Three Keys to Ontario Muskies

Where to Find the Big Muskies in Ontario Waters

Ontario is the dream destination for all musky hunters, simply because there are more big muskies. Specifically, you can find more big muskies in shallow water, which makes them easier to locate when casting. Also, Ontario waters are much larger than most US waters, and bigger waters tend to grow bigger fish!

Larger waters with more big muskies in shallow water equate to more opportunities, and it increases your odds of success. Of course, now add the pristine beauty of Ontario, with fewer anglers, and you have the makings of an incredible experience.

I just can’t wait for summer! Although many Ontario waters have lots of trophy muskies, that doesn’t mean they are easy to catch. You still have to put in a lot of effort, which means long days casting large lures. However, if you have a game plan and fish the following three key areas, you’ll locate and catch muskies anywhere throughout Ontario.

muskie-keys-1
Legendary Canadian musky guide and owner of Sandy’s Blackhawk Camp on Lake of the Woods with a typical musky from the back of a small bay.

Bays

Almost every Ontario lake has lots of shallow bays. Some are large and some are small. As a general rule, I prefer to fish smaller bays simply because they take less time to fish and have fewer places for muskies to hide. I don’t like to spend more than 20 minutes fishing a spot, so you can use that, as a rule, to determine how large of a bay to attack. Also, all bays are not created equal. Some bays have weeds, others have sand with a few trees, and other bays are strewn with boulders. 

Try to fish bays with different types of cover. It could be that on a particular day, the bays with trees are best, but on other days it could be weedy bays that are holding active muskies. One thing is certain: I believe the best bays are those that are protected from the wind. This allows the surface temperature to increase compared to the surrounding waters and tends to make muskies more active. 

When fishing bays I use bucktails, minnow baits, and topwater lures. You’re usually making large casts over weeds or towards shallow cover. It’s amazing how shallow the muskies might be, so if a bay doesn't have weeds, go all the way to the back. Finally, make sure you start fishing the point at the mouth of the bay; work your way to the back and fish your way out. 

ISLANDS

Some Ontario waters literally have hundreds of islands, and in many cases, the majority of them may hold muskies. Once again, to keep the odds in your favour, focus on smaller islands. Use the 20-minute rule as a guide to how long it should take you to fish a smaller island. Small islands often have a small weed patch, a couple of points and maybe even a few fallen trees. These smaller islands, particularly if they are adjacent to deeper water or a large open-water basin, are natural stopping points for muskies and can easily hold multiple fish. I can’t begin to count the number of muskies I have caught from small islands while filming The Musky Hunter Television Show.

Lure choice is the same as that when fishing shallow bays, which include bucktails, minnow baits, and topwater. Finally, look for clusters of islands so that when the muskies start biting, you’ll spend less time travelling and more time fishing. That usually results in multiple muskies in a short time.

muskie-keys-2
Jim Saric with a musky taken from a shallow reef.  Don’t be afraid to cast to the top.

Reefs

I love shallow, rocky reefs, as long as I don’t hit them with my Mercury Outboard! Red, green, or black/yellow navigational buoys usually mark shallow reefs. Sometimes they are only marked with a jug. Keep an eye out for them, because at times they are musky magnets. It amazes me how shallow the muskies can hold on such reefs. In fact, I always make it a point to cast to the top of the reef. 

Warm, overcast, and calm days are great times to fish reefs, and then again any time you have a stable wind can stack muskies to the upwind side of the reef. I prefer reefs with large, broken boulders or a patch of weeds on top. Also, several fingers or projections from the reef give it more character and can hold multiple muskies. Like islands, circle the reef casting towards the top. Although the muskies are often on top of the reef, sometimes holding the boat away from the reef and casting a crankbait along the edges can be effective.

Musky fishing in Ontario is incredible, and there are many great-looking musky spots. Just remember to focus on smaller bays, islands, and reefs to put the odds in your favour. Musky fishing is a game of percentages, and fishing in these key spots in Ontario will give you the best chance at musky success.

About Jim Saric

Jim owns Jim Saric Outdoors, Inc., which is dedicated to elevating the sport of musky fishing to new levels by educating anglers through print, web, and television. He is the publisher, editor and owner of Musky Hunter Magazine and the Executive Producer of The Musky Hunter television series. Jim has over twenty-five years experience fishing lakes, rivers, and reservoirs from Minnesota to New York and all across Canada. He has boated more than 100 muskies exceeding 50 inches in length, the largest weighing 53 pounds.

Recommended Articles

Five Brook Trout Flies

What flies to bring when fishing for brook trout.

Top 5 Flies for Smallmouth Bass

The inside scoop on bass flies from the hosts of The New Fly Fisher.

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Terrestrial Flies for Brook Trout

These fish feed like crazy and look for opportunities for a big protein meal.

Great Fishing in Northern Lights Country Up Highway 588

Find bass, walleye and trout on your next fishing trip.

Lake of the Woods

10 Facts You Didn't Know

Year Round Fishing in Ontario

Who Says You Can’t Fish All Year in Ontario?

3 Great Ontario Walleye Destinations

Karl of Extreme Angler recommends must do walleye lakes in Ontario.

Lodge 88: Keeping it in the Family

Fish'n Canada host Ang Viola takes his grandson to fly-in fishing lodge Lodge 88 on Esnagi Lake.

Fishing and Foraging

Add some fresh foods and forage to your fishing adventures!

Top 5 Wet flies for Brook Trout

Fly Fishers describe their favourite brookie flies.

Warm Water Smallmouth

The Lakes, Lures & Lodge

Summer Smallmouth

Bass Techniques to Help You Catch a Trophy

Spring Perch Fishing

Use These Tips on Your Next Ontario Fishing Trip

Pleasant Cove Resort

Setting sights on Georgian Bay Northern Pike

Remote and Unique Lodges in Ontario

Ontario is home to drive-to, fly-in and boat-in experiences.

Magpie Reservoir

Excellent Drive-to Angling to Hook Big Walleye

Fishing the Marten River

Extreme Angler fishes for BIG walleye in Northeastern Ontario.

Summer Brook Trout

Expert Advice for Fishing Ontario Lakes

Fly Fishing the Grand River with Mikey Metcalfe

A Walk-and-Wade Guided Trip for Brown Trout