Fishing the Bay of Quinte: trophy walleye, the autumn troll, and the plan to catch them

What and where it is

The Bay of Quinte is a long, Z-shaped bay on the north shore of Lake Ontario in eastern Ontario, running past Belleville and the Quinte Skyway down toward Picton and Prince Edward County. It is sheltered, fertile and varied: shallow weedy bays, deep channels and the open reach. The autumn walleye migration out of Lake Ontario is what makes its name.

The bay sits in Fisheries Management Zone 20 (FMZ 20), the zone that sets the seasons and limits you fish to (see licence and rules). It is shaped like a flattened Z, hooking from the Trenton and Belleville end in the west, bending around the Big Bay and the Quinte Skyway, then opening into the wider reach toward Picton on the Prince Edward County shore and out to the Lake Ontario mouth near Deseronto and Glenora. That mix of water is the point: warm, weedy shallows hold bass, pike and panfish through the summer, while the deep channels and the bay mouths funnel the big lake walleye that move in each autumn.

It is an easy water to reach. Belleville sits on Highway 401, about two hours east of Toronto and an hour and a half west of Kingston, with launch ramps and marinas strung along the shore at Trenton, Belleville, Deseronto and Picton. Most visiting anglers base themselves around Belleville or Picton, close to the ramps and the charter docks.

The reason a travelling angler comes here is the trophy walleye fishery. The Bay of Quinte is rated one of the top trophy-walleye waters on the continent, fed by Lake Ontario's huge, fast-growing walleye that pour into the sheltered bay from mid-autumn to feed before winter. That is when a fish into the teens of pounds is a genuine possibility, and it is a boat fishery, trolled over the deep water (sources: Northern Ontario Travel; Ontario Out of Doors, oodmag.com, as of 5 June 2026).

The fish, and where, when and how to catch each

Walleye is the headline, and the autumn fish run big: 3.6 to 4.5 kg (8 to 10 lb) is common in the run, with fish into the teens of pounds. There is also strong largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and panfish, and chinook and rainbow out in the adjacent lake. The cards below give you where, when and how for each.

Out in the lake, for context. Chinook salmon and rainbow trout run in the open Lake Ontario water off the bay mouth, fished by trolling crews out of the lake ports. They are a different trip from the sheltered-bay fishery and are not what most visitors come to the Bay of Quinte for, so the cards above are the bay itself. If you want the lake salmon, a charter that runs out onto Lake Ontario is the way (see charter or your own boat).

I have set each species out as a card. Read the one for the fish you want, then check the seasonal section for how it moves through the year, and follow the rig link to build the method.

How the fishing changes by season

Spring stages walleye near the spawning areas and fishes well after the opener. Summer is bass, pike and perch in the warm shallows, with the big walleye quieter. Autumn is the legend: from mid-October the big lake walleye pour into the deep channels and you troll for trophies into December. Winter offers an ice-out-to-spring window before and after the closed spell.

Here is the year in plain terms.

• Early spring (after the opener). Walleye stage near the shallow spawning areas and the river mouths and fish well; this is the second-best walleye window after the autumn run. Bass and pike build as the water warms. Walleye open season in FMZ 20 runs the first Saturday in May to 31 December, with a separate 1 January to 1 March window (see licence and rules), so the spring fishing opens in early May.
• Summer (June to August). The big walleye are quieter and hold deeper; the resident fish still feed at first and last light. This is prime time for bass in the weedy shallows and on the rocky structure, for pike on the weed edges, and for perch and panfish. Fish the early and late hours in the heat.
• Early autumn (September into mid-October). The fishing turns. Bass stay strong, and the first walleye start to move as the water cools. The trophy run is building.
• The autumn run (mid-October into December). The legendary window. Big Lake Ontario walleye pour into the bay and follow the bait into the deep channels and bay mouths. Trolling crankbaits and worm harnesses over the deep water is the method, and a double-figure fish is a real possibility. Dress for cold, open water and watch the weather.
• Winter and the closure. The FMZ 20 walleye season has a closed spell (2 March to the first Saturday in May), protecting the spawn. The 1 January to 1 March open window covers hard-water and early-season fishing where conditions and ice allow; treat ice safety on the bay seriously and go with local knowledge.

What you can eat (and what to think about before you do)

Walleye, perch and bass are excellent eating within the size and bag limits. But Lake Ontario and Bay of Quinte fish carry consumption advisories, set by size and species, in the Ontario Guide to Eating Sport Fish. Read the current advisory for your fish and size before you keep one, rather than treating it as blanket fine to eat. Many anglers release the big autumn female walleye.

This matters, so it is worth being exact. The fish here are good on the table, but the Bay of Quinte and the wider Lake Ontario carry size- and species-specific consumption advisories because of historic contaminants. The advice is not do not eat, it is eat to the advised meal limit for that fish at that size, and the limits tighten for larger, older fish. The current advice lives in the Ontario Guide to Eating Sport Fish (as of 5 June 2026); look up walleye, perch and bass for the Bay of Quinte zone and the size you have caught before you decide to keep it.

• Walleye. Excellent eating, but the big autumn fish are the older, larger spawners that carry the strictest advisory and matter most to the fishery. Many anglers release them and keep a smaller eater fish instead. Note also the over-size rule that protects the big spawners (see licence and rules).
• Yellow perch and panfish. Among the best eating fish in the bay, and usually under a more generous advisory than the big walleye; still, check the current guide for your zone.
• Bass. Good eating where you choose to keep one, within the season and limits; many bass anglers fish catch and release by choice.

Whatever you keep, check the size and bag limit and any closed season first (next section), handle fish in wet hands, unhook them in the water where you can, and clean your kit between waters so you do not move invasive species or disease from one water to the next.

Licence and rules

Yes, you need an Ontario fishing licence: an Outdoors Card plus a fishing licence. Buy both online through Hunt and Fish Ontario in minutes. For a non-Canadian resident in 2026 a one-year sport licence is CAD $83.19 including HST. One licence covers the whole province. Walleye has a four-fish sport limit with one over 63 cm allowed; the autumn season is open.

What you need. Fishing in Ontario needs two things together: an Outdoors Card (your angler ID, valid three years) and a fishing licence (the tag that lets you fish, bought for a term). You buy both through the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources system. The one licence covers the whole province, so it works for the Bay of Quinte, Lake Simcoe and anywhere else in Ontario.

Sport or Conservation. Ontario offers a Sport licence (the full bag limits) and a cheaper Conservation licence (reduced limits). The travelling angler who wants the chance to keep a walleye usually buys the Sport licence; the Conservation option suits a catch-and-release trip.

2026 licence prices (non-Canadian resident, including HST, via Hunt and Fish Ontario and ontario.ca, as of 5 June 2026):

A Conservation version of each licence costs less and carries reduced limits. Canadian-resident and Ontario-resident prices are lower; the figures above are the non-resident rates.

How to get it

• Go to huntandfishontario.com, the official Ontario site, and create an account.
• Buy the Outdoors Card (if you do not already hold one) and your fishing licence for the term you need. Choose Sport or Conservation.
• Download or print the licence, and carry it (paper or on your phone) while you fish.
• Or buy in person at a ServiceOntario location or a licence issuer (many tackle shops and marinas issue licences).

Sizes and limits (FMZ 20, source: Ontario fishing regulations summary, Zone 20, as of 5 June 2026):

• The walleye over-size rule is the one to remember: of your four (Sport) walleye, only one may be over 63 cm. The big autumn females are the fish this protects, and many anglers release them by choice.
• Bass, pike and perch follow the FMZ 20 zone limits and seasons; read the current numbers in the regulations summary rather than relying on a figure that may have changed.

2026 walleye open season (FMZ 20, source: Ontario fishing regulations summary, Zone 20, as of 5 June 2026):

So the legendary mid-October-into-December trophy troll is open, and the early-May opener through summer is open; the only closed spell is the spring spawning window. Bass and pike have their own FMZ 20 seasons; check the summary for the dates before you target them.

Other rules that matter

• Check the consumption advisory in the Ontario Guide to Eating Sport Fish before keeping a fish (above).
• Clean, drain and dry your boat and kit between waters to avoid moving invasive species.
• Carry your licence (paper or phone) while you fish.

Where to fish

The autumn trophy fishery is a boat game over the deep channels and bay mouths. Launch ramps and marinas serve trailer boats at Belleville, Trenton, Deseronto and Picton. There is some bank and shore fishing for bass, pike and perch in the shallow bays, but the big walleye live out in the deep water, so a boat (your own or a charter) is how you reach them.

The bay's mix of water sets where you fish for what.

• The deep channels and the reach. The main-bay channel water and the open reach between Belleville and Picton are where the autumn walleye hold and where you troll. Deep, open and exposed: this is boat water, and the autumn run is a boat fishery.
• The bay mouths. Where the bay meets Lake Ontario near Deseronto and Glenora, the funnels that the lake walleye move through. Productive on the autumn run.
• The shallow weedy bays. Big Bay and the sheltered arms hold largemouth, pike and panfish through summer, and these are the spots a smaller boat or a shore angler can work.
• The rocky points, drop-offs and reefs. Smallmouth structure, fished through the wider reach.

Launch ramps and marinas ring the shore for trailer boats (as of 5 June 2026): Belleville (the central base, ramps and marinas), Trenton at the west end, Deseronto on the north shore toward the bay mouth, and Picton on the Prince Edward County side. Most visitors launch or pick up a charter from Belleville or Picton.

What depth means for method

• Deep channel and reach water (the autumn troll): trolling crankbaits and worm harnesses on planer boards and leadcore or downriggers (trolling rig).
• Structure, points and drop-offs: cast or fish vertically with a jig and minnow or a bottom-bouncer and worm harness (walleye jig and bottom-bouncer), or a drop shot for finesse walleye and smallmouth.
• Weedy shallows: soft-plastic bass rigs (Texas rig, Ned rig) and a pike lure on a trace.

Some shore and dock fishing is available for bass, pike and perch in the shallower water around the towns, but the trophy walleye fishery is a boat game; plan on a boat for the autumn run.

Charter, or your own boat

Two ways onto the water. Book a charter (the simplest for a first visit; they supply the boat, the trolling gear and the local knowledge of where the autumn fish hold), or trailer and launch your own boat at Belleville, Trenton, Deseronto or Picton. Charters on the bay started from roughly US $294 for a trip in spring 2026; confirm the current rate with the operator.

Plain version: this is open-water boat fishing, and the trophy walleye is a boat game. The big autumn walleye come from the deep channels and the reach by trolling crankbaits and worm harnesses from mid-October into December. Spring stages walleye near the spawning areas, fished on a jig and bottom-bouncer. Bass come from the weedy shallows and the rocky structure through summer on soft plastics, pike from the weed edges on a trace, and perch from the weed edges and drop-offs on a drop shot or vertical jig. For a first trip, a charter is the easy way onto the autumn troll.

A boat is what opens up the autumn walleye troll, so a charter or your own boat is the trip. The deep-channel trolling is gear-heavy (planer boards, leadcore, downriggers, a spread of crankbaits and worm harnesses), which is exactly why a charter suits a first visit: they bring it all and put you on the fish.

Charter (recommended for a first visit)

A guided charter supplies the boat, the trolling spread and the local knowledge, and is the easy route to the autumn trophy fishery. Named operators and listings (as of 5 June 2026):

• Bay of Quinte Charters – guided trips on the bay. bayofquintecharters.com.
• Ontario Sportfishing Guides Association / Lake Ontario East members – the regional directory of licensed charters to book directly. ontariofishcharters.ca.
• FishingBooker listing for the bay – showed charters from roughly US $294 for a trip as of spring 2026; confirm the boat, the trip length and the current rate directly with the operator (no rate is invented here).

Rates are on request, so book direct and confirm the boat, the trip length, the tackle and what else is included. You still need your own Ontario licence (the operator can advise which one).

Your own boat

Trailer in and launch at the ramps and marinas at Belleville, Trenton, Deseronto or Picton (above). For the autumn troll you want a boat able to handle open, exposed water in cold conditions, the trolling gear (planer boards, leadcore or downriggers), and electronics to find the bait and the channel fish. Watch the weather: the open reach in late autumn can turn quickly. Clean, drain and dry between waters.

Where to stay (and buy a licence locally)

To base yourself near the fishing, Belleville is the central hub for the deep-bay troll, with motels, marinas and ramps; Picton and Prince Edward County put you on the southern reach with more places to stay; Trenton serves the west end. You can buy a licence online before you travel, or in person at ServiceOntario and many local tackle shops and marinas.

Stay near the water

• Belleville – the central base for the autumn fishery, on Highway 401, with motels and hotels, marinas, launch ramps and the charter docks. The simplest choice for a first trip focused on the deep-bay troll.
• Picton and Prince Edward County – on the southern reach, with a wider choice of inns, cottages and rentals, and good access to the lower bay and the bay mouth. A pleasant base that pairs the fishing with the county.
• Trenton – at the west end, near the Trent River mouth, handy for the upper bay and a quieter base.

Buy a licence in person at a ServiceOntario location or one of the many licence issuers around the bay (tackle shops and marinas commonly issue Ontario licences). Buying online at huntandfishontario.com before you travel is the quickest route.

The methods, and the rigs to build them

Trolling is the headline autumn method for the trophy walleye: crankbaits and worm harnesses on planer boards and leadcore or downriggers, to reach the deep channel fish and cover water. The walleye jig and bottom-bouncer covers casting and vertical work and the spring fishing. Drop shot and a vertical jig carry over for perch and finesse walleye, and the soft-plastic bass rigs take the bass. Each links to its own build page.

Map of fish, where and when, to a method. The build instructions and the knots live on the rig pages, so I link rather than repeat them.

• Walleye, the autumn troll, deep channels and bay mouths → trolling rig. Crankbaits and worm harnesses run on planer boards (to spread lines and cover water) and on leadcore or downriggers (to reach the depth the channel fish hold at). This is a boat-and-gear method, and the reason a charter suits a first visit.
• Walleye, casting and vertical work over structure, and in spring → walleye jig and bottom-bouncer. A jig and minnow or soft plastic worked vertically and on the cast, and a bottom-bouncer with a spinner and worm harness to cover the flats and the drop-offs. The all-round walleye rig away from the troll.
• Perch and finesse walleye → drop shot or vertical jig. A small soft plastic hovering off the bottom, or a jig dropped straight down over a school. Light and effective when the fish are fussy.
• Bass → Ned rig, Neko rig and Texas rig. Finesse plastics on the bottom for smallmouth on the structure; a weedless texas-rigged plastic for largemouth in the weed. A drop shot covers both over deeper structure.
• Pike → a soft shad, spoon or lipless lure on a wire or heavy fluorocarbon trace. The trace is the one non-negotiable for pike; teeth cut a light leader. Fish the terminal end as on the walleye jig and bottom-bouncer page, with the trace added.

The knots that tie these rigs are the Palomar (the workhorse, for jigs and braid-to-terminal), the non-slip loop (lures and jigheads that need a loop to swim) and the improved clinch (a quick, reliable tie for lures and snaps). Each rig page links to the knots it needs.

Build your kit (the kit builder and the shopping list)

Pick your fish and whether you are trolling or casting, and the kit builder trims the shopping list and the rigs to exactly what you need. A medium spinning outfit and a box of jigs, bottom-bouncers and worm harnesses covers the casting and vertical work; the autumn troll adds the trolling gear (planer boards, leadcore or downriggers, crankbaits), which a charter supplies. The full list is below, grouped, with no brands and no prices.

That is the whole list. For a casting-and-jigging trip you need one medium outfit, a spool of braid and a leader, and a box of jigs, bottom-bouncers, harnesses and plastics. The autumn troll adds the trolling gear, which is what a charter is for. Buy generic sizes and types; you do not need a named brand to catch a walleye.

A trip checklist

Before you go: check your dates against the FMZ 20 seasons, buy the Outdoors Card and licence, decide charter or your own boat and book it, pack the kit (or let the charter supply the trolling gear), and note the limits and the consumption advice. Then print the cheat sheet and take it with you.

Do this in order:

1. Check your dates against the seasons. Confirm walleye is open on your days (the "what's on" strip above). The autumn run, mid-October into December, is the trophy window; early May onward is the spring fishery; the spring spawning closure is the only shut spell.
2. Buy the Outdoors Card and licence. Online at huntandfishontario.com (the eight-day suits a fishing week), or in person at ServiceOntario or a local issuer. Choose Sport if you may keep a fish. Carry it while you fish.
3. Decide charter or your own boat, and book it. First visit, or want the autumn troll without buying the gear: book a charter (Bay of Quinte Charters, or via ontariofishcharters.ca). Bringing your own boat: pick your ramp (Belleville, Trenton, Deseronto, Picton) and gear up for open, cold water.
4. Pack the kit. A medium outfit, braid and leader, and a box of jigs, bottom-bouncers, harnesses and plastics. The shopping list above (trimmed by the kit builder) is your packing list. The trolling gear is the charter's if you are booking one.
5. Note the limits and the advice. Walleye Sport limit 4, only one over 63 cm. Check the bass, pike and perch limits in the FMZ 20 summary. Read the consumption advisory for your fish and size, and consider releasing the big autumn females.
6. Print the cheat sheet and fold it into the box. Get the printable cheat sheet

Common mistakes

The big ones: turning up in the spring spawning closure with walleye shut, expecting the trophy walleye from the bank, buying a downrigger for one charter trip, keeping a big female you should release, missing the over-size rule, and ignoring the autumn weather on open water. None is hard to avoid once you know.

• Fishing the spawning closure by accident. FMZ 20 walleye is shut from 2 March to the day before the first Saturday in May. Check the dates before you book, not after. The autumn run and the early-May-onward fishing are both open.
• Expecting the trophy walleye from the bank. The big autumn fish live in the deep channels and the reach. That is a boat fishery. Shore fishing here is for bass, pike and perch in the shallows; for the trophy walleye, plan on a boat or a charter.
• Buying the trolling gear for one trip. Planer boards, leadcore and downriggers are gear-heavy and expensive. If you are booking a charter, they supply it. Buy the casting and jigging kit; rent or use the charter's troll.
• Keeping the wrong walleye. The big autumn females are the fishery's spawners. The over-size rule lets you keep only one over 63 cm, and many anglers release the big fish by choice and keep a smaller eater. Carry a measuring board.
• Treating the fish as blanket fine to eat. Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario fish carry size-specific consumption advisories. Read the Ontario Guide to Eating Sport Fish for your fish and size before you keep it.
• Ignoring the autumn weather. The trophy window is cold, open-water fishing on an exposed reach that can turn quickly. Dress for it, watch the forecast, and let a charter skipper make the call on a rough day.

Frequently asked questions

The questions travelling anglers ask most about the Bay of Quinte: what is here, the trophy walleye season, the Ontario licence and where to buy it, prices, bank versus boat, the charter, the walleye limits, eating the fish, the rigs to use, and the one kit that covers most of it.