Top 10 Fish to Catch in Canada
Top 10 Species
These are the fish that get noticed by FishyAF anglers. Click any species to deep dive and learn more.
1
Yellow Walleye
Verified
World Record
25 lb 0 oz
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact
Those glassy eyes pack a mirror-layered retina that lets them hunt in near-darkness-and glow under headlamps.
2
Northern Pike
Verified
World Record
55 lb 1 oz
Lothar Louis / 1986
Lake of Grefeern, Germany
Lothar Louis / 1986
Lake of Grefeern, Germany
Signature Fact
Unlike most fish, they launch with an S-start burst-arrow-straight acceleration that nails prey with sniper precision.
3
Lake Trout
Verified
World Record
72 lb 0 oz
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
Signature Fact
A deepwater "siscowet" morph packs ~35% body fat-so oily 1800s fishermen rendered it for lamp oil.
4
Smallmouth Bass
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
11 lb 15 oz
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact
In winter, they huddle in massive "sleep piles"-hundreds nose-to-current, barely twitching for weeks.
5
Muskellunge
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
67 lb 8 oz
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin
Signature Fact
A shocking number of hookups explode inches from the net during boatside figure‑eights-pure cardiac fishing.
6
Yellow Perch
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
4 lb 3 oz
William D. Schafer / 1865
Bordentown, New Jersey
William D. Schafer / 1865
Bordentown, New Jersey
Signature Fact
Females extrude a translucent, accordion-like egg ribbon up to 2 meters long, draping over weeds like party streamers.
7
Arctic Char
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
32 lb 9 oz
Gunnar Schmid / 2012
Tree River, Nunavut
Gunnar Schmid / 2012
Tree River, Nunavut
Signature Fact
When winter clamps down, they can skip meals for 8-9 months, shrinking their guts to save energy.
8
Lake Whitefish
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
15 lb 13 oz
David B. Schaeffer / 1983
Great Slave Lake, NWT
David B. Schaeffer / 1983
Great Slave Lake, NWT
Signature Fact
Grown-ups actually lose their teeth-big ones literally gum your lure, which is why those bites feel ghostly.
9
Lake Sturgeon
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
310 lb 0 oz
Albert A. Wigen / 1953
Lake of the Woods, Ontario
Albert A. Wigen / 1953
Lake of the Woods, Ontario
Signature Fact
Females can live past 100 and may spawn only every 4-9 years-your PB might be a century-old grandma.
10
Chinook Salmon
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
97 lb 4 oz
Les Anderson / 1985
Kenai River, Alaska
Les Anderson / 1985
Kenai River, Alaska
Signature Fact
Laboratory magnets made juvenile Chinook aim as if 'teleported' north or south, proving they navigate by Earth's field.
FAQs
What are the best fish to catch in Canada?
Walleye, northern pike, lake trout, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, Chinook salmon, and Arctic char are some of the best fish to catch in Canada.
What makes Canada such a good fishing destination?
Canada has massive lakes, remote rivers, cold-water habitat, and healthy populations of trophy freshwater fish.
Is Canada better for freshwater or saltwater fishing?
Canada is best known for freshwater fishing, but coastal areas also offer excellent salmon, halibut, and saltwater opportunities.
What is the most popular fish to catch in Canada?
Walleye is one of the most popular fish in Canada because it is widespread, fun to catch, and excellent table fare.
Do you need special gear to fish in Canada?
It depends on the species, but many Canadian fish can be targeted with standard spinning, trolling, or casting setups.
