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Fishing Eastern Ontario by RV

Bass, pike, muskie and walleye on the Rideau Canal, the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa River, and the RV parks near each.

Regulation links last checked October 2026.

In short. Eastern Ontario fishing is on big shared waters: a canal, a river border and the Ottawa River. Parks Canada rules apply on the Rideau Canal, so check them before you go. Most anglers need an Ontario fishing licence for fresh water here.

Rules change. Seasons, closures and limits change often and can change mid-season. We link to the official pages rather than repeat them, so check them before every trip.

Licences and rules

  • Fresh water: fishing in Ontario is managed by the Province. Read the Ontario fishing regulations summary and check the fishing zone and any special rules for your lake before you go.
  • Moving boats and gear: clean, drain and dry your boat and gear between waters, and check the province's rules on moving bait and fish.

Choose your fishing area

Fish named for this region: Bass, Northern pike, Muskie, Walleye, Trout, Yellow perch. Read the species guide.

Rideau Canal: Kingston to Merrickville

  • Kingston to Ottawa
  • Largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, lake trout, yellow perch, black crappie, muskie and walleye (named for the Rideau Canal)

Visit Rideau Canal names largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, lake trout, yellow perch, black crappie, muskellunge and walleye, with lake trout in Big Rideau Lake. These towns in our listings are on or near the canal system.

We list 12 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.

Thousand Islands: Gananoque, Lansdowne and Mallorytown

  • St. Lawrence River
  • Bass, northern pike, muskie, walleye and trout (named for the St. Lawrence River)

1000 Islands Tourism names large and smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, walleye and trout (brown trout in its description) on the St. Lawrence River, with marinas and charters at Gananoque, Rockport and Lansdowne. Mallorytown is nearby in our listings.

We list 9 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.

St. Lawrence River: Prescott to Cornwall

  • St. Lawrence River
  • Waters not yet matched to fish

The upper St. Lawrence downstream of the Thousand Islands. Fish are named for the river as a whole in the Thousand Islands guide, but we have not found a source for this stretch.

We list 8 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.

Frontenac lakes: Sharbot Lake, Ompah and Arden

  • Frontenac County
  • Bass, lake trout, walleye, pike, muskie and perch (named for the county as a whole)

Frontenac County names Brule, Crotch, Kashwakamak, Big Gull, Kennebec, Sharbot and Bobs lakes and Loughborough Lake, and lists bass, lake trout, walleye, pike, muskie and perch for the county without matching each species to a lake.

We list 22 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.

Ottawa River: Arnprior, Petawawa, Deep River and Hawkesbury

  • Ottawa River
  • Bass, catfish, crappie, muskie, pike, shad and walleye (named for the river)

Outdoor Canada names bass, catfish, crappie, muskellunge, pike, shad and walleye on the Ottawa River, and names Arnprior, Carillon and Plantagenet. Alfred and Hawkesbury are the nearest to Plantagenet and Carillon in our listings.

We list 12 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.

Gear for this water

  • River & fly-fishing kit. A rod/reel combination suited to the planned method. Search on Amazon
  • Rain, sun & wet-weather gear. Rain layers that fit over your fishing clothing. Search on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. More fishing and boating gear.

Where the fish names come from

Keep planning