Field Guides/Tay/Freshwater Fishing
Strong
Best WindowMay through October (open-water seasons vary by species and zone)
Variantssmallmouth-bass · largemouth-bass · walleye · pike
RegionTay, Ontario

Freshwater Fishing.

Severn Sound and the Tay Reach of Georgian Bay are within Ontario's Fisheries Management Zone 14 — the multispecies Georgian Bay zone — with smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch the prevailing targets. Inside the township, Hog Creek and the Sturgeon River are listed under FMZ 16 with separate regulations.

Freshwater Fishing in Tay
01 — What to know

The brief.

A valid Ontario fishing licence is required and zone-specific regulations apply: FMZ 14 (Georgian Bay open water) for the sound and reach; FMZ 16 (inland Simcoe waters) for Hog Creek (CPR bridge downstream to Georgian Bay) and the Sturgeon River and tributaries (Tay and Oro-Medonte townships, including the river mouth at Georgian Bay). Open-water seasons vary by species — walleye opens later than bass in the southern Georgian Bay system, and tributary regulations differ from the open bay.

Boat launches are at Victoria Harbour, Port McNicoll, and Waubaushene; shore access is along the Tay Shore Trail.

02 — Locations

3. places.

  1. 01

    Severn Sound / Tay Reach (FMZ 14)

    Georgian Bay open water — bass, walleye, northern pike, yellow perch.

  2. 02

    Sturgeon River and tributaries (FMZ 16)

    Inland Simcoe waters spanning Tay and Oro-Medonte townships; mouth at Georgian Bay.

  3. 03

    Hog Creek (FMZ 16)

    From the CPR bridge downstream to Georgian Bay inside Tay Township.

03 — Conditions

Today's read.

Air Quality
21
eu-aqi · low
UV Index
0.7
scale 0–11
Humidity
74%
relative
Visibility
20.6 km
clear
Temp
+2.6°
H 15° · L 0°
Sun
05:54 / 20:37
14h 43m daylight
A+
Prime conditions for freshwater fishing

Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.