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Best rainbow trout lakes in Ontario

296 Ontario waters hold rainbow trout, 170 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Georgian Bay — Manitoulin & Killarney Shore — 353 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
2. Georgian Bay — Bruce Peninsula & Tobermory — 567 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
3. Georgian Bay — Nottawasaga Bay — 314 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
4. Lake Temagami — 240 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
5. Georgian Bay — Owen Sound & Colpoys Bay — 405 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
6. Big Rideau Lake — 300 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 10 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Lake Wanapitei — 396 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Mameigwess Lake — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
9. Kirkpatrick Lake — 220 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
10. Trout Lake — 220 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow TroutWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
11. Michipicoten River — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Chinook SalmonWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Gull Lake — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow TroutWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
13. Wawa Lake (lac Wawa) — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Lake WhitefishWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
14. Lake Bernard — 154 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Grand River section — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Ramsey Lake — 76 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Endikai Lake — 150 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Raleigh Lake — 96 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
19. Rock Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Gull Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Elliot L. — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Lukinto Lake — 216 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brook TroutWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Fanshawe Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
24. Bass Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Sand Lake — 164 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 271 more Ontario waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in Ontario

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in Ontario: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best sauger lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best coho salmon lakes · best steelhead lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best landlocked salmon lakes · best lake whitefish lakes · best burbot lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best cisco (lake herring) lakes · best splake lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes · best lake sturgeon lakes

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