Muskie fishing trips in Ontario.
Two of northwestern Ontario's best muskie waters from one stay in Nestor Falls: clear, deep Crow Lake on one side of Highway 71 and Lake of the Woods on the other. Fish them guided, semi-guided or on your own.
Why muskie anglers come to Nestor Falls.
We are called Muskie Bay for a reason. Few places put this much muskie water within a short run of the dock.
Lake of the Woods is regarded as one of the finest muskie fisheries in the world. It covers roughly a million acres with more than 14,000 islands, and Nestor Falls sits at the doorway to Sabaskong Bay on its southeast side.
The other half of the story is Crow Lake, also known as Kakagi Lake. It is about 43 square miles, drops to 180 feet, and lies directly across the highway from Stevens Bay. Much of it is essentially uncharted, which is exactly why time on the water with people who know it pays off.
Guests launch onto Crow Lake from our dock and reach Lake of the Woods through our separate private launch on Stevens Bay, so both fisheries are open to you from a single stay.
Three muskie waters, one stay.
Each fishes differently, which is what lets you keep fishing when one of them goes quiet.
Crow Lake
Clear, deep and lightly fished. Muskie share it with lake trout, smallmouth and pike, and in clear water you will often see the follow before the strike.
Stevens Bay
A Lake of the Woods spawning bay with a resident muskie population and a fall run of fish moving in. It is a short trip from our private launch.
Sabaskong Bay
Nestor Falls is the gateway to Sabaskong Bay. Part of it is a fish sanctuary closed from April 1 to June 14, which is before muskie season opens anyway.
Muskie regulations on these waters.
Ontario Zone 5, 2026. Crow Lake and Lake of the Woods carry a higher size limit than the rest of the zone.
In practice almost every muskie caught here goes back in the water, and that is a large part of why the fishery stays this good. Keep the fish wet, have a large net or cradle ready, and carry long-nose pliers and heavy hook cutters so a release takes seconds rather than minutes.
Some Lake of the Woods waters also require barbless hooks, so check the current Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary for Zone 5 before you travel.
When to come for muskie.
The season runs about six months, and the fish behave very differently at each end of it.
June: the opener
Season opens the third Saturday of June, after the spawn. Early fish tend to hold in shallow, soft-bottomed weedy bays, often in eight feet of water or less, and smaller baits usually outfish big ones.
July and August
The longest days and the easiest weather of the year, and the best time to mix muskie with walleye, smallmouth and pike in the same day on the water.
September to freeze-up
Trophy season. As the water cools, muskie feed hard on cisco, also called tullibee, and this is when anglers here have their best shot at the biggest fish of the year. The season closes December 15.
If a trophy is the goal, plan around September and October. If you would rather combine muskie with a full multi-species week, midsummer is hard to beat. Paul can talk you through which weeks suit how you like to fish.
Three ways to fish muskie from Muskie Bay.
Premier Guided Fishing
A guide in the boat who knows where the muskie are sitting this week, plus lodging, all meals and shore lunch. The best choice for a first muskie trip here.
View Package · From $970 / personSemi-Guided Fishing
Your own deluxe boat with gas, guide support when you want it, all meals and portage lake access. Built for anglers who can run a boat and want local knowledge.
View Package · From $640 / personSelf-Guided Fishing + Lodging
A deluxe 18 ft boat with GPS and spot lock, outpost lake access and lakeview lodging, for muskie anglers who already know how they want to fish.
View Package · From $500 / personTrailering your own muskie boat? The bring your own boat package covers lodging, meals and dock access on both lakes. Prices are per person for a 3-day package in US dollars, before 13% HST, and every option is on our rates page.
Muskie fishing, answered.
When is muskie season in Ontario's Zone 5?
From the third Saturday of June to December 15. That covers Crow Lake and Lake of the Woods, the two waters our guests fish most.
What is the size limit for muskie on Lake of the Woods and Crow Lake?
54 inches (137 cm). On a sport licence you may keep one muskie over that size, and on a conservation licence the limit is zero. Elsewhere in Zone 5 the minimum is 40 inches. Check the current Ontario regulations before your trip, since they can change year to year.
When is the best time to catch a big muskie?
Fall. From September on, muskie feed heavily on cisco ahead of winter, and it is when anglers here have their best chance at the biggest fish of the year. The season closes December 15.
Do I need a guide to fish muskie here?
No, but it helps on a first trip. Much of Crow Lake is essentially uncharted and Lake of the Woods has thousands of islands. Premier guided fishing puts someone who knows the water in your boat, and semi-guided fishing gives you that local knowledge without a guide all day.
What gear should I bring for muskie?
On the premier guided package, rods, reels, bait and tackle are included. Fishing semi-guided or on your own, bring heavy muskie rods, leaders, a large net or cradle, long-nose pliers and hook cutters. You will also need an Ontario fishing licence and Outdoors Card, and our guide to crossing into Canada covers licences and the border.
Can I fish for other species on the same trip?
Yes, and most guests do. Walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass share these lakes, and Crow Lake also holds lake trout. Smallmouth are catch and release only until July 1 on Crow Lake and Lake of the Woods.