Big Trout Lake
Walleye opens Sat, May 16 — Kitchenuhmaykoosib sits on the shore.
Big Trout Lake is the largest of 1,629 named lakes in Ontario Far North, with 456 miles of charted shoreline and 386 islands. Its 120 ft maximum depth is greater than 93% of depth-surveyed lakes in the region.
MNRF aquatic resource surveys
Fish species
Also present: Burbot, Cisco, Johnny Darter, Lake Chub, Logperch, Longnose Sucker, Ninespine Stickleback, Sculpins, Shorthead Redhorse, Slimy Sculpin, Spoonhead Sculpin, Spottail Shiner, Trout-Perch, White Sucker
On this water
Lodges & operators 0
No operators recorded on this lake yet. Know one? It may be listed under a nearby community — browse the map.
2026 regulations
Seasons & limitsFMZ 2
- Special limit on this water — : Refer to zone-wide seasons and limits · Refer to zone-wide seasons and limits · Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait (All waters north of latitude of the 11th baseline (51°48’11”N.) and west of longitude 89°00’W.)
Ice-out here is typically late May (modeled from regional ice records).
| Species | Season | Sport licence | Conservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | Jan. 1 - Sept. 30 | S - 2, not more than 1 greater than 56 cm (22 in.) from Sept. 1 - Sept. 30; no size limit rest of year | C - 1, any size |
| Lake Whitefish | Open all year | S - 12 | C - 6 |
| Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass or any combination | Open all year | S - 4, no size limit from July 1 - Nov. 30 | C - 2, no size limit from July 1 - Nov. 30 |
| Northern Pike | Open all year | S - 4, none between 70 - 90 cm (27.6 - 35.4 in.), not more than 1 greater than 90 cm (35.4 in.) | C - 2, none between 70 - 90 cm (27.6 - 35.4 in.), not more than 1 greater than 90 cm (35.4 in.) |
| Walleye and Sauger or any combination | Jan. 1 - Apr. 14 & 3rd Sat. in May - Dec. 31 | S - 4, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in.) | C - 2, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm (18.1 in.) |
| Yellow Perch | Open all year | S - 50 | C - 25 |
Compiled from MNRF Recreational Fishing Regulations open data (2026 season, zone-wide rules shown for this lake's species). Regulations change by variation order — confirm with the official FMZ 2 summary before you fish.
Eating what you catch
Consumption advisories
Recommended meals per month from Ontario's fish contaminant monitoring — ranges span the tested fish sizes.
| Species | General | Sensitive* | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burbot (Ling) | 16–32 | 4–12 | Mercury |
| Lake Trout | 12 | 4–12 | Mercury, PCB |
| Lake Whitefish | 12 | 12 | Dioxins/Furans |
| Longnose Sucker | 32 | 12–32 | Mercury |
| Northern Pike | 4–32 | 0–16 | Mercury |
| Walleye | 4–32 | 0–12 | Mercury |
| White Sucker | 32 | 12–32 | Mercury |
*Women of child-bearing age and children under 15. Compiled from the MECP Guide to Eating Ontario Fish (2025 guide) — check the guide for size-specific advice before keeping fish.
Comparable trips
Similar water
Same region, overlapping species, comparable size.
- Trout Lake17 shared species · 86,060 ac
- Birch Lake17 shared species · 28,067 ac
- Winisk Lake16 shared species · 64,444 ac
- Windigo Lake15 shared species · 19,873 ac
- Echoing Lake14 shared species · 13,338 ac
Around this water