Fishing

French River fishing, a Provincial Waterway Park, is our number one attraction and has been enjoyed for over 60 year. French River has vast fishing opportunities for pleasure boaters or out of bounds enthusiast. The best way to describe the French River is an 80 mile long series of island dotted lakes connected by rapids and falls that gently lower the river a total of 60 feet from Lake Nipissing to Georgian bay. Other than fast moving water, there are fishing areas that include weedy bays, coves, flats, rocky pings, and mid-river shoals. A fisherman’s dream and photographer’s Paradise.

Click on a photo below to see our species of fish.

The Ministry of Natural Resources working with biologists out of Sudbury have conducted fishing studies on the French River for years now. In 1994 they placed Fish slot limits in the French River and Georgian Bay areas. Over the years the increase in numbers of fish has been significant through catch and release of breading fish and through the reduction in fish limits. These conservation efforts prove to be assisting the quality of fishing for sportsmen and fishermen in the French River for years to come.

Recreation Fishing Licence Information

You will need one of the following:

Sport Fishing Licence – For anglers who want full catch and possession fishing privileges. In the following summary, S refers to limits user Sport Fishing Licence
Conservation Fishing Licence – A reduced catch and possession limit licence tag that is ideal for angers who want to live-lease the majority of fish caught. Under this tag, anglers much immediately release Musky. In this summary, C refers to limits under Conservation Fishing licence.

A complete and valid licence to fish consists of an Outdoor Card or Temporary Outdoor card accompanied by a valid fishing licence tag. The Outdoor card is a plastic card valid for three calendar years.

Fishing Zones

French River encompasses 2 fishing zones

Zone 10 is all fishing areas West of Highway 69
Zone 11 is all fishing areas East of Highway 69

Click to view Open Seasons & Limits

Open Seasons

Fish Species	Dates
Walleye	Jan 1 to Mar 31 & 3rd Sat in May to Dec 31
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass	Zone 10 – 3rd Sat in June to Nov 30 Zone 11 – 4th Sat in June to Dec 31
Northern Pike	Jan 1 to Mar 31 & 3rd Sat in May to Dec 31
Muskellunge	Zone 10 – West of Hwy 69 – 3rd Sat in June to Dec 15 Zone 11 – West of Hwy 69 – 1st Sat in June to Dec 15
Perch, Crappie, Sunfish, Whitefish, Channel Catfish	Open year round

Limits

Fish Species	Sports Licence	Conservation Licence	Limits
Walleye	4	2	None between 40-60 cm (15.7 – 23.6 in.) Not more than 1 greater than 60 cm (23.6 in.)
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass	4	2	None between 33-43 cm (13-17 in.) Not more than 1 greater than 43 cm (17 in.)
Northern Pike	4	2	None between 53-86 cm (21-34 in.) Not more than 1 greater than 86 cm (34 in.)
Muskellunge	1	0	Zone 10 – Muskellunge must be greater than 91 cm (36 in.) Zone 11 – Muskellunge must be greater than 122 cm (48 in.)
Perch	50	25	None
Crappie	30	10	None
Sunfish	50	25	None
Catfish, Whitefish	12	6	None

Ministry of Natural Resources
Fishing Regulation is available online here: Ontario Fishing Regulations

French River Resorts Association
R.R. #1
Alban, Ontario, Canada
POM 1A0