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Fisheries Management Zone 9

Zone 9 fishing seasons & limits (2026)

A plain-English guide to what is open, what you can keep, and which Zone 9 species deserve your first check before a trip. Specific waters can still carry exceptions.

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Zone 9 is part of Lake Superior & Nipigon.

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 9

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-2 / C-1 sport / conservation The classic Ontario table fish: low light, wind, current, and structure are your friends. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth BassOpen now S-6 / C-2 sport / conservation Great for beginners once open: rocks, points, shoals, and current edges. Largemouth Bass Largemouth BassOpen now S-6 / C-2 sport / conservation A friendly starting target around weeds, docks, wood, and warm shallow cover. Northern Pike Northern PikeOpen now S-4 / 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-25 / C-12 sport / conservation One of the best family targets: schooling, simple tackle, and generous limits.

When can I fish in Zone 9?

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

SpeciesJFMAMJJASOND
WalleyeJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: partialMay: partialJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
SaugerJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: partialMay: partialJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
Smallmouth BassJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
Largemouth BassJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
Northern PikeJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: 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: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: closedNovember: closedDecember: closed
Brook TroutJanuary: closedFebruary: closedMarch: closedApril: partialMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: partialOctober: closedNovember: closedDecember: closed
Brown TroutJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open
Rainbow Trout / SteelheadJanuary: openFebruary: openMarch: openApril: openMay: openJune: openJuly: openAugust: openSeptember: openOctober: openNovember: openDecember: open

Seasons & limits detail

SpeciesSeasonSport / Conservation
Walleye & Sauger Seasonal
January 1 to April 14 and the third Saturday in May to December 31
 S-2 / C-1
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Open all year
Open all year
 S-6 / C-2
Northern Pike Open all year
Open all year · None between 70-90 cm, not more than 1 greater than 90 cm
 S-4 / C-2
Yellow Perch Open all year
Open all year
 S-25 / C-12
Crappie Open all year
Open all year
 S-30 / C-10
Muskellunge Seasonal
the third Saturday in June to December 15 · Must be greater than 137 cm
 S-1 / C-0
Lake Trout Seasonal
January 1 to September 30 · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined
 S-3 / C-1
Brook Trout Seasonal
the fourth Saturday in April to the first Monday in September · Must be greater than 56 cm · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined
 S-1 / C-0
Brown Trout Open all year
Open all year · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined
 S-5 / C-2
Rainbow Trout Open all year
Open all year · Aggregate limit: S-5/C-2 for all trout and salmon combined. East of the Pic River exception: S-2/C-1
 S-1 / C-0
These are zone-wide rules. Individual lakes and rivers may carry exceptions, sanctuaries, or closures. Always confirm on the official Zone 9 page.

Before you keep a fish

Zone 9 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 9

Pick a fish to see its Zone 9 season, limit, size notes, and official caveats in one focused page.

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