Ice fishing in Zone 8 (FMZ 8), 2026–27
Fisheries Management Zone 8, with 2,620 lakes and rivers on our map. Through the 2026–27 ice season (December 1 to March 31), 9 of 11 species groups are open the whole time, 2 for part of it and 0 are closed. Walleye and sauger are open all ice season. Lake trout are open Feb 15 – Mar 15. Pike are open all ice season and perch open all ice season.
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What you can fish through the ice in Zone 8
Zone-wide seasons and limits from the 2026 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, with the dates worked out for 2026–27. They apply to every lake in the zone except the waters listed further down.
| Species | 2026–27 ice season | Zone-wide season (as written) | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limits for trout and salmon (including splake) | — | Limit only | S-5 and C-2; total daily catch and possession limit for all trout and salmon species combined |
| Brook trout |
Part of the season
Jan 1 – Mar 31 |
January 1 to September 15 | S-5 and C-2 |
| Lake sturgeon | Open all season | January 1 to April 30 and July 1 to December 31 | S-0 and C-0 |
| Lake trout |
Part of the season
Feb 15 – Mar 15 |
February 15 to March 15 and third Saturday in May to September 30 | S-3 and C-1 |
| Lake whitefish | Open all season | open all year | S-25 and C-12 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined | Open all season | open all year | S-6 and C-2 |
| Northern pike | Open all season | open all year | S-6; not more than 2 greater than 61 centimetres, of which not more than 1 greater than 86 centimetres, and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 61 centimetres, none greater than 86 centimetres |
| Rainbow trout | Open all season | open all year | S-5 and C-2 |
| Splake | Open all season | open all year | S-5 and C-2 |
| Sunfish | Open all season | open all year | S-50 and C-25 |
| Walleye and sauger combined | Open all season | January 1 to April 14 and third Saturday in May to December 31 | S-4 and C-2; not more than 1 greater than 46 centimetres |
| Yellow perch | Open all season | open all year | S-50 and C-25 |
S = sport fishing licence, C = conservation fishing licence. A season "open all ice season" runs December 1 to March 31 without a break. The 2027 summary takes effect January 1, 2027 and can change dates for the rest of the winter; we refresh this page when it is published. Not present in this zone and closed all year: Atlantic salmon, brown trout, channel catfish, crappie, Muskellunge, Pacific salmon.
Ice huts and lines in Zone 8
- Zone 8 is one of the zones (1 to 8 and 13) where ice huts do not need to be registered.
- In every zone, huts must come off before the ice breaks up, whatever the date.
- You can fish with two lines through the ice in most waters, as long as you stay within 60 m of each line or tip-up and can see them all.
Surveyed lakes in Zone 8
Lakes in this zone with the most government fish survey records, the game fish recorded and the deepest contour on the provincial depth chart. Each page shows its own winter rules.
Waters in Zone 8 with their own winter rules
These waters are listed in the zone's exceptions with a rule that mentions the ice or the winter months, or that opens or closes them all year. The zone-wide table above does not apply to them where the rules overlap. Waters linked below have their own page on this site.
Waterbody exceptions
- Blanche River and its tributaries: Lake sturgeon - closed all year
- Commando Lake: Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to Saturday before second Sunday in February and September 16 to December 31; Lake trout - open from second Sunday in February to September 15
- Edgar Lake: Fish sanctuary - no fishing from January 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May and November 1 to December 31
- Groundhog River: Lake sturgeon - open from January 1 to April 14 and July 1 to December 31
- Labyrinth Lake: Northern pike - open from January 1 to April 15 and third Friday in May to December 31; Smallmouth bass - open from January 1 to April 15 and Friday before fourth Saturday in June to December 31; Walleye - open from January 1 to March 31 and third Friday in May to December 31
Fish sanctuaries: no fishing - closed all year
Alexander Lake (McEvay Township), Big Club Lake, Lake 57, Nayowin Lake, Pack Can Lake, Pallet Lake
Fish sanctuaries: no fishing - january 1 to saturday before second sunday in february and september 16 to december 31
Commando Lake (refer to waterbody exceptions)
Fish sanctuaries: no fishing - january 1 to february 14 and october 1 to december 31
Larder Lake (Hearst, McFadden, McVittie and McGarry Townships)
Fish sanctuaries: no fishing - january 1 to friday before third saturday in may and november 1 to december 31
Anthead Lake, Bateman Lake (Tomlinson Township), Bill’s Lake, Bounce Lake, Brayley Lake (Blakelock Township), Burnt Lake, Deluxe Lake, Echo Lake, Edgar Lake (refer to waterbody exceptions), Esker Lake, Floodwood Lake (Tweed and Blakelock Townships), French Lake, Hill’s Lake (Cochrane District), Keith Lake (Walter’s Lake), Larry Lake, Lauzon Lake, Little Wakwayowkastic Lake, Louise Lake (Choppa Lake), Magiskan Lake (Blakelock Township), Marsh Lake, McParlon Lake, Mego Lake (Blakelock Township), Mikwam Lake (Blakelock Township), Moose Lake, Moving Rock Lake, Nettogami Lake, North Choppa Lake, North French Lake, North Unknown Lake, Partridge Lake, Payntouk Lake (Tomlinson Township), Piyagoskogau Lake, Pot Hole Lake, Rainy Lake, Sand Lake, Snare Lake (Newman Township), South Choppa Lake, South West Kesagami Lake, Steve’s Lake, Today Lake, Tomorrow Lake, Twopeak Lake (Newman Township), Unknown Lake, Verana Lake, West Choppa Lake, Yesterday Lake, Yesterday River Lake
Fish sanctuaries: no fishing - from day after labour day to december 31
Wakusimi River (Griffin, Seaton and Lisgar Townships)
Source: Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary 2026, Fisheries Management Zone 8 and ontario.ca ice fishing rules, read October 25, 2026; zone boundary: Land Information Ontario (Open Government Licence – Ontario). The summary is a guide to the regulations, not the law itself, and this page is a reading of the summary. Check the official text, and test the ice yourself: no regulation makes ice safe.