No Better Place to Catch a Muskie

At 415,598 square miles, Ontario is certainly a vast Canadian province. It also has over 250,000 freshwater lakes, a higher concentration of freshwater than anywhere else in North America. It's no surprise, then, when we say we also have the best muskie fishing on the continent. Your fish of a lifetime is swimming in a lake up here; you just haven't caught it yet.

Where and How To Catch Trophy Muskies in Ontario

Despite the vast size of the province of Ontario (it's larger than France), muskies are found only in certain areas of the province. There is a good population in the St Lawrence River, Lake Nipissing, Georgian Bay and Lake St. Clair and other lakes and rivers in Northeastern Ontario. The Ottawa River is also known for having big muskies. However, Northwestern Ontario is the area with the largest numbers and is the place where you have the best chance of catching one.

Don't Confuse Muskie with Northern Pike

For non-anglers and even some anglers who don't fish for them, it is easy to confuse muskie with another large predatory fish, northern pike. They do look pretty similar; however, there are noticeable differences that make them fairly easy to differentiate, and muskellunge get even larger than the much more common northern pike. 

Where To Catch Muskie in Northwestern Ontario

The simple answer here is a lot of places! Seriously, though, Northwestern Ontario has some pretty famous muskie lakes. I decided to ask AI what it thought the Top 10 muskie lakes in the region were and this is the list it provided:

1. Lake of the Woods

• Why: Unquestionably the most famous muskie fishery in NW Ontario. It has huge numbers, consistent action, and frequent 50"+ fish. It covers over 1 million acres with thousands of islands and structures.

• Notable Areas: Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Morson, Kenora.

2. Eagle Lake

• Why: Renowned for producing giant muskies every year. It offers a mix of stained and clear water, diverse structure, and lower pressure than Lake of the Woods.

• Size: 68,000 acres.

3. Wabigoon Lake

• Why: A big fish factory, known for its murky water, which makes muskies more catchable during the day. Wabigoon has produced fish over 55 inches.

• Challenge: Limited visibility can make navigation tricky.

4. Cedar Lake

• Why: Often overlooked, Cedar has low pressure and big fish potential. Connected to the Perrault Falls chain, it offers diverse fishing and good resort access.

• Bonus: Good multi-species opportunities.

5. Canyon Lake

• Why: Smaller, clear-water lake near Vermilion Bay that consistently produces high-quality fish, especially for anglers who know how to work structure.

• Best Time: Fall trophy hunts.

6. Minnitaki Lake

• Why: Part of the Sioux Lookout system. While more remote, it offers excellent opportunities for low-pressure muskie fishing with chances at giants.

• Connected Waters: Abram, Pelican, Botsford lakes.

7. Crow Lake (Kakagi Lake)

• Why: A deep, clear lake near Nestor Falls known for clear-water sight fishing and producing some absolute giants. Good for early-season hunts and fall trolling.

• Drawback: It can be tougher due to water clarity.

8. Vermilion Lake (near Sioux Lookout)

• Why: Not to be confused with MN’s Vermilion, this one is shallow, warm, and full of vegetation—perfect for ambushing muskies.

• Bonus: Often very quiet.

9. Indian Lake Chain

• Why: Accessible via Vermilion Bay, this chain offers varied habitat with solid numbers and good-sized fish. Less pressured than the big-name lakes. It also has a lot of tiger muskies compared to other lakes.

• Good for: Mixed-species trips with muskie as a target species.

10. Lower Manitou Lake

• Why: Clear and deep with a reputation for producing very large but challenging muskies. Not for numbers, but for serious trophy hunters.

• Note: Knowledge of structure and timing is key.

That's a pretty good list, although you have to add Lac Seul to it, the fish on the east side of the lake are huge. See the image below for a sample of what a Lac Seul muskie looks like. 

Tips To Help You Catch Muskies in Ontario

Muskellunge are known in the angling community as "the fish of 10,000 casts." There is some truth to that, although when you go muskie fishing in Northwestern Ontario, the odds are significantly better. Muskie eat when they want to eat, so figuring out how to trigger them is key. Paying attention to the weather conditions, moon phase and the structure of the lake you are fishing are all key things to increase your success rate. 

James Lindner from Lindner's Angling Edge has caught a lot of muskies in Northwestern Ontario. Watch this video for tips and techniques that will help you catch more and bigger fish.

Best Gear, Baits and Lures to Use When Muskie Fishing in Northwestern Ontario

The sheer number of choices available when it comes to gear (rods, reels, line and leaders), baits and lures you can use for muskie fishing is nothing short of astounding. The cost of all of the above is also higher than what you need for other fish species, so keep that in mind. If you're a thrifty angler, then muskie fishing isn't for you. 

What you choose to use varies based on the weather conditions, time of year and feeding behaviour the muskies have at the time you're fishing for them. The key thing to remember is to give yourself choices, so having several different baits in the boat that you can use is the best strategy. For example, under cold and windy conditions, a topwater bait probably won't work. You'll want to prepare for a change in the weather if it happens, so give yourself choices. 

Here is a detailed point-form table summarizing the main types of muskie baits, including when and where to use them, conditions, cost, pros and cons, and key tips:

🎣 Muskie Bait Types Summary Table

🛠️ Additional Tips

• Gear Up: Use heavy-duty rods (8’6”–9’+), 100 lb braid, and steel or, better yet, fluorocarbon leaders.
• Follow-Ups Matter: Have a glide bait or soft plastic ready if a muskie follows and doesn’t commit.
• Figure 8 Always: Finish every retrieve with a wide, deliberate figure-8, especially near the boat.
• Match the Mood: Hot, stable weather = fast baits. Cold fronts = slow, deliberate pauses.
• Don’t Cheap Out: Cheap hooks and rings can fail on trophy muskies—upgrade if necessary.
• Have a Large Landing Net: A standard net size won't work. Given the size these fish get, you need a net that is large enough and which can hold the fish in the water while you unhook it. 
• Minimize Handling and Time Out of the Water: Muskie are a sport fish, and nobody eats them! In Northwestern Ontario, most lakes have strict fish regulations for what you can keep and what you have to release. Regardless of these regulations, it is an unwritten rule amongst muskie anglers that you never keep a fish, even the fish of a lifetime. So, have your camera ready, bolt cutters if you need to cut embedded hooks and jaw openers. Take a quick couple of pictures and get the fish back into the water asap. If you want a mount, get a graphite one made by a taxidermist and release every muskie you catch!

Concluding Remarks

As the author of this article, I admit that I love to go muskie fishing, but given that I also love to catch bass, trout and walleye, I do almost all of my muskie fishing in the late fall, October and into late November just before freeze-up. It can be freezing on the lake at this time of year, but the rewards can be well worth it if you can brave the cold weather. Enjoy! Ontario is the best place on the planet to catch a trophy muskie, and that's no fish story!

Catch Trophy Muskie in Sunset Country

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