SF – 2023/6

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:

  1. That Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 6 (SF – 2022/6) signed by Minister Rickford on November 2, 2021 are revoked and replaced by this Sport Fishing Variation Order for Fisheries Management Zone 6 (SF-2023/6).
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. That this Sport Fishing Variation Order comes into effect January 1, 2023.

Dated at Toronto this 1st day of November 2022.

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 4th 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 3rd 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 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 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:
  1. Current River downstream from the Boulevard Lake Dam (48°27′N., 89°11′W.)
  2. Coldwater Creek downstream from Ouimet Canyon Road (48°45′N., 88°36′W.)
  3. Spring Creek downstream from Dorion Fish Culture Station (48°50′N., 88°36′W.)
  4. Wolf River downstream from the lower falls (48°50.58′N., 88°34.87′W.)
  5. Black sturgeon River downstream from the Dam (48°55′N., 88°23′W.)
  6. Nipigon River, entire length including Jessie Lake, Polly Lake and Lake Helen
  7. 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 4th 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 2nd Saturday in May No change No change
Jessie Lake (49°11′20″N., 88°19′53″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′20″N., 88°19′53″W.) - Purdom Township Brook trout No change 1, must be greater than 56 cm 0
Jessie Lake (49°11′20″N., 88°19′53″W.) - Purdom Township Lake trout January 1 to February 14 and March 16 to the Friday before the 4th 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 4th 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 2nd 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:
  1. Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake)
  2. Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  3. Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  4. 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
  5. Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake
  6. 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:
  1. Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake)
  2. Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  3. Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  4. 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
  5. Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake
  6. Little Jackfish River, downstream from the centre line of the CN railway bridge
 Northern pike April 15 to the Friday before the 3rd 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:
  1. Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake)
  2. Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  3. Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  4. 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
  5. Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake
  6. Little Jackfish River, downstream from the centre line of the CN railway bridge
 Brook trout January 1 to the Friday before the 4th 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:
  1. Waters on the islands of Lake Nipigon, including Forgan Lake, Bonner Lake, Little Bonner Lake and Jackpot Lake (Madeline Lake)
  2. Gull River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  3. Kabitotikwia River, downstream from the Highway 527 bridge
  4. 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
  5. Wabinosh River downstream from Wabinosh Lake
  6. 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′59″W.) Walleye and sauger January 1 to December 31 N/A N/A
Polly Lake (49°07′52″N., 88°15′59″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′59″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′N., 90°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