French River Provincial Park

About this water

A UNESCO Heritage River famous for its incredible smallmouth bass fishing and stunning scenery. The French River system flows from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay through a maze of channels and rapids.

Clear, Canadian Shield water with rapids, pools, and deep channels. Rocky structure throughout.

FMZ 10 regulations — Northeast Ontario — Sudbury, Algoma & Manitoulin (inland)

Inland northeastern Ontario north of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, including the inland lakes of Manitoulin Island. All lakes on Manitoulin Island are FMZ 10 except South Bay, which is FMZ 13, and Lake Wolsey, which is FMZ 14. The Great Lakes waters surrounding Manitoulin Island are not in FMZ 10 — the North Channel and Georgian Bay are FMZ 14 and the main basin of Lake Huron is FMZ 13. Its eastern border extends north from the mouth of the French River to Elk Lake, and its western border follows the east shore of Lake Superior from Sault Ste. Marie north to Wawa. It has more lake trout and brook trout lakes than any other Northeast zone.

• Walleye: 3rd Sat in May – March 1; S-4/C-2 with slot (must release 40–50 cm).
• Muskie: fourth Saturday in June to Dec 15; 137 cm minimum, S-1/C-0.
• Smallmouth bass: fourth Saturday in June to Nov 30; S-4/C-2.

Zone check: FMZ 10 set by review — French River corridor runs through the FMZ 10/11/15 junction; the park's core waters are managed as FMZ 10. Reviewed 2026-08-12.

Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 10 page before your trip.

Seasonal availability

Open-season windows for the species found at French River Provincial Park, taken from the FMZ 10 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.

No FMZ 10 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 10 page before your trip.

Fishing tips

• French River granite channels concentrate baitfish — target current breaks.
• Walleye slot means you'll release most fish; barbless hooks speed the process.
• The French River's rapids create oxygen-rich pools where smallmouth stack up. Cast tubes upstream and let them drift naturally along the bottom. Morning topwater blowups are incredible.
• Access: Park day-use parking ($14.50/vehicle daily). Boat launches at Hartley Bay and French River Supply Post.

Gear setup

Setup:

Medium spinning for bass; medium-heavy for walleye and pike

Rod:

6'10" medium spinning with fast action

Reel:

Size 2500 spinning reel

Line:

8 lb fluorocarbon; 15 lb braid for topwater

Best bait:

Crayfish, Leeches, Minnows

Best lures:

Tube jig (smoke/green pumpkin), Whopper Plopper topwater, Spinnerbait, Wacky Senko