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    Central Ontario – Muskoka & KawarthasFMZ 17

    Kawartha Lakes – Pigeon Lake

    County Rd 36, Bobcaygeon, ON K0M 1A0

    Marker
    Leaflet © OpenStreetMap
    Seasonal availabilityDirections Official FMZ 17 rules

    About this water

    The Kawarthas are known as one of Ontario's best muskie fisheries, with Pigeon Lake being a top producer.

    Moderate clarity with weed beds. Shallow and fertile. Excellent weed-edge fishing in summer.

    WalleyeMuskieLargemouth BassPanfishCrappie

    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 confirmed from this water's coordinates against the official Ontario zone boundaries (reviewed 2026-08-12). The FMZ 15 boundary is only 1.91 km away, so confirm which zone your launch falls in.

    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 Kawartha Lakes – Pigeon Lake, 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.

    Best months to plan a tripany listed species open
    Walleye3rd Sat in May – Dec 15
    • S-4/C-2 with slot on many lakes.
    Muskiefourth Saturday in June – Dec 15
    Largemouth / smallmouth bass4th Sat in June – Nov 30

    No FMZ 17 season line published in our summary for: Panfish, Crappie. 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.
    • Muskie lurk along weed edges and drop-offs. Use a figure-eight at boatside on every cast — many muskies follow. For walleye, jig minnows near the lock walls in spring.
    • Access: Public boat launch in Bobcaygeon with free parking. Additional parking at the lock station.

    Solunar Calendar— Kawartha Lakes – Pigeon Lake

    🌔

    Waxing Gibbous

    93% illuminated · Age 12.2d

    Solunar rating93/100

    🌔 Tue, Aug 25

    93% · Rating 93
    minor8:39 PM – 9:39 PM
    major2:09 AM – 4:09 AM
    minor8:39 AM – 9:39 AM
    major2:09 PM – 4:09 PM

    🌔 Wed, Aug 26

    97% · Rating 98
    minor9:23 PM – 10:23 PM
    major2:53 AM – 4:53 AM
    minor9:23 AM – 10:23 AM
    major2:53 PM – 4:53 PM

    🌕 Thu, Aug 27

    100% · Rating 100
    minor10:07 PM – 11:07 PM
    major3:37 AM – 5:37 AM
    minor10:07 AM – 11:07 AM
    major3:37 PM – 5:37 PM

    Major 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:
    Heavy baitcaster for muskie; medium spinning for walleye/bass
    Rod:
    8' heavy power baitcasting rod for muskie; 6'6" medium spinning for walleye
    Reel:
    Large baitcaster with 25+ lb drag for muskie; 2500 spinning for walleye
    Line:
    80 lb braid with wire leader for muskie; 8 lb fluorocarbon for walleye
    Best bait:
    Large suckers (for muskie), Leeches (walleye), Worms (panfish)
    Best lures:
    Bulldawg soft bait (muskie), Mepps Musky Killer, Rapala X-Rap 10, Jig & minnow (walleye)
    Directions

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