Burnt River – Kinmount
Launch below the Kinmount dam, Kinmount, ON
About this water
A wadeable, lightly pressured river running down to Cameron Lake — perfect for a canoe or a pair of boots.
Moving river water with narrow, shallow sections downstream of the dam. Scenic and lightly fished. FMZ 17.
FMZ 17 regulations — Kawartha Lakes & Trent watershed
The smallest FMZ, in southern Ontario. It includes the Kawartha Lakes, the Trent and Crowe River watersheds, and the eastern rivers and streams of the Oak Ridges Moraine. It is bordered by Lake Ontario to the south (FMZ 20).
- Walleye: 3rd Sat in May – Dec 15; S-4/C-2 with slot on many lakes.
- Muskie: fourth Saturday in June – Dec 15; 137 cm min, S-1/C-0.
- Largemouth / smallmouth bass: 4th Sat in June – Nov 30; S-4/C-2.
Zone check: FMZ 17 set by review — Burnt River at Kinmount is on the FMZ 15/17 boundary; the Kawartha-side river reach is managed as FMZ 17. Reviewed 2026-08-12.
Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 17 page before your trip.
Seasonal availability
Open-season windows for the species found at Burnt River – Kinmount, taken from the FMZ 17 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.
- S-4/C-2 with slot on many lakes.
No FMZ 17 season line published in our summary for: Northern Pike. Check the official page before keeping these species.
Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 17 page before your trip.
Fishing tips
- Kawarthas are shallow and weed-heavy — punch mats for summer largemouth.
- Muskie love the Trent's weed edges and lock approaches.
- Fish the pools below the dam and the pocket water downstream. Watch for shallow sections that need a portage if you're paddling.
- Access: Free roadside and public parking in the village.
Solunar Calendar— Burnt River – Kinmount
Waxing Gibbous
93% illuminated · Age 12.2d
🌔 Tue, Aug 25
93% · Rating 93🌔 Wed, Aug 26
97% · Rating 98🌕 Thu, Aug 27
100% · Rating 100Major windows (~2 h) cluster around moon transit and antitransit; minor windows (~1 h) around moonrise and moonset. Local approximations — verify against a printed almanac for planning.
Gear setup
- Setup:
- Light spinning for river fish
- Rod:
- 6'6" medium-light spinning rod
- Reel:
- Size 2000 spinning reel
- Line:
- 8 lb fluorocarbon
- Best bait:
- Worms, Minnows
- Best lures:
- Inline spinners, Small crankbaits, Ned rigs, Tube jigs
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