Sport fishing variation order for Fisheries Management Zone 4
Variation orders adjust the close time, fishing quota and/or limit on fish sizes in a Fisheries Management Zone 4.
SF – 2024/4
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 4 (SF-2023/4) signed by Minister Smith on November 1, 2022 is revoked and replaced by this Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 4 (SF-2024/4).
- 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 4 are hereby varied as set out in Schedules A, B and C to this Sport Fishing Variation Order.
- That the close times for dip netting Lake Whitefish and Lake Herring as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 6 to the said Regulations for Fisheries Management Zone 4 are hereby varied to January 1 to September 30 and December 16 to December 31.
- 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, 2024.
Dated at Toronto this 3rd day of November 2023.
Graydon Smith
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
Schedule A – Zone-wide close times, quotas and size limits for Fisheries Management Zone 4
| 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 December 31 | N/A | N/A |
| Black & white crappie | No close time | 15, any size | 10, any size |
| Brook trout | Day after Labour Day to December 31 | 5, not more than 1 greater than 30 cm | 2, not more than 1 greater than 30 cm |
| Brown trout | January 1 to December 31 | N/A | N/A |
| Channel catfish | January 1 to December 31 | N/A | N/A |
| Lake sturgeon | January 1 to December 31 | N/A | N/A |
| Lake trout | October 1 to December 31 | 2, not more than 1 greater than 56 cm | 1, any size |
| Lake whitefish | No close time | 12, any size | 6, any size |
| Largemouth & smallmouth bass | No close time | 2, must be less than 35 cm from January 1 to June 30 and December 1 to December 31 4, no size limit from July 1 to November 30 | 1, must be less than 35 cm from January 1 to June 30 and December 1 to December 31 2, no size limit from July 1 to November 30 |
| Muskellunge | January 1 to the Friday before the 3rd Saturday in June and December 16 to December 31 | 1, must be greater than 102 cm | 0 |
| Northern pike | No close time | 4, none between 70-90 cm and not more than 1 greater than 90 cm | 2, none between 70-90 cm and not more than 1 greater than 90 cm |
| Pacific salmon | January 1 to December 31 | N/A | N/A |
| Rainbow trout | No close time | 5, any size | 2, any size |
| Splake | No close time | 5, any size | 2, any size |
| Sunfish | No close time | 50, any size | 25, any size |
| Walleye & sauger | April 15 to the Friday before the 3rd 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 4
| Waters | Species or combination of species | Close time | Sport Fishing Licence quota and size limit | Conservation Fishing Licence quota and size limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Vermilion Lake (50°02'00"N., 92°13'00"W.) | Lake Trout | No change | 2, none between 45- 60 cm, not more than 1 greater than 60 cm | 1, none between 45- 60 cm |
| Cedar Lake (50°10'08"N., 93°07'11"W.) | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 137 cm | 0 |
| Cedarbough Lake (49°58'49"N., 92°11'37"W.) - Vermilion Township and all connecting streams to Little Vermilion Lake (50°00'06"N., 92°09'18"W.) - Jordan, Drayton, Vermilion and Pickerel Townships | Lake Trout | January 1 to December 31 | N/A | N/A |
| Cliff Lake (50°10'08"N., 93°17'60"W.) - at Highway 105 | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 137 cm | 0 |
| Cloudlet Lake (49°58'50"N., 92°21'13"W.) and connecting streams | Smallmouth Bass | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Cloudlet Lake (49°58'50"N., 92°21'13"W.) and connecting streams | Northern Pike | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Cloudlet Lake (49°58'50"N., 92°21'13"W.) and connecting streams | Muskellunge | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Confusion Lake (50°40'00"N., 94°09'00"W.) | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 91 cm | 0 |
| Flat Lake (50°57'43"N., 93°57'12"W.) - Baird Township | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 91 cm | 0 |
| Graystone Lake (49°59'11"N., 91°02'38"W.) - from Highway 599 to a line drawn across Graystone Lake at 91°03'13"W. | Walleye | April 1 to June 14 | No change | No change |
| Hooch Lake (49°57'57"N., 92°19'20"W.) and connecting waters - Echo, Lomond, Pickerel and Vermilion Townships | Smallmouth Bass | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Hooch Lake (49°57'57"N., 92°19'20"W.) and connecting waters - Echo, Lomond, Pickerel and Vermilion Townships | Northern Pike | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Hooch Lake (49°57'57"N., 92°19'20"W.) and connecting waters - Echo, Lomond, Pickerel and Vermilion Townships | Muskellunge | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Lac Seul, including Broad Lake (50°26'32"N., 92°37'50"W.), Sunlight Lake (50°29'14"N., 92°34'17"W.) and all connecting waters | Walleye and Sauger | No change | 4, none between 46- 53 cm, not more than 1 greater than 53 cm | 2, none between 46- 53 cm, not more than 1 greater than 53 cm |
| Lac Seul, including Broad Lake (50°26'32"N., 92°37'50"W.), Sunlight Lake (50°29'14"N., 92°34'17"W.) and all connecting waters | Muskellunge | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Little Vermilion Lake (50°00'06"N., 92°09'18"W.) and all connecting waters to Cedarbough Lake in Jordan, Drayton, Vermilion and Pickerel Townships | Lake Trout | January 1 to December 31 | N/A | N/A |
| Longlegged Lake (50°45'00"N., 94°05'00"W.) | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 137 cm | 0 |
| Muskie (Maskinonge) Lake (49°56'58"N., 92°17'41"W.) and connecting waters - Echo, Lomond, Pickerel and Vermilion Townships | Smallmouth Bass | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Muskie (Maskinonge) Lake (49°56'58"N., 92°17'41"W.) and connecting waters - Echo, Lomond, Pickerel and Vermilion Townships | Northern Pike | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Muskie (Maskinonge) Lake (49°56'58"N., 92°17'41"W.) and connecting waters - Echo, Lomond, Pickerel and Vermilion Townships | Muskellunge | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Minnitaki Lake (49°58'19"N., 91°57'29"W.), Abram Lake (50°03'33"N., 91°55'44"W.), Pelican Lake (50°06'41"N., 91°57'40"W.), and Botsford Lake (50°08'19"N., 91°39'32"W.), including Duck Lake, Hidden Lake (50°07'26"N., 91°44'33"W.), the English River and Rice River | Walleye and Sauger | No change | 4, none between 46- 53 cm, not more than 1 greater than 53 cm | 2, none between 46- 53 cm, not more than 1 greater than 53 cm |
| Minnitaki Lake (49°58'19"N., 91°57'29"W.), Abram Lake (50°03'33"N., 91°55'44"W.), Pelican Lake (50°06'41"N., 91°57'40"W.) and Botsford Lake (50°08'19"N., 91°39'32"W.), including Duck Lake, Hidden Lake (50°07'26"N., 91°44'33"W.), the English River and Rice River | Northern Pike | April 15 to the Friday before the 3rd Saturday in May | No change | No change |
| Minnitaki Lake, Red Pine Bay | All species | No change | 0, from the 3rd Saturday in May to June 14 | 0, from the 3rd Saturday in May to June 14 |
| Perrault Lake (50°17'N., 93°08'W.) | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 137 cm | 0 |
| Post Creek - from the base of the waterfall in Post Bay to latitude 49°55'36"N. on Sturgeon Lake | Walleye | April 1 to June 14 | No change | No change |
| Red Lake/Gullrock System - those waters upstream of Snowshoe Dam (50°54'22"N., 93°31'05"W.) on the Chukuni River, which includes Red Lake (51°03'21"N., 93°57'12"W.), Keg Lake (50°59'32"N., 93°41'01"W.), Gullrock Lake (50°58'28"N., 93°37'00"W.), Ranger Lake (51°03'54"N., 93°34'33" W.), Two Island Lake (50°55'30"N., 93°34'53"W.) and all portions of the Chukuni River in-between these lakes and any waters flowing into the Red Lake/Gullrock System | Lake Trout | No change | 0 | 0 |
| Russett Lake (50°58'31"N., 93°55'45"W.) - Baird Township | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 91 cm | 0 |
| Sturgeon Lake described as Trappers Point Bay from 50°11'55"N. to the intersection of Trout Creek and Second Creek with Highway 599 | Walleye | April 1 to June 14 | No change | No change |
| Unnamed Lake (Paul-Orr Lake) (50°59'24”N., 93°56'02W.) | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 91 cm | 0 |
| Unnamed Lake (Spires Lake) (50°58'46” N., 93°58' 45” W.) | Muskellunge | No change | 1, must be greater than 91 cm | 0 |
Schedule C – Additional fishing opportunities for Fisheries Management Zone 4
Part A
Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the sport fishing licence size limit for Brook Trout "any size", the conservation fishing licence size limit for Brook Trout "any size" and the close time is "no close time" in the following waters.
Waters
- Berglund Lake (49°35'50"N., 91°38'27"W.)
- Bill Lake (50°04'02"N., 93°58'07"W.)
- Butler Lake (49°29'10"N., 91°50'13"W.) - Bradshaw Township
- Dog Lake (50°00'51"N., 94°00'49"W.)
- Highway Lake (50°04'16"N., 92°01'30"W.) - Drayton Township
- Krisko Lake (49°42'33"N., 91°12'60"W.)
- Little Butler Lake (49°28'41"N., 91°50'29"W.) - Bradshaw Township
- Little Snowstorm Lake (49°37'26"N., 91°43'06"W.)
- McLaurin Lake (49°43'13"N., 91°12'05"W.)
- Nyilas Lake (50°03'57"N., 92°04'20"W.) - Drayton Township
- O'Dell Lake (49°24'01"N., 91°35'10"W.) - Skey Township
- Reguly Lake (49°38'01"N., 91°43'40"W.)
- Shrimp Lake (49°35'26"N., 91°38'55"W.)
- Snowstorm Lake (49°37'17"N., 91°43'27"W.)
- Snyder Lake (50°03'52"N., 92°04'40"W.) - Drayton Township
- Wreck Lake (50°02'50"N., 94°08'13"W.)
Updated: September 01, 2024
Published: March 08, 2016