Georgian Bay – Collingwood / Wasaga

About this water

The southern Georgian Bay shoreline around Collingwood and the Nottawasaga River mouth is a hotspot for steelhead and salmon runs.

Open bay with tributary mouths. Nottawasaga River mouth attracts spring and fall salmon/trout runs. Sandy to rocky bottom.

FMZ 14 regulations — Georgian Bay & North Channel

The waters of Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron — the largest bay on the Great Lakes, including the Thirty Thousand Islands. It stretches northwest to the compensation works on the St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie. The dividing line from FMZ 13 begins at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula and runs through the Bruce archipelago to Manitoulin Island. The zone boundary extends across river mouths in most cases. It is not limited to the Bruce Peninsula shore.

• Smallmouth bass: fourth Saturday in June – Nov 30; S-4/C-2.
• Muskie: fourth Saturday in June – Dec 15; 137 cm min, S-1/C-0.
• Lake trout: Jan 1 – Sept 30; S-2/C-1.
• Chinook / coho salmon: open all year.

Zone check: FMZ 14 set by review — Great Lakes water body: Georgian Bay or North Channel access. Coordinate falls on the land side of, or immediately adjacent to, the mapped boundary. Reviewed 2026-08-12.

Summary only — always confirm current seasons and limits on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 14 page before your trip.

Seasonal availability

Open-season windows for the species found at Georgian Bay – Collingwood / Wasaga, taken from the FMZ 14 regulation summary. Green months are within a published open season — they are not a prediction of how well fish will bite.

No FMZ 14 season line published in our summary for: Yellow Perch. Check the official page before keeping these species.

Summary only, and seasons change annually. Confirm dates on the Ontario MNRF FMZ 14 page before your trip.

Fishing tips

• Rocky Canadian Shield structure — drop-shot smallies on classic humps.
• Muskie prefer transition edges between weed and rock; slow-troll big glide baits.
• In spring and fall, steelhead and salmon stage at the Nottawasaga River mouth. Drift roe bags under a float in the current. Early morning before the crowds is key.
• Access: Free launch at the Collingwood Harbour. Additional access at Wasaga Beach provincial park ($14.50/vehicle).

Gear setup

Setup:

Medium-heavy spinning for steelhead/salmon; light spinning for perch from shore

Rod:

9' medium-heavy spinning (centerpin or float rod ideal)

Reel:

Size 3000–4000 spinning or centerpin

Line:

10 lb mainline; 6 lb fluorocarbon leader

Best bait:

Roe bags, Worms, Wax worms

Best lures:

Float & roe bag, Small spoon (silver/pink), Spinner (Mepps #2), Berkley PowerBait