10 of the most incredible lakes and rivers to fish in Canada

Famous for its world class, four-season fishery, the Bay of Quinte is most well-known for its walleye-fishing, and is arguably the best place to find trophy walleyes in Ontario. Fish areas of Hay Bay, Sherman’s Point, Thompson’s Point, Picton Bay, Mallory Bay, Big Bay and the narrows for resident walleye that typically average between two to five pounds, though significantly larger have been found in the past. Photo by Kondor83.

Bay of Quinte, Ontario

Located in Northwestern Ontario, along the Manitoba and Minnesota borders, Lake of the Woods is another hotspot known for its walleye fishing. In fact, many consider it one of the finest walleye fisheries in the world. But that’s not all you’ll find in this massive body of water littered with approximately 14,000 islands. Lake of the Woods is home to nearly 50 species of fish, from massive lake sturgeon and largemouth bass to more manageable crappies and yellow perch. Photo by Jeff Feverston.

Lake of the Woods, Ontario

The Annapolis Valley is known as one of the country’s best fruit-growing regions, with several hundred apple varieties and 20 types of grapes grown here. But the 12-kilometre-long river that runs through is just as fruitful. Consistently ranked the best place in the country to fish for American shad, the Annapolis River provides non-stop action for this herring-like fish that spends most of its life in the ocean, returning to the river only briefly to spawn. Photo by Cindy Creighton.

Annapolis River, Nova Scotia

As the longest river in British Columbia, the Fraser River is home to a variety of gamefish, including one of the world’s largest White Sturgeon populations. Anglers travel great distances to battle this massive, prehistoric fish. As North America’s largest species of freshwater fish, the white sturgeon can grow to exceed 20 feet in length and more than 1,000 pounds in weight. Although it might be tough to catch a record-setting behemoth like that, catching any white sturgeon will leave you feeling satisfied. Photo by kzww.

Fraser River, B.C.

An important lake during the fur-trade era, Lake Athabasca is now a fishing hotspot that attracts anglers from across the country, and even the world, eager to catch trophy-sized lake trout and northern pike. It’s not only the eighth largest lake in Canada, and the deepest in both Saskatchewan and Alberta, but it’s also incredibly remote — the closest road is well over 100 kilometres away, which means you don’t have to worry about battling other fisherman for your next big catch. Photo by Rostislav Stefanek.

Lake Athabasca, Saskatchewan and Alberta

The Saint John River is filled with a wide variety of fish, including bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, musky, sturgeon and brook trout. But it’s best known for large striped bass. In fact, the Saint John River is without a doubt the best place in the country to find these fish, which travel up the U.S coast before making their way into Canadian waters. Each year, more striped bass are caught in this river than the rest of Atlantic Canada combined. Photo by Steve Brigman.

Saint John River, New Brunswick

Sure, there are other rivers and lakes in the country where the fish are more plentiful, but if you’re searching for a record-breaking fish, head to the Red River. This muddy Manitoba river is home to massive greenbacks — a term that’s commonly used to describe the iridescent green walleye — but is best known for its channel cat fishing, easily rivalling the Mississippi as one of the top spots in the world to catch these mammoth fish. Photo by Kletr.

Red River, Manitoba

It’s near impossible to leave Great Bear Lake off the list when you consider that it covers nearly 32,000-square-kilometres and is typically only fished by a few hundred anglers each year. Like the remote Lake Athabasca, this lack of pressure leads to incredible fishing conditions for everyone. Head out onto the waters with a guide and you’re almost guaranteed to catch a once-in-a-lifetime fish. You can find a ton of pike and arctic grayling in these waters, but it’s probably most loved for its record-setting lake trout. Photo by DrimaFilm.

Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories

Winding through the Rocky Mountains, into the foothills of Alberta and onto the Prairies, the Bow River offers prime fishing in arguably one of the most scenic parts of the country. It’s become known as the “Blue Ribbon Bow” for the trophy-sized rainbow and brown trout that inhabit its waters, particularly downstream of Calgary, where you’ll find some trout pushing 10 pounds. Photo by Kevin Cass.

Bow River, Alberta

The largest natural lake in the province, Mistassini Lake also forms part of a provincial wildlife reserve, so it should come as no surprise that it’s home to an abundance of fish, in a variety of species. If you time it right and pack the gear, it’s possible to catch trophy-sized lake trout, pike, walleye and brookies in a single day. Photo by Dec Hogan.

Mistassini Lake, Quebec

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10 of the most incredible lakes and rivers to fish in Canada

Canada is home to more than one million lakes, rivers and streams, and is bordered by three separate oceans, so it should come as no surprise that fishing has played an important role in the development of our country, and is now a popular national pastime. To celebrate National Fishing Week (June 30th to July 8th), we’re highlighting some of the most incredible lakes and rivers to cast a line in Canada, and encouraging everyone — no matter where you are — to get on the water and experience the perfect combination of calm and adrenaline that’s fishing.