Sport fishing variation order for Fisheries Management Zone 16

Variation orders adjust the close time, fishing quota and/or limit on fish sizes in a Fisheries Management Zone 16.

On this page Skip this page navigation

SF – 2022/16

Under the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007

Pursuant to the authority vested in me in subsection 13(1) of the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007, made under the Fisheries Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. F-14, I hereby authorize and declare the following:

That Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 16 (SF-2021/16) signed by Minister Yakabuski on November 23, 2020 is revoked and replaced by this Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 16 (SF-2022/16).
That the angling close times as set out in Schedule 2 to the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007 and the angling quotas and size limits as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the said Regulations for Fisheries Management Zone 16 are hereby varied as set out in Schedules A, B and C to this Sport Fishing Variation Order.
That if there is a conflict between this Sport Fishing Variation Order and a close time for a fish sanctuary, the close time for the fish sanctuary prevails.
That this Sport Fishing Variation Order comes into effect January 1, 2022.

Dated at Toronto this 2^nd day of November, 2021.

Greg Rickford
Minister of Natural Resources

Schedule A – Zone-wide close times, quotas and size limits for Fisheries Management Zone 16

Subject to Schedules B and C of this Variation Order the following angling close times, quotas and size limits (measured in total length) apply to all waters in Fisheries Management Zone 16.
Species or combination of species	Close time	Sport fishing licence quota and size limit	Conservation fishing licence quota and size limit
Atlantic salmon	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31	0	0
Black & white crappie	No close time	30, any size	10, any size
Brook trout	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31	5, any size	2, any size
Brown trout	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31	5, any size	2, any size
Channel catfish	No close time	12, any size	6, any size
Lake sturgeon	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Lake trout	October 1 to December 31	2, any size	1, any size
Lake whitefish	No close time	12, any size	6, any size
Largemouth & smallmouth bass	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in June and December 1 to December 31	6, any size	2, any size
Muskellunge	January 1 to the Friday before the 1^st Saturday in June and December 16 to December 31	1, must be greater than 91 cm	0
Northern pike	April 1^st to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May	6, any size	2, any size
Pacific salmon	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31	5, any size	2, any size
Rainbow trout	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31	2, any size	1, any size
Splake	No close time	5, any size	2, any size
Sunfish	No close time	50, any size	25, any size
Walleye & sauger	March 16 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May	4, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm	2, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm
Yellow perch	No close time	50, any size	25, any size
Any other species	No close time	No limit	No limit

Schedule B – Exceptions to the Zone-wide close times, quotas and size limits for Fisheries Management Zone 16

Despite Schedule A of this Variation Order the angling close times, quotas and size limits (measured in total length) set out in this Schedule apply in the following waters. For greater clarity, where this schedule indicates "no change", the Zone-wide requirement in Schedule A applies.
Waters	Species or combination of species	Close time	Sport fishing licence quota and size limit	Conservation fishing licence quota and size limit
Bruce and Grey Counties (inland rivers/streams only)	All species except those listed for: walleye and sauger, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, and lake sturgeon	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31	No change	No change
Bruce and Grey Counties (inland rivers/streams only)	Walleye and sauger	January 1 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31	No change	No change
Bruce and Grey Counties (inland rivers/streams only)	Largemouth and smallmouth bass	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in June and October 1 to December 31	No change	No change
Bruce and Grey Counties (inland rivers/streams only)	Northern pike	January 1 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31	No change	No change
Bruce and Grey Counties (inland rivers/streams only)	Muskellunge	January 1 to the Friday before the 1^st Saturday in June and October 1 to December 31	No change	No change
Bruce and Grey Counties (inland rivers/streams only)	Lake sturgeon	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Credit River and tributaries - upstream of Old Baseline Road, Town of Caledon, Regional Municipality of Peel	Brook trout	No change	0	0
Credit River and tributaries - upstream of Old Baseline Road, Town of Caledon, Regional Municipality of Peel	Brown trout	No change	0	0
Credit River and tributaries - upstream of Old Baseline Road, Town of Caledon, Regional Municipality of Peel	Rainbow trout	No change	0	0
Grand River - between the former town of Paris (City of Brant County) and Brantford from a line across the Grand River in Paris at 100 m downstream of the Highway 2 bridge downstream to the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford	Walleye	No change	0	0
Grand River - between the former town of Paris (City of Brant County) and Brantford from a line across the Grand River in Paris at 100 m downstream of the Highway 2 bridge downstream to the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford	Smallmouth bass	No change	0	0
Grand River - between the former town of Paris (City of Brant County) and Brantford from a line across the Grand River in Paris at 100 m downstream of the Highway 2 bridge downstream to the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford	Northern pike	No change	0	0
Grand River - between the former town of Paris (City of Brant County) and Brantford from a line across the Grand River in Paris at 100 m downstream of the Highway 2 bridge downstream to the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford	Brown trout	No change	0	0
Grand River - between the former town of Paris (City of Brant County) and Brantford from a line across the Grand River in Paris at 100 m downstream of the Highway 2 bridge downstream to the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford	Rainbow trout	No change	0	0
Grand River - from the pedestrian and service bridge that crosses the Grand River on an angle upstream (west) of the Brant Conservation Area in the City of Brantford to the edge of Lake Erie	Brown trout and rainbow trout	No change	1, any size from October 1 to December 31	0 from October 1 to December 31
Grand River - from the water’s edge of Lake Erie upstream to the dam in the Town of Caledonia - Haldimand County	Walleye	No change	4, any size	2, any size
Grand River and its tributaries downstream of the Onondaga and Tuscarora Townships line to Lake Erie	Walleye	March 1 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May	No change	No change
Grand River and its tributaries downstream of the Onondaga and Tuscarora Townships line to Lake Erie	Northern pike	March 1 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May	No change	No change
Grand River: between the West Garafraxa 2^nd Line and Scotland Street in the Town of Fergus; between Tower Street in the Town of Fergus and the Bissell Dam in Nichol Township; between 100 m downstream of a bridge located at the southern boundary of the Elora Gorge Conservation Area and a point 100 m upstream of Pilkington 8^th Line in Pilkington Township; between 100 m downstream of Pilkington 8^th Line bridge and 100 m upstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line; between 100 m downstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line and 100 m upstream of Highway 86 bridge	Brown trout	No change	0	0
Grand River: between the West Garafraxa 2^nd Line and Scotland Street in the Town of Fergus; between Tower Street in the Town of Fergus and the Bissell Dam in Nichol Township; between 100 m downstream of a bridge located at the southern boundary of the Elora Gorge Conservation Area and a point 100 m upstream of Pilkington 8^th Line in Pilkington Township; between 100 m downstream of Pilkington 8^th Line bridge and 100 m upstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line; between 100 m downstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line and 100 m upstream of Highway 86 bridge	Rainbow trout	No change	0	0
Grand River: between the West Garafraxa 2^nd Line and Scotland Street in the Town of Fergus; between Tower Street in the Town of Fergus and the Bissell Dam in Nichol Township; between 100 m downstream of a bridge located at the southern boundary of the Elora Gorge Conservation Area and a point 100 m upstream of Pilkington 8^th Line in Pilkington Township; between 100 m downstream of Pilkington 8^th Line bridge and 100 m upstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line; between 100 m downstream of Pilkington Township and Woolwich Township boundary line and 100 m upstream of Highway 86 bridge	Brook trout	No change	0	0
Humber River and tributaries upstream from Eglinton Avenue	Brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout in the aggregate	No change	2, any size	1, any size
Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching, the Green River and their tributaries, the Trent Canal System and its tributaries downstream from Lake Couchiching to Lock 42, the Trent Canal System in Brock and Ramara Townships, and the Severn River and its tributaries (excluding the Black River) downstream from Lake Couchiching to Wasdell Falls, all within the Regional Municipalities of York, Durham and Simcoe County and The District of Muskoka	Walleye	March 16 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May	No change	No change
Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching, the Green River and their tributaries, the Trent Canal System and its tributaries downstream from Lake Couchiching to Lock 42, the Trent Canal System in Brock and Ramara Townships, and the Severn River and its tributaries (excluding the Black River) downstream from Lake Couchiching to Wasdell Falls, all within the Regional Municipalities of York, Durham and Simcoe County and The District of Muskoka	Muskellunge	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching, the Green River and their tributaries, the Trent Canal System and its tributaries downstream from Lake Couchiching to Lock 42, the Trent Canal System in Brock and Ramara Townships, and the Severn River and its tributaries (excluding the Black River) downstream from Lake Couchiching to Wasdell Falls, all within the Regional Municipalities of York, Durham and Simcoe County and The District of Muskoka	Yellow perch	No change	100, any size	50, any size
Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching, the Green River and their tributaries, the Trent Canal System and its tributaries downstream from Lake Couchiching to Lock 42, the Trent Canal System in Brock and Ramara Townships, and the Severn River and its tributaries (excluding the Black River) downstream from Lake Couchiching to Wasdell Falls, all within the Regional Municipalities of York, Durham and Simcoe County and The District of Muskoka	Lake trout	March 16 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31	No change	No change
Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching, the Green River and their tributaries, the Trent Canal System and its tributaries downstream from Lake Couchiching to Lock 42, the Trent Canal System in Brock and Ramara Townships, and the Severn River and its tributaries (excluding the Black River) downstream from Lake Couchiching to Wasdell Falls, all within the Regional Municipalities of York, Durham and Simcoe County and The District of Muskoka	Lake whitefish	March 16 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31	2, any size	1, any size
Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching, the Green River and their tributaries, the Trent Canal System and its tributaries downstream from Lake Couchiching to Lock 42, the Trent Canal System in Brock and Ramara Townships, and the Severn River and its tributaries (excluding the Black River) downstream from Lake Couchiching to Wasdell Falls, all within the Regional Municipalities of York, Durham and Simcoe County and The District of Muskoka	Lake herring (cisco)	March 16 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31	2, any size	1, any size
Nottawasaga River – from the Boyne River downstream (north) to the Pine River	Rainbow trout	No change	0	0
Thames River - from the mouth of the Thames River at Lake St. Clair to the downstream side of the Keil Street Bridge in the Municipality of Chatham-Kentt	Muskellunge	No change	1, must be greater than 112 cm	0
Whitemans Creek (Horner Creek) - between Robinson Road and Cleaver Sideroad - Brantford Township	Brown trout or rainbow trout	No change	1, must be greater than 50 cm	1, must be greater than 50 cm

Schedule C – Additional fishing opportunities for Fisheries Management Zone 16

Part A

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the close time for angling Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout and Pacific salmon is January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April in the following waters.

Waters

Bayfield River - Goderich and Stanley Townships from Highway 4 to the downstream side of the Highway 21 bridge (Huron County)
Beaver River - Collingwood Township from the Thornbury Dam to Georgian Bay (Grey County)
Big Creek - Walsingham Township, south of the Quance Dam to Regional Road 21 at Lynedoch
Big Otter Creek - Bayham Township (Elgin County)
Bighead River - St. Vincent Township (Grey County)
Bronte Creek - Town of Oakville from Highway 2 (Lakeshore Road West) upstream to the south side of Highway 407
Credit River and tributaries - from the south side of Britannia Road in the City of Mississauga upstream to the south side of the Highway 407 Bridge in the City of Brampton
Don River and tributaries - upstream from Eglinton Avenue in the City of Toronto to the south side of Highway 407 in the Regional Municipality of York
Grand River - from a line across the Grand River in Paris at 100 m downstream of the Highway 2 (Dundas Street West) bridge to the edge of Lake Erie
Hog Creek - Tay Township from the C.P.R. bridge (Lot 9, Concession 6) downstream (north) to Georgian Bay (Simcoe County)
Humber River and tributaries upstream from Eglinton Avenue in the City of Toronto to the south side of the Highway 407 bridge in the Regional Municipality of York
Little Otter Creek - East branch of Big Otter Creek in Bayham Township
Little Sauble River - Bruce Township from Highway 21 to Lake Huron (Bruce County)
Maitland River - Colborne, Goderich, Hullett, East and West Wawanosh, Turnberry Townships between County Road 4 and the downstream side of the Highway 21 bridge (Huron County)
Nine Mile (Lucknow) River - Ashfield and West Wawanosh Townships between County Road 86 and Lake Huron
North Creek - Middleton Township downstream of Highway 3
Rouge River - from Highway 2 (Kingston Road) in the City of Toronto upstream to the south side of Highway 407 in the Town of Markham
Sauble River - Amabel Township from the lowest ledge of Sauble Falls 440 m downstream to a line drawn perpendicular to the rivers current
Saugeen River - Arran, Amabel, Brant, Carrick, Elderslie, and Saugeen Townships and in the Town of Walkerton and the Village of Paisley, between the southerly edge of the Municipality of Brockton Concession 2 SDR road bridge and the westerly edge of the concrete abutments downstream of Denny’s Dam
Sixteen Mile Creek (Oakville Creek) and tributaries - Town of Oakville from Highway 2 (Lakeshore Road) upstream to the south side of Highway 407
Sturgeon River and tributaries - Tay and Oro-Medonte Townships (Simcoe County) - including the mouth of the Sturgeon River at Georgian Bay
Young’s Creek (Ryerse Creek) - County of Norfolk between the dam on Lot 23, Concession III, Charlotteville Township and the downstream side of the Front Road bridge at Port Ryerse

Part B

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the close time for angling brook trout is "no close time" in the following waters.

Waters

Bells Lake (44°19′17″N., 80°44′10″W.) - Glenelg Township

Part C

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the close time for angling Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout and Pacific salmon is "no close time" in the following waters.

Waters

Black Creek - City of Nanticoke from Highway 3 to the junction with the Lynn River
Bronte Creek - Town of Oakville from Highway 2 (Lakeshore Road West) to Lake Ontario
Credit River and tributaries - City of Mississauga from the south side of Highway 403 bridge downstream to Lake Ontario
Don River and tributaries - City of Toronto from Lake Ontario upstream to Eglinton Avenue
Fifteen Mile Creek - City of St. Catharines and town of Lincoln between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Lake Ontario
Forty Mile Creek - Town of Grimsby between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Lake Ontario
Grindstone Creek - City of Burlington from Highway 2 (Plains Road) to Hamilton Harbour of Lake Ontario - City of Hamilton and Region of Halton
Highland Creek - City of Toronto from the downstream edge of the Highway 2 (Kingston Road) bridge to Lake Ontario.
Humber River - City of Toronto between Eglinton Ave and Lake Ontario
Nottawasaga River – from the Boyne River downstream (north) to Georgian Bay
Rouge River - City of Toronto between Highway 2 (Kingston Road) and Lake Ontario
Sixteen Mile (Oakville) Creek - Town of Oakville from Highway 2 (Lakeshore Road to Lake Ontario
Sixteen Mile Creek - Town of Lincoln between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Lake Ontario
Spencer Creek - City of Hamilton from Highway 102 (Cootes Drive) to Lake Ontario
Thames River (main branch only) - Elgin County and Middlesex County and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent
Trout Pond of Waterford Ponds - City of Nanticoke
Twelve Mile Creek - City of St. Catharines between Lakeport Road and Lake Ontario
Twenty Mile Creek - Town of Lincoln between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Lake Ontario
Young’s Creek (Ryerse Creek) - Woodhouse Township, from the downstream side of the Front Road bridge to Lake Erie at Port Ryerse

Part D

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the sport fishing licence quota for rainbow trout is "5", the conservation fishing licence quota for rainbow trout is "2" and the close time for angling rainbow trout and brown trout is "no close time" in the following waters.

Waters

Big Creek - Walsingham Township, downstream from Regional Road 21 to Long Point Bay of Lake Erie
North Thames River (main branch only) - Middlesex County

Part E

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the sport fishing licence quota for walleye is "6", any size, the conservation fishing licence quota for walleye is "2", any size and the close time for angling walleye is "no close time" in the following waters.

Waters

Chenail Ecarte - from the mouth of the Chenail Ecarte at Lake St. Clair to the mouth of the Sydenham River
Sydenham River - from the mouth of the Sydenham River at the Chenail Ecarte to the downstream side of the St. George Street Bridge in the Town of Dresden
Thames River - from the mouth of the Thames River at Lake St. Clair to the downstream side of the Keil Street Bridge in the Municipality of Chatham

Updated: August 01, 2024

Published: January 04, 2022