Is Trout Season Open In Ontario?
The trout season is different in different parts of Ontario, so the answer to the question “Is trout season open in Ontario?” will depend on where you want to fish for trout.
Even if the trout season is closed in your area, there are often rivers or lakes that you can legally still fish, and I will explain below.
For most anglers in southern Ontario, as of this update in 2025, the official trout season is still from the 4th Saturday in April until October 1st. But, even during this time, some rivers or sections of rivers will remain closed, so it is very important to check the regulations, and I’ll explain how and where to find this information.
Is Trout Season Open In Ontario?
If you are reading this and it’s between late April and October, the trout season is open.
The trout season was changed many years ago to open in southern Ontario on the 4th Saturday in April and is closed on October 1st.
This means the trout season opener is for brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout, which also includes steelhead and salmon in the rivers.
Northern Ontario rivers have different trout seasons and regulations.
Is Trout Season Open All Year In Ontario
The trout season is not open all year, but anglers can fish for trout all year on some rivers and lakes.
Some lakes and rivers are open longer or are open all year. These rivers and lakes that might be open when the regular trout season is closed are usually listed in the Ontario Fishing Regulations under Extended Fall Fishing For Trout or under Year-round Fishing for Trout. There are also different species of trout that can open at different times.
Look in the fishing regulations under the zone you want to fish and look for where it says Additional Fishing Opportunities – Season: open all year.
Also, look for Additional Fishing Opportunities – Season: open from the fourth Saturday in April to December 31 (extended fall season). Then go down the list and find the river you want to fish.
In the Fishing Regulations, look under Water Body Exceptions because there are some rivers that open later and some rivers will close sooner. Some rivers may also have sections that are a fish sanctuary, or they may have special fishing rules, like “No Kill” zones or barbless hook zones.
Make sure you check the fishing regulations to make sure you are in the southern Ontario zone 16.
Northern and eastern parts of Ontario will open at different times, so look at the map provided in the fishing regulations, find your zone, and see if it’s open.
I guide 12 months of the year for trout and steelhead, and have had days of over 40 large rainbow trout a day, even in the middle of January and February.
To learn more about trout fishing in Ontario and about the best trout rivers in Ontario, go to my page Trout Fishing
That covers it.
Tight lines,
Graham
