Sport fishing variation order for Fisheries Management Zone 6

Variation orders adjust the close time, fishing quota and/or limit on fish sizes in a Fisheries Management Zone 6.

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SF – 2024/6

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 6 (SF – 2023/6) signed by Minister Smith on November 1, 2022 are revoked and replaced by this Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 6 (SF-2024/6).
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 6 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 6 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 3^rd 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 6

Subject to Schedules B and C of this Variation Order the following Angling close times, fishing quotas and size limits (measured in total length) apply to all waters in Fisheries Management Zone 6.
Species or combination of species	Close time	Sport Fishing Licence quota and size limit	Conservation Fishing Licence quota and size limit
Atlantic salmon	No close time	1, any size	0
Black & white crappie	No close time	15, any size	10, any size
Brook trout	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and the 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	No close time	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, not more than 1 greater than 56 cm from September 1 to September 30, any size from January 1 to August 31	1, any size
Lake whitefish	No close time	12, any size	6, any size
Largemouth & smallmouth bass	No close time	4, any size	2, any size
Muskellunge	January 1 to the Friday before the 3^rd Saturday in June and December 16 to December 31	1, must be greater than 91 cm	0
Northern pike	No close time	4, not more than 1 greater than 70 cm	2, not more than 1 greater than 70 cm
Pacific salmon	No close time	5, any size	2, any size
Rainbow trout	No close time	1, any size	0
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 3^rd 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 6

Despite Schedule A of this Variation Order the Angling close times, fishing 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
All tributaries to Lake Superior in Zone 6 described as follows: Current River downstream from the Boulevard Lake Dam (48°27′N., 89°11′W.) Coldwater Creek downstream from Ouimet Canyon Road (48°45′N., 88°36′W.) Spring Creek downstream from Dorion Fish Culture Station (48°50′N., 88°36′W.) Wolf River downstream from the lower falls (48°50.58′N., 88°34.87′W.) Black sturgeon River downstream from the Dam (48°55′N., 88°23′W.) Nipigon River, entire length including Jessie Lake, Polly Lake and Lake Helen From the Pigeon River to the Nipigon River, all tributaries lying downstream from Highway 61 and Highway 11/17, including Sibley and Black Bay Peninsula and all islands and excluding those listed in items 1 to 5 above	Brook trout	No change	1, must be greater than 56 cm	0
Arrow River	Brown trout	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and October 1 to December 31	No change	No change
Arrow River	Brown trout	N/A	No change	No change
Black sturgeon River downstream from the dam (48°55′ N., 88°23′ W.) to Lake Superior	Walleye	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Cushing Lake (48°56′10″N., 90°30′11″W.) - Inwood Township	Walleye	No change	4, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm	2, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm
Cushing Lake (48°56′10″N., 90°30′11″W.) - Inwood Township	Northern pike	April 15 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May	No change	No change
Jessie Lake (49°11′19″N., 88°19′52″W.) - Purdom Township	Northern pike	No change	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
Jessie Lake (49°11′19″N., 88°19′52″W.) - Purdom Township	Brook trout	No change	1, must be greater than 56 cm	0
Jessie Lake (49°11′19″N., 88°19′52″W.) - Purdom Township	Lake trout	January 1 to February 14 and March 16 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in May and October 1 to December 31	2, not more than 1 greater than 56 cm from September 1 to September 30, any size from February 15 to March 15 and 4^th Saturday in May to August 31	No change
Lac des Mille Lacs (48°52′36″N., 90°30′46″W.)	Walleye	No change	4, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm	2, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm
Lac des Mille Lacs (48°52′36″N., 90°30′46″W.)	Northern pike	April 15 to the Friday before the 2^nd Saturday in May	No change	No change
Lake Helen (49°04′20″N., 88°16′17″W.)	Walleye and sauger	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Lake Helen (49°04′20″N., 88°16′17″W.)	Northern pike	No change	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
Lake Helen (49°04′20″N., 88°16′17″W.)	Brook trout	No change	1, must be greater than 56 cm	0
Lake Nipigon - Ombabika Bay (50°15′N., 88°15′W.) and Wabinosh Bay (50°02′N., 88°50′W.) and the tributaries of the bays up to the first barrier including the Little Jackfish River downstream from the centre line of the CN railway bridge and Wabinosh River downstream of Wabinosh Lake	Walleye and sauger	No change	2, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm	2, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm
Lake Nipigon and its tributaries downstream from the first falls, rapids, dams or lakes – or the entire tributary if there are no falls, rapids, dams or lakes including: Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake) Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Poshkokagan River, downstream from and including the rapids (49°25′39″N., 89°05′12″W.) located 13 km upstream from the Black sturgeon Road bridge Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake Little Jackfish River, downstream from the centre line of the CN railway bridge	Walleye and sauger	April 15 to June 9	No change	No change
Lake Nipigon and its tributaries downstream from the first falls, rapids, dams or lakes – or the entire tributary if there are no falls, rapids, dams or lakes including: Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake) Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Poshkokagan River, downstream from and including the rapids (49°25′39″N., 89°05′12″W.) located 13 km upstream from the Black sturgeon Road bridge Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake Little Jackfish River, downstream from the centre line of the CN railway bridge	Northern pike	April 15 to the Friday before the 3^rd Saturday in May	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
Lake Nipigon and all tributaries downstream from the first falls, rapids, dams or lakes – or the entire tributary if there are no falls, rapids, dams or lakes including: Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake) Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Poshkokagan River, downstream from and including the rapids (49°25′39″N., 89°05′12″W.) located 13 km upstream from the Black sturgeon Road bridge Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake Little Jackfish River, downstream from the centre line of the CN railway bridge	Brook trout	January 1 to the Friday before the 4^th Saturday in April and September 16 to December 31	1, must be greater than 56 cm	0
Lake Nipigon and all tributaries downstream from the first falls, rapids, dams or lakes – or the entire tributary if there are no falls, rapids, dams or lakes including: Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake) Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge Poshkokagan River, downstream from and including the rapids (49°25′39″N., 89°05′12″W.) located 13 km upstream from the Black sturgeon Road bridge Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake Little Jackfish River, downstream from the centre line of the CN railway bridge	Lake trout	January 1 to the last day in February and from October 1 to December 31	2, not more than 1 greater than 70 cm	No change
Little Savanne River (48°57′N., 90°15′W.)	Walleye	No change	4, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm	2, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm
McIntyre River	Rainbow trout	No change	1, must be greater than 69 cm	0
Neebing River	Rainbow trout	No change	1, must be greater than 69 cm	0
Nipigon River	Northern pike	No change	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
Nipigon River from Alexander Falls Dam (49°08′07″N., 88°21′28″W.) to the hydro corridor at the Fisheries Management Zone 6 and 9 boundary at (48°59′39″N., 88°15′29″W.)	Walleye and sauger	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Polly Lake (49°07′52″N., 88°15′58″W.)	Walleye and sauger	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Polly Lake (49°07′52″N., 88°15′58″W.)	Northern pike	No change	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
Polly Lake (49°07′52″N., 88°15′58″W.)	Brook trout	No change	1, must be greater than 56 cm.	0
Savanne River (48°56′N., 90°17′W.)	Walleye	No change	4, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm	2, must be greater than 33 cm and not more than 1 greater than 46 cm
Shebandowan Lakes (48°38′53″N., 90°19′22″W.)	Lake trout	January 1 to December 31	N/A	N/A
Whitefish Lake (48°13′00"N., 90°00′00"W.).	Yellow perch	No change	100, any size	25, any size

Schedule C – Additional fishing opportunities for Fisheries Management Zone 6

Part A

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the sport fishing licence size limit for Brook trout has is "any size", the conservation fishing licence size limit for Brook trout is "any size" and the close time is "no close time" in the following waters.

Waters

Adrian Lake (48°27′10″N., 89°48′58″W.) - Adrian Township
Aldina Lake (48°21′31″N., 89°58′41″W.) - Aldina Township
Annette Lake (49°26′06″N., 89°39′49″W.)
Bateman Lake (48°30′33″N., 89°45′17″W.) - Conmee Township
Bell Lake (48°06′16″N., 89°42′26″W.) - Devon Township
Birch Lake (48°10′28″N., 90°07′18″W.) - Hardwick Township
Blake’s Lake (48°56′57″N., 88°28′11″W.) - Hele Township
Caribou Lake (48°37′43″N., 88°40′43″W.) - McTavish Township
Caro Lake (49°06′13″N., 88°57′50″W.)
Cavern Lake (48°50′04″N., 88°39′35″W.) - Dorion Township
Chub Lake (48°16′54″N., 89°34′22″W.) - Scoble Township
Deer Lake (49°03′36″N., 88°20′23″W.) - Booth Township
Devon Lake (48°09′18″N., 89°50′45″W.) - Devon Township
Devonline Lake (48°09′33″N., 89°50′58″W.) - Fraleigh Township
Downy Lake (48°14′23″N., 89°52′10″W.) - Lybster Township
Duchess Lake (Dutchie’s Lake) (48°52′26″N., 88°34′18″W.) - Stirling Township
Echo Lake (48°19′30″N., 89°53′33″W.) - Marks Township
Elbow Lake (48°10′56″N., 90°16′23″W.)
Fall Lake (48°47′51″N., 88°38′02″W.) - Dorion Township
Five Minute Lake (48°40′28″N., 88°48′04″W.)
Float Lake (48°20′37″N., 89°53′20″W.) - Marks Township
Forrest Lake (48°07′24″N., 90°15′14″W.)
Furcate Lake (48°47′11″N., 88°45′50″W.) - Dorion Township
Goddard Lake (49°42′22″N., 87°43′38″W.) - Walters Township
Gold Lake (48°30′05″N., 89°45′08″W.) - Conmee Township
Golding Lake (48°35′49″N., 89°14′00″W.) - Gorham Township
Goodmorning Lakes North (48°47′11″N., 88°42′03″W.) - Dorion Township
Goodmorning Lakes South (48°46′41″N., 88°41′47″W.) - Dorion Township
Grande Lake (48°49′09″N., 88°40′52″W.) - Dorion Township
Hans′ Lake (McMaster #79) (49°01′54″N., 88°35′04″W.) - McMaster Township
Hartington Lake #1(48°09′04″N., 89°56′37″W.) - Hartington Township
Hartington Lake #2 (48°08′32″N., 89°57′18″W.) - Hartington Township
Hartington Lake #3 (48°08′49″N., 89°56′57″W.) - Hartington Township
Head Lake (48°16′50″N., 90°09′30″W.)
Himdick Lake (48°45′22″N., 88°43′30″W.) - Dorion Township
Inwood Lake (49°01′10″N., 90°26′45″W.) - Inwood Township
Jeff Lake (48°43′14″N., 88°39′58″W.) - McTavish Township
Joan Lake (48°06′19″N., 89°43′38″W.) - Devon Township
Lauries Lake #1 (48°15′01″N., 90°16′32"W.)
Lauries Lake #3 (Larrys Lake #3) (48°14′17″N., 90°17′19″W.)
Lauries Lake #4 (Larrys Lake #4) (48°14′31″N., 90°17′17″W.)
Lismore Lake #2 (48°09′20″N., 89°57′08″W.) - Lismore Township
Lismore Lakes #1 (48°09′28″N., 89°56′42″W.) - Lismore Township
Little Addie Lake (48°09′18″N., 90°25′02″W.)
Little Hawkeye Lake (48°40′08″N., 89°27′40″W.) - Fowler Township
Little Head Lake (48°16′20″N., 90°08′21″W.) - Jean Township
Liver Lake (48°36′33″N., 88°56′28″W.)
Lizard Lake (48°14′33″N., 89°52′23″W.) - Lybster Township
Loch Muich Lake (48°36′14″N., 90°20′39″W.) - Haines Township
Lofquist Lake (49°02′18″N., 88°20′21″W.) - Nipigon Township
Lorne’s Lake (49°03′47″N., 88°35′57″W.) - Cockeram Township
Lower Moonshine Lake (48°52′25″N., 88°35′59″W.) - Stirling Township
Malborne Lake (49°11′52″N., 88°25′15″W.) - Purdom Township
Male Lake (49m°13′11″N., 88°22′33″W.) - Purdom Township
Matson Lake (48°05′48″N., 89°42′04″W.) - Pardee Township
McKecknie Lake (48°07′25″N., 90°14′21″W.)
Middle Moonshine Lake (48°52′39″N., 88°36′04″W.) - Stirling Township
Moonshine Lake (48°52′53″N., 88°36′12″W.) - Stirling Township
Morrison Lake (48°11′09″N., 89°52′44″W.) - Fraleigh Township
Mutt Lake (48°43′25″N., 88°40′09″W.) - McTavish Township
No Good Lake (49°03′00″N., 88°21′00″W.) - Booth Township
Nunya Lake (49°28′59″N., 89°35′27″W.)
Paradise Lake (48°40′55″N., 88°48′20″W.)
Peridotite Lake (48°29′34″N., 89°46′50″W.) - Adrian Township
Peter’s Lake (48°57′13″N., 88°28′58″W.) - Hele Township
Pocket Lake (48°52′19″N., 88°40′39″W.) - Glen Township
Ranger Lake (48°23′16″N., 89°52′10″W.) - Marks Township
Rock Lake (48°11′13″N., 90°05′29″W.) - Hardwick Township
Roll Lake (formally Lake 19) (48°38′30″N., 88°57′37″W.)
Sand Lake North (48°15′18″N., 90°14′25″W.)
Scott Lake #1 (48°10′51″N., 90°18′47″W.)
Scott Lake #2 (48°10′41″N., 90°17′49″W.)
Shale Lake (48°53′36″N., 88°43′16″W.)
Shoepac Lake (49°00′50″N., 88°22′47″W.) - Nipigon Township
Sitches Lake (48°39′24″N., 90°38′27″W.) - Ames Township
South Fallingsnow East Lake (48°08′21″N., 89°47′46″W.) - Devon Township
South Fallingsnow West Lake (48°08′33″N., 89°48′00″W.) - Devon Township
Stillwater Lake (49°02′07″N., 88°24′17″W.) - Nipigon Township
Sunset Lake (48°12′11″N., 89°56′20″W.) - Lismore Township
Sunset Lake (48°44′19″N., 88°40′55″W.) - Dorion Township
Tear Drop Lake (48°37′17″N., 90°21′60″W.) - Haines Township
Ten Minute Lake (48°22′38″N., 89°52′14″W.) - Marks Township
Thompson Lake (48°52′52″N., 88°34′42″W.) - Stirling Township
Thompson Lake 2 (48°17′37″N., 89°35′06″W.) - Scoble Township
Thunder Lake (48°29′55″N., 89°45′55″W.) - Conmee Township
Tuesday Lake (48°44′15″N., 89°05′16″W.)
Twin Mountain Lake (48°10′47″N., 89°49′33″W.) - Fraleigh Township
Unnamed Lake #9 (49°02′12″N., 88°28′20″W.) - Hele Township
Unnamed Lake #19 (49°02′11″N., 88°26′23″W.) - Hele Township
Unnamed Lake #20 (49°00′31″N., 88°28′44″W.) - Hele Township
Unnamed Lake #21 (49°00′03″N., 88°28′08″W.) - Hele Township
Unnamed Lake #22 (48°58′05″N., 88°32′09″W.) - Hele Township
Unnamed Lake #34 (49°01′55″N., 88°25′13″W.) - Nipigon Township
Unnamed Lake #39 (48°56′32″N., 88°25′45″W.) - Nipigon Township
Wasp Lake (48°13′31″N., 90°11′12″W.)
West Arrow Lake (48°07′35″N., 90°26′13″W.)
West Greenhue Lake (48°42′01″N., 89°27′03W.) - Fowler Township
West Macdonald Lake (48°50′17″N., 88°38′46″W.) - Dorion Township

Part B

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the sport fishing licence size limit for Lake trout is "any size", the conservation fishing licence size limit for Lake trout is "any size" and the close time is "no close time" in the following waters.

Waters

Black Sturgeon Lake (49°19′27″N., 88°51′34″W.)
Keemle Lake (49°17′00″N., 88°07′00″W.)
Pasha Lake (49°42′00″N., 87°43′00″W.) - Walters Township

Part C

Despite Schedules A and B of this Variation Order the sport fishing licence quota for Rainbow trout is "5" and the conservation fishing licence quota for Rainbow trout is "2" in the following waters.

Waters

Amanda Lake (49°29′01″N., 89°34′06″W.)
Badger Lake (49°29′48″N., 89°31′39″W.)
Danielle Lake (49°29′16″N., 89°34′38″W.)
Dayle Lake (49°24′52″N., 89°41′47″W.)
Dennis Lake (49°28′55″N., 89°35′56″W.)
Lake 81E (48°13′42″N., 89°54′17″W.) - Strange Township
Pothole Lake (48°13′48″N., 89°53′45″W.) - Lybster Township
Sandybeach Lake (48°46′42″N., 88°46′09″W.) - Dorion Township 
Ursus Lake (48°35'35″N., 89°01′11″W.) - MacGregor Township

Updated: September 01, 2024

Published: January 04, 2022