday in April to September 30 · Must be greater than 45 cm · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined
 S-2 / C-1
Brook Trout Seasonal
Friday before the fourth Saturday in April to September 30 · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined
 S-5 / C-2
Brown Trout Seasonal
Friday before the fourth Saturday in April to September 30 · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined
 S-5 / C-2
Rainbow Trout Seasonal
Friday before the fourth Saturday in April to September 30 · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined
 S-5 / C-2
These are zone-wide rules. Individual lakes and rivers may carry exceptions, sanctuaries, or closures. Always confirm on the official Zone 12 page.

Before you keep a fish

Zone 12 has details worth checking twice.

10verified species rules 3size or slot rules 4special notes 0closed all-year rows

Use the table as the fast answer, then check the exact waterbody and exception table before keeping fish. TackleDex is designed to make that last-mile check obvious at the launch.

Species directory

Species in Zone 12

Pick a fish to see its Zone 12 season, limit, size notes, and official caveats in one focused page.

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