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Ontario fishing guide

Walleye

Walleye fishing guide

Habitat, seasonal techniques & recorded Ontario lakes

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Ontario's most sought-after eating fish, known for its reflective, light-gathering eyes and firm, mild white fillets.

Fishing patterns describe when and how fish may feed, not when fishing is legally open. Check zone regulations and waterbody exceptions before you fish.

🌡️ Preferred water temp 18–22°C (64–72°F) — comfortable in cool water, pushed deep once summer heat sets in.
⏰ Best time to catch Dawn, dusk and overcast days; the couple of weeks right after ice-out and again in fall are peak.

Walleye habitat and preferred water temperature

Windswept points, rocky shoals, weedlines and sand flats; low light pulls them shallow, bright midday pushes them deep.

Best time to catch Walleye

Dawn, dusk and overcast days; the couple of weeks right after ice-out and again in fall are peak.

Walleye fishing techniques by season

Spring

Post-spawn fish stage on shoreline shoals and river mouths — jig and minnow in 1–3 m at dusk.

Summer

Deep weedlines, humps and 6–12 m structure; troll worm harnesses or deep cranks, jig the breaks.

Fall

Feeding hard on big minnows along steep breaks; slow vertical jigging and glide baits shine.

Winter

Classic ice fish — jigging spoons and a jig/minnow set line near bottom on shoals at dawn and dusk.

Best lures for Walleye

Jig + minnow or twister, worm harness, deep crankbaits, jigging raps, spoons.

Lakes with recorded Walleye

A selection of larger named waterbodies from the survey records. Open a profile for lake details and regulations, or see its location on the map.

Open the map and filter by Walleye to see every Ontario waterbody where it's been recorded, with depth, regulations and live conditions for each one.