Andrew Haydon Park – Ottawa River

About this water

An easy shore-fishing park on the Ottawa River — safe footing, washrooms, and fish within casting distance.

Sheltered park frontage on the Ottawa River, calmer than the open channel. FMZ 12.

FMZ 12 regulations — Ottawa River & Lake Temiskaming

A long, narrow zone along the Ontario–Quebec border. It includes the Ontario portions of Lake Temiskaming and the Ottawa River, plus the Madawaska and Mississippi Rivers upstream to the first dam. It is not a Georgian Bay zone.

• Walleye: 3rd Sat in May – March 1; S-4/C-2.
• Northern pike: open all year; S-6/C-2 (one over 86 cm).
• Lake trout: Jan 1 – Sept 30; S-2/C-1.

Zone check: FMZ 12 set by review — Ottawa River water is managed as FMZ 12; the access pin sits in adjacent FMZ 18. Reviewed 2026-08-21.

Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 12 page before your trip.

Seasonal availability

Open-season windows for the species found at Andrew Haydon Park – Ottawa River, taken from the FMZ 12 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.

No FMZ 12 season line published in our summary for: Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Rock Bass. Check the official page before keeping these species.

Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 12 page before your trip.

Fishing tips

• Timiskaming's big-water walleye respond to trolled spinner rigs on wind-blown points.
• Massive shoreline drops — use quality electronics.
• A great family spot — small jigs off the rocky shoreline will keep perch and rock bass coming all afternoon.
• Access: Free municipal lot.

Gear setup

Setup:

Light spinning from shore

Rod:

7' medium-light spinning rod

Reel:

Size 2500 spinning reel

Line:

8 lb fluorocarbon

Best bait:

Worms, Minnows

Best lures:

Small jigs, Inline spinners, Spinnerbaits, Small crankbaits