Species

In Canada, we’re lucky enough to have many different species of fish swimming our waters that make for exciting catches and excellent meals. Although sometimes you can get lucky, there’s no one size fits all when it comes to best practice.
With each unique species, there are different approaches, techniques, and equipment that will help you be successful. Use this convenient guide to navigate the waters and optimize your fun and your yield for some of the most popular species in Canada.

Walleye
Walleye, commonly referred to as Pickerel in the prairie region, is a freshwater fish in the perch family with a long and thin body.

They are predominantly gold or olive in color with a white belly…

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass are freshwater fish bronze to brownish green in colour with dark vertical bars on its sides, which become blotchy with age. The average size Smallmouth in Canada will weigh 1-2 pounds though specimens exceeding 4 pounds are not uncommon…

Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass have robust bodies, thicker around the middle than their small-mouthed counterparts. They have large, long heads, with a deep wide dorsal surface, a long, blunt snout, and a wide and large lower jaw, which is slightly longer than their upper jaws….

Pike
The average length of Pike found in Canada ranges from 24 – 30 inches long and weigh 3 – 7 pounds with the potential to exceed 50 inches and 30 pounds.They are typically olive green in colour with yellowish-white bellies…

Muskie
Muskie are characterized by their elongated, slightly flattened bodies and record sizes to which they can grow. They are the largest member of the Pike family and have an average size of 30 – 48 inches in length, weighing in between 15 – 36 pounds...

Lake Trout
Contrary to their name, Lake Trout are not in fact a true trout species. Rather, they are a member of the char family. They are, however, are a highly coveted game fish with a high-fat content, making them a delicious catch…

Trout
Trout is an umbrella term used in Canada to refer to Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Cutthroat Trout, but all three have similar characteristics and behavior patterns…

Perch/Panfish
Perch are easily identifiable by their stocky, torpedo-shaped bodies and their bifurcated dorsal fin. The front portion of the fin is jagged and spiked, while the rear portion is smooth to the touch…

Salmon/Steelhead
Canada is home to seven different species of salmon: Atlantic Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, and Steelhead…