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Fishing Regulations for Zone 7

Dave Walters

Dave Walters along the chain of lakes


Please note that you might not be able to buy a fishing license in Chapleau on weekends. The Ministry of Natural Resources office is closed all weekend. The only other place that issues licenses keeps irregular hours on weekends. Therefore, buy your license along the way before you reach Chapleau. Several places are listed below.

Quick Links to the Most Important Information
Non-Resident Licenses Children
and Licenses 		Fishing
Regulations 		Transporting
your Fish 		Packaging
your Fish

Below are some places along your route that sell fishing licenses:


Online Immediately

You can obtain your licence immediately online and print it on your own printer. You must have a printer attached to your computer that is capable of printing graphics (either black and white or in color). You will be instructed to print your licence document and you will need to carry it with you while fishing. The licence you print is the only one you will receive. Click this link to start the process https://www1.on.wildlifelicense.com/index_hf.php

Over the Phone

You can also purchase your license over the phone by calling 1-800-387-7011. Your license will usually arrive at your home address within 10 days.

Traveling north out of the Sault towards Wawa and then east on Hwy. 101


The Information and Welcome Center which faces you directly after you leave the Canadian Customs checkpoint.

The Canadian Carver on Highway 17 North, 46 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie. It is well marked with highway signs. You can get refreshments there as well.

In Wawa at Young's General Store. Young's General Store is on the right side of the road as you enter Wawa. There is a gas station and a stuffed moose standing outside the door. Click here to see what the place looks like.

Traveling east out of the Sault towards Thessalon and then north on Hwy. 129


The Information and Welcome Center which faces you directly after you leave the Canadian Customs checkpoint.

The 17E Trading Post just west of the town of Desbarats. Desbarats is on Hwy 17, about 25 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie. The 17E Trading Post is at the corner of Hwy. 17 and Hwy. 548 just before you come into Desbarats.

Tunnel Lake Trading Post and Motel. At Thessalon turn north onto Hwy. 129. On the right side, 25 miles (40 km) from the start of Hwy. 129. Open 7 days a week, 6:30 am till 10:00 pm.

Price of non-resident fishing tags, tax included
8-Day. This is the most popular license with our customers 50.15 Canadian Dollars
8-Day Conservation. Smaller possession limits, click here for limits 28.84 Canadian Dollars
Annual 78.18 Canadian Dollars
Annual Conservation 48.26 Canadian Dollars
1-day 21.31 Canadian Dollars
Do you want to know the equivalent in American Dollars? Do a currency conversion

Children and Licenses

Youngsters who are not yet turned 18 years old may fish without a license as long as they are in the company of an adult who has a license. But young persons without a license are not entitled to their own limit of fish, rather the fish they catch are counted as part of the accompanying adult's limit. Young persons not yet 18 can of course buy a license of their own.

Open Seasons

Northern Pike open all year
Walleyes third Saturday in May to April 14th
Yellow Perch Open all year
Smallmouth Bass open all year
Brooktrout January 1st to Labour Day
Whitefish Open all year

Limits of Catch & Possession Limits

Walleye

The slot size has been eliminated.
Standard Licenses - 4; not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in.)
Conservation license - 2; not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in.)

Northern Pike

Standard license - 6; not more than 2 greater than 61 cm (24 in.), of which not more than 1 greater than 86 cm (33.9 in.)
Conservation license - 2; not more than 1 greater than 61 cm (24 in.), none greater than 86 cm (33.9 in.)

Yellow Perch Standard license - 50. Conservation license - 25. No size limit.

Small Mouth and Largemouth Bass Combinations

Standard license - 6. Conservation license - 2. No size limit.
Brooktrout Standard license - 5; not more than 2 greater than 30 cm (11.8 in.), of which not more than 1 is greater than 40 cm (15.8 in.) Conservation license - 2; not more than 1 greater than 30 cm (11.8 in.), none greater than 40 cm (15.8 in.)

Whitefish 25 in one day, 12 with a conservation license. No size limit.

Be careful. If you get checked by a conservation officer on the lake or at the dock, he will ask to see the fish that you have on your stringer or in your bucket. Next, he is likely to ask whether you have additional fish in your refrigerator or in your freezer. He will then want to see those as well. If the total number of fish in all of those places exceeds your legal possession limit, it will result in a fine and confiscation of the fish.

Bait Fish

Please visit this link for current rules about minnows.


Transporting Fish

If your party has more than one car or boat, never transport more fish in the vehicle than the number of persons traveling in it. This mistake can really cost you money.

You can fillet the walleyes and northerns that you want to take home. You can also fillet your catch when you come off the water, for example at lunch time or at the end of the day. The only time when you must leave your walleyes and northern pike intact is while you are still actively engaged with fishing.

You can fillet walleyes and northern pike in all of the instances listed below:

. . . when you prepare your fish for immediate consumption, even for a shore lunch;

. . . when you prepare your catch at an overnight accommodation for storage;

. . . when you transport your catch on the water from a temporary overnight accommodation to your primary residence and while you are not engaged in fishing while you are in transit. For example, you can have filleted fish if you slept out over night in a tent and are on your way back to your cabin, or if you are on your way from your cabin to your car, to head home. Just don't be fishing during that transit.

. . . when you transport your fish overland, as on your journey home.

Please remember to release immediately any fish that is not within the legal size range, even if the fish is injured and not likely to live. Therefore it is important to take great care when removing the lure from the fish.

Packaging Fish

A Conservation Officer needs to be able to count and identify the fish. Therefore, do not freeze them all in one lump. To package your fish, leave some skin on the fillets and pack the fillets side-by-side, not stacked on top of each other. That way your catch can be identified and counted when a Conservation Officer checks you. Transparent bags are good for packing fish because one can readily see what's inside. Do not freeze the fillets in water because the water will make it difficult or impossible to see or count the fillets.

You may never have more than one day's limit in your possession. If you buy a conservation license, the limits are smaller.

If your party has more than one car or boat, never transport more fish in the vehicle than the number of persons traveling in it. This mistake can really cost you money.

For more detail, click here to check out the Ministry of Natural Resources Site