Regulations

Zone 5 fishing regulations

Fort Frances, Kenora & Dryden

2026 regulation dataset · Snapshot 2026-05-08

Start with these zone-wide rules, then check the official summary for waterbody exceptions and sanctuaries before you fish. A missing entry here does not mean there are no restrictions.

Seasons & catch limits

Zone 5 · zone-wide seasons and catch & possession limits
Species	Season	Sport	Conservation
Brook TroutAggregate trout & salmon limit	Open all year	5	2
Brown TroutAggregate trout & salmon limit	Open all year	5	2
Crappie	Open all year	10	5
Lake TroutAggregate trout & salmon limit	Jan. 1 - Sept. 30	2, not more than 1 greater than 56 cm (22 in.) from Sept. 1 - Sept. 30	1, no size limit
Lake Whitefish	Open all year	12	6
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass or any combination	Open all year	4; Must be less than 35 cm (13.8 in.) from Jan. 1 - June 30	2; Must be less than 35 cm (13.8 in.) from Jan. 1 - June 30
Muskellunge	3rd Sat. in June - Dec. 15	1, must be greater than 102 cm (40 in.)	0
Northern Pike	Open all year	4; none greater than 75 cm (29.5 in.)	2; none greater than 75 cm (29.5 in.)
Rainbow TroutAggregate trout & salmon limit	Open all year	5	2
SplakeAggregate trout & salmon limit	Open all year	5	2
Sunfish	Open all year	50	25
Walleye and Sauger or any combination	Jan. 1 - Apr. 14 & 3rd Sat. in May - Dec. 31	4, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in.)	2, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in.)
Yellow Perch	Open all year	50	25

Bait, gear & possession rules

Catch & possession

Holders of non-Canadian resident recreational fishing licences who are camping on Crown land may not take fish in excess of the conservation catch and possession limits. For more informationm refer to he Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary.

Bait restrictions

Smelt may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait

Fish sanctuaries

Show 34 fish sanctuaries in this zone

Eagle Lake - portions of Eagle Lake and associated waters including Whiteclay Narrows, Brule Narrows, Niven Bay, Bunyon Lake, Godson Creek, Kekekwa Creek, Wawapus Creek, Bear Narrows, Froghead Bay, Rice Bay, Violet Lake, One Mile Rapids, Two Mile Rapids, Meridian Bay. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - May 31
Eagle Lake - portions of Eagle Lake and associated waters including Whiteclay Narrows, Brule Narrows, Niven Bay, Bunyon Lake, Godson Creek, Kekekwa Creek, Wawapus Creek, Bear Narrows, Froghead Bay, Rice Bay, Violet Lake, One Mile Rapids, Two Mile Rapids, Meridian Bay. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - May 31
Crook Lake (49°04’N., 92°08’W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Feb. 1 - June 30 & Aug. 1 - Dec. 31
Crowrock Lake upstream from the narrows at 49°00'00"N., 91°43'50"W. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Eagle Lake - portions of Eagle Lake and associated waters including Whiteclay Narrows, Brule Narrows, Niven Bay, Bunyon Lake, Godson Creek, Kekekwa Creek, Wawapus Creek, Bear Narrows, Froghead Bay, Rice Bay, Violet Lake, One Mile Rapids, Two Mile Rapids, Meridian Bay. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - May 31
Grimshaw Lake (48°58’N., 93°04’W.) Fish sanctuary - closed all year
Ladysmith Creek and Unnamed Creek - Ladysmith Twp., between Rugby Lake and the confluence of Ladysmith Creek and the unnamed creek flowing out of Tent Lake. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Ladysmith Creek and Unnamed Creek - Ladysmith Twp., between Rugby Lake and the confluence of Ladysmith Creek and the unnamed creek flowing out of Tent Lake. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Lake of the Woods - Sabaskong Bay (49°09'N., 94°09"W.) - Godson Twp. - Kenora District. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Lilac Lake (48°17’N., 92°22’W.) - between Little Vermilion Lake and Lac la Croix. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Jan. 1 - May 31 & Oct. 1 - Dec. 31
Little Grey Trout Lake (49°03’N., 92°03’W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Feb. 1 - June 30 & Aug. 1 - Dec. 31
Moose Creek - between Big Moose Lake and Cobble Lake including part of Cobble Lake. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Nugget Creek - Zealand Twp., between Hughes Creek and C.P.R. crossing at Wabigoon Lake. Fish sanctuary – no fishing from Apr. 1 – June 14
Passover Creek - between the southern end of Meridian Bay of Eagle Lake (49°42’N., 93°13’W.) and Chancellor Lake. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - May 31
Rainy Lake (48°43'20"N., 93°15'41"W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Crooked Narrows to Sand Island Falls of Redgut Bay. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Falls River and Pipestone River from Stokes Bay of Rainy Lake upstream to first rapids. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Falls River and Pipestone River from Stokes Bay of Rainy Lake upstream to first rapids. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Halfway Inlet and Lost Bay. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Little Canoe River (48°54'N., 93°18'W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Porter Inlet of Redgut Bay. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Rat River Bay from the narrows and small island at the entrance to Rat River Bay, upstream to, and including the first rapids of both the West Branch Rat River and the East Branch Rat River. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Squirrel Falls between Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake, downstream for 250 m (820 ft.) on the north shore and 200 m (656 ft.) on the south shore from the Canadian Kettle Falls Dam. Fish sanctuary - closed all year
Rugby Lake (49°57’28”N., 92°57’48”W.) - the northern arm that falls within Ladysmith and Rowell Townships Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rutter Lake (49°04’N., 92°12’W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Feb. 1 - June 30 & Aug. 1 - Dec. 31
Scattergood Lake (49°17’N., 92°42’W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Jan. 1 - July 31 & Sept. 1 - Dec. 31
Secret Lake (49°04’N., 92°08’W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Feb. 1 - June 30 & Aug. 1 - Dec. 31
Trout Lake (48°17’N., 92°20’W.) - between Little Vermilion Lake and Lac la Croix. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Jan. 1 - May 31 & Oct. 1 - Dec. 31
Trout River (49°01’N., 92°53’W.) - from the falls of Sakwite Lake to Otukamamoan Lake. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Wabigoon Lake - 100 m (328 ft.) from Christie Island - Zealand Twp. Fish sanctuary – no fishing from Apr. 1 – June 14
Wabigoon River - Snake Bay Road to the Wabigoon Lake Indian Reserve - Satterly Twp. Fish sanctuary – no fishing from Apr. 1 – June 14
White Otter Lake (49°07’N., 91°52’W.) Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Rainy Lake - Stanjikoming Bay. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14
Winnipeg River (west branch) - from Norman Dam to westerly tip of Tunnel Island and northerly point of Patent Property A-16. Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Apr. 1 - June 14

Lakes and rivers in FMZ 5

Start with some of the largest named waterbodies in this zone, or open the complete directory.

Kakagi Lake Dryberry Lake Big Sand Lake Rowan Lake Atikwa Lake Upper Manitou Lake Dinorwic Lake Tetu Lake Caviar Lake Dogtooth Lake Silver Lake Winnange Lake

Browse all named waterbodies in FMZ 5 →