Rice Lake Ontario Walleye Slot Size
Please be wary of slot size restrictions and limits when fishing for Lake Nipissing walleye to ensure the fishery stays healthy for future generations. The most productive season for walleye fishing on Lake Nipissing is spring. In early spring walleye, also known as pickerel, by local anglers, congregate in rivers to spawn. In 2000, the Area A Slot Limit for Walleye was implemented. Area A defined by ‘the area south of Gammon-Bloodvein Rivers to the south and west shores of the Winnipeg River, including Lac du Bonnet, and the southern boundary of Whiteshell Provincial Park, and from Lake Winnipeg to the Ontario border (excluding the Winnipeg RiverRead More. Rice Lake Walleye Rice Lake Walleye. By Guest, November 6, 2019 in Fishing Forum. A slot size in that area and we had to return a number of them around 25. The Cobourg and Peterborough Railway was completed in 1854 and crossed Rice Lake from Harwood to Hiawatha on a 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) line of wooden trestles. However, the thick layers of ice that covered the lake in the winter damaged the bridge beyond repair and it was declared unsafe and closed within six years. Regulations change zone by zone, but typically anglers are allowed to keep four walleye, only one of which can be longer than 18 inches. This forward-thinking management strategy concentrates fish harvest on the smaller and more abundant fish in the population, sparing the adult breeders to survive and repopulate local lakes, rivers, and streams.
Rice Lake Ontario Walleye Slot Size Chart
Fishing Regulations on Rice Lake have changed somewhat beginning in 2010.
Here are the basic changes that Fishing Regulations on Rice Lake that affect zone 17 in which Rice Lake is apart of:
New Limits and slot sizes have been put into effect beginning in 2010 Fishing Season.
When it comes to Walleye (Pickerel) there has been a reduction in catch and possession limits. Previously the possession limit was 6, now it is 4 for a Sport fishing license or 1 if you have a Conservation license. There is also a slot size now in place; you are only allowed to keep fish between 35-50cm or 13.8 and 19.7”inches.
These new regulations have been put into place after monitoring of southern Ontario walleye populations has shown poor health in most areas. Size and possession limits will improve the declining walleye population and provide consistent walleye regulations across the province. The walleye season on Rice Lake runs from the second Sunday in May to November 15th 2010.
For Large or Smallmouth Bass there are no slot size limits but there are possession limits. If you have a Sport fishing license the limit (in any combination of Large or Smallmouth) is 6 fish. If you have a Conservation license then your limit is 2. The Bass season begins on the 4th Saturday in June and ends on December 15th.
For Muskellunge on Rice Lake the limit is 1 fish and it must be greater than 44” or 112 cm if you have a Sport fishing license, you are not allowed to keep any Musky if you have a Conservation license. The Musky season begins on the first Saturday in June and ends on December 15th.
New Fishing Regulations on Rice Lake for 2010 regarding Sunfish, Bluegill or Pumpkinseed will now have the following limits for Rice Lake and Zone 17. If you have a Sport Fishing License the maximum number of fish is 300 with only 30 greater than 18cm or 7.1”inches. If you have a conservation license the limit is 15 pan fish of any size.
For Yellow Perch if you have a Sport Fishing License your limit is 50 or if you have a Conservation fishing License then your limit is 25 Perch of any size.
For Black Crappie the daily limit if you possess a valid Sport Fishing License your limit is 30 fish of any size while a Conservation License will allow you to keep 10.
Panfish season beginning in January 2010 is now year round. Ice fishing begins January 1st all ice huts must be off the lake by February 28 11:59pm.
INVASIVE SPECIES ALERT: If you catch one these little devils (Pictured below) in Rice Lake don’t put it back in, let it suck air. (it’s a Goby)
The following was taken from www.sciencedaily.com and talks about this major problem now in Rice Lake Ontario.
“This invasion poses many potential threats for native species of fish and mussels,” says Mark Poos, a PhD Candidate in U of T’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Poos is lead author of the study published recently in the international journal Biological Invasions. Up to 89 per cent of fish species and 17 per cent of mussel species are either known or suspected to be affected by the goby invasion. Of particular concern is the impact on species that have a conservation designation, including such endangered species as the small eastern sand darter fish and mussels such as the wavy rayed lampmussel.
The Great Lakes and its tributaries are Canada’s most diverse aquatic ecosystems, but are also the most fragile, notes Poos. Several of these rivers hold species found nowhere else in Canada, including 11 endangered species and two threatened species. Furthermore, the round goby, an aggressive ground-feeder, is a threat to three globally rare species: the rayed bean, northern riffleshell and snuffbox mussels.
Round gobies entered the St. Clair River in 1990 likely through ballast water from ocean-going ships. Despite over 15 years of potential invasion through natural dispersal from the Great Lakes into tributaries, the round goby threat did not manifest itself until now. “It was previously thought that these high-diversity areas were immune to invasion. This study shows that this is likely not the case,” says Poos.
He advises anglers to be watchful for round goby and if they catch one: do not release it back into the water. Other tips to prevent the spread of round goby include not releasing live bait into the water, draining your boat before leaving any water access and never transferring fish from one location to another.
If people do catch round goby they should report the capture to http://www.invadingspecies.com.
HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL TIPS FOR RELEASING FISH AND ENSURING THEIR SURVIVAL:
1. Use barbless hooks and artificial lures (no organic bait) to prevent deep hooking.
2. Land fish as quickly as possible and use a rubber landing net if needed.
3. Keep the fish in the water as much as possible and handle the fish gently.
Rice Lake Ontario Walleye Slot Sizes
4. Wet your hands or use wet cloth gloves when handling fish out of water.
5. Do not touch the gills or eyes. Grasp the fish just behind the gill covers, or for fish without teeth (for example, bass or panfish),hold the fish by the lower lip.
6. Use long-nose pliers to remove the hook quickly without injuring the fish. If the fish is hooked deeply, cut the line and leave the hook in.
7. If you want to take a picture, be ready ahead of time, hold the fish in a horizontal position supporting its weight with your arm and hands, and take pictures quickly, minimising the time the fish is out of water.
8. When releasing the fish, hold it in the water so that it is facing into the current or if there is no current, gently move the fish in a forward direction so water flows through the gills.
9. When the fish begins to struggle, is breathing normally and can keep its balance, let it swim away.
10. Remember that all fish not immediately released count towards’ your daily catch or possession limits.
Remember to be safe on the water and always wear your Life jacket.
Crotch Lake is one of the top inland Walleye fishing lakes in Eastern Ontario. The great Walleye fishing is the result of the lake being clear and nutrient, which sustains high populations of Walleye. Fresh oxygenated water from the Mississippi River and other feeder streams rejuvenates the lake and gives the Walleyes prime habitat to spawn and grow quickly. The lack of high fishing pressure also maintains this great Walleye fishery. Crotch Lake is a big lake of 3850 acres with 163 miles of shoreline counting the islands. This is all waiting for you to explore.
Crotch Lake is a very special lake located in the Frontenac Highlands and has been deemed as a protected wilderness area, which is called the North Frontenac Parklands. It has been protected from development with only one drive-to campground at the very north-end and two lodges at the very south-end, which includes Land O' Lake Lodge. All three were grandfathered into the park. The lake has only four cottages; rather it is a Mecca for wilderness canoeist with backcountry campsites along the shore. It's very much like fishing in a Provincial Park. Only a few canoeists participate in serious fishing thus keeping the Walleye population high.
Crotch Lake has an extremely diverse structure with many islands, shoals and gravel humps along with sand bars and sandy shorelines. The lake also hosts very healthy weed beds, which are found everywhere and can range from thick to sparse patches. It's perfect Walleye habitat.
To maintain high water levels in the river for canoeists the water level in the lake fluctuates. In the spring the water is high and Walleyes are found all along the shore. There will be loners spread out along the shore but guests often run into post-active spawning areas where dozens of Walleyes get caught one after another. Even long after the Walleyes are finished spawning the males will hang around these areas to protect the beds. The big females will be off these areas in the 10 to 20-foot range. There are many inlets for feeder streams and narrows, which hold large populations of Walleye but we do not want to be too specific on our website. Guests will learn all the hotspots when they get to the lodge. In the spring Water levels are high enough to get a boat into some smaller satellite lakes and bays, which are weedy and stuffed with Bass and Walleyes. As the season progresses most of these Walleyes will move into the main lake because the water gets too shallow and warm in the smaller satellite lakes.
As the season warms up and water levels drop the Walleyes start to move around. They tend to go a little deeper and head to the rocky points and shoals. There are also many weed covered mounds and sunken reefs which hold fish. Fishing 20 to 30 feet deep in the cooler water produces many fish. Some of the Walleyes go out into the open water and feed on suspended schools of Lake Herring (Cisco). The Walleyes will also concentrate along the edge of big weed beds that face the open lake.
Later in the season the Walleye fishing changes again because water levels start to rise again. This is a lake where the fish are always moving. Crotch Lake is different from other lakes. Fall fishing for Walleye is outstanding. The reason it's so good is because they are easy to find. Many come shallow and patrol the shoreline for food. Others are concentrated down 20 to 30 feet off the rocky points. Our late season guests are often rewarded with some of the biggest Walleyes because the big Walleyes are trying to pack on weight for the winter and they can be very aggressive.
The average size Walleye in the lake is about 20 inches. You should catch just as many over 20 inches as you do under. There is a protected slot size. All Walleyes under 15.5' and over 19.5' need to be let go. The introduction of the slot limit has resulted in a very healthy Walleye population with many very large breeding females cruising the lake. There are plenty of Walleyes being caught over 20' and up to 25'. Crotch Lake is a big lake with a lot of food. It produces Walleyes much greater than 25'. During the summer a surprising amount of Walleyes in the 30' range get caught. Some 30+' fish are caught by chance but more by guests who are specifically targeting big Walleye. How to target big Walleyes is explained on our fishing tips page. To our knowledge the largest Walleye caught on the lake was 36'.
Crotch Lake is famous for its bass fishing. Because many of our American guests are bass fishermen and often members of bass clubs, many concentrate on bass and ignore targeting Walleyes. Even the bass fishing guests will catch Walleye in the shallows. The Walleye fishery in our lake is virtually an untouched resource waiting for you to enjoy. Last year we had three guests catch 180 Walleyes in a week. You will have to drive 7 hours farther north to get back into that level of action.