Walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods, Ontario.
Stay on Crow Lake and fish Lake of the Woods walleye from our private launch on Stevens Bay. Guided, semi-guided or on your own, from a drive-to resort in Nestor Falls.
Where our walleye fishing happens.
Walleye is one of the species our guests fish for on Lake of the Woods, from the open-water season through the ice.
Lake of the Woods 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. That is a lot of water, which is why time with people who know it pays off on a first trip.
Our docks are on Crow Lake, and the walleye water is across Highway 71. Guests reach Lake of the Woods through our separate private launch on Stevens Bay, so both lakes are open to you from a single stay. Crow Lake is best known for lake trout, muskie, smallmouth and pike, so your walleye days run on Lake of the Woods.
Part of Sabaskong Bay is a fish sanctuary with no fishing from April 1 to June 14, which overlaps the late May opener. Ask Paul about it when you book.
When walleye are open in Zone 5.
Ontario publishes the dates in the Fishing Regulations Summary. These are the Zone 5 seasons we checked in November 2026.
Open water
Walleye reopens on the third Saturday in May and stays open through December 31, which covers the late May opener, midsummer and the fall.
Winter
Walleye is open again from January 1 to April 14. A winter trip is one of the few times you can target walleye and lake trout in the same week.
Closed
Walleye is closed from April 15 until the third Saturday in May. Plan your dates around the opener and confirm them in the current summary.
Walleye limits on Lake of the Woods.
These come from the Zone 5 section of the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, updated August 4, 2026, for anglers who are not Canadian residents. Limits can change, so read the current summary before every trip.
- Sport licence: 2 walleye a day. On Lake of the Woods none between 43 and 70 cm, and not more than 1 over 70 cm.
- Conservation licence: 2 walleye a day. On Lake of the Woods none over 43 cm.
- Elsewhere in Zone 5: the zone-wide rule is 2 a day, with not more than 1 over 46 cm.
- In the boat: you may not have more walleye aboard than the daily limit.
Our guide to Ontario fishing licences for non-residents explains which licence to buy and what each costs.
Three ways to fish walleye from Muskie Bay.
Premier Guided Fishing
A guide who knows Lake of the Woods, plus lodging, all meals and a walleye shore lunch cooked on the rocks. The best choice for a first 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 anglers who already know how they want to fish.
View Package · From $500 / personTrailering your own boat? The bring your own boat package covers lodging, meals and dock access on both lakes. Want walleye in winter? See Ontario ice fishing. Prices are per person for a 3-day package in US dollars, before 13% HST, and every option is on our rates page.
Walleye fishing, answered.
When is walleye season in Ontario's Zone 5?
Walleye is open from January 1 to April 14 and again from the third Saturday in May to December 31. It is closed in between. Ontario sets the dates each year, so check the current Fishing Regulations Summary before you book.
How many walleye can I keep on Lake of the Woods?
A non-Canadian resident may keep 2 a day on either licence. On Lake of the Woods a slot applies: on a sport licence none between 43 and 70 cm and not more than 1 over 70 cm, and on a conservation licence none over 43 cm. You may not have more walleye in the boat than the daily limit. Read the current Zone 5 summary for the water you plan to fish.
Where do you fish walleye from Muskie Bay Resort?
On Lake of the Woods, which guests reach from our private launch on Stevens Bay, directly across Highway 71 from Crow Lake. Crow Lake, where our cabins and docks sit, is best known for lake trout, muskie, smallmouth bass and northern pike.
Can I fish walleye in winter?
Yes. Walleye reopens on January 1 and stays open through April 14. On our ice fishing packages the sled run to Lake of the Woods is for walleye, perch, pike and crappie, while lake trout fishing happens on Crow Lake.
Is a shore lunch included?
On guided days, yes. Your guide pulls onto a rock point at midday and cooks the morning's walleye over a fire with potatoes and beans. Check the limits above so the fish on the plate fits your licence.
Do I need a guide to catch walleye here?
No. Semi-guided fishing gives you your own deluxe boat with gas and guide support when you want it, and self-guided suits anglers who already know how they like to fish. Lake of the Woods is large, so a guided first day is a good way to learn the water.
Fishing for more than one species? Read our guides to walleye fishing, northern pike fishing, smallmouth bass fishing and muskie fishing, or see the water itself on our Crow Lake page.