Channel Catfish Lakes in Ontario
Government fish surveys have recorded channel catfish in 18 Ontario lakes, 1% of the 2,365 lakes in this atlas with sport-fish records.
- Lakes
- 18
- Recorded since 2010
- 8
- Median size
- 11.4 km²
- Latest record
- 2022
Where it is found
Most of these lakes are in Renfrew (5), Simcoe (3) and Muskoka (2).
In these lakes the sport fish most often recorded alongside it are northern pike (94%), pumpkinseed (94%), smallmouth bass (89%) and rock bass (83%).
Seasons, limits and sanctuaries vary by zone: check the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary before you fish.
Where channel catfish is most consistently recorded
Ranked by consistency: the lower bound of a 95% confidence interval on the share of the lake’s surveys that found it. A lake where 18 of 20 surveys found it ranks above one where 1 of 1 did. Lakes known only from stocking come last.
| # | Lake | Surveys | Last record | Max depth m | Area km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allumette LakeRenfrew | 117 of 187 | 2015 | 213 | |
| 2 | Lac DeschênesLes Collines-de-l'Outaouais | 59 of 104 | 2018 | 71.1 | |
| 3 | Lac du Rocher-FenduRenfrew | 23 of 40 | 2009 | 18.5 | |
| 4 | Sparrow LakeMuskoka | 15 of 44 | 2014 | 12 | 11.2 |
| 5 | Tea LakeSimcoe | 5 of 14 | 2008 | 17 | 1.11 |
| 6 | Lake NiapencoHamilton | 12 of 96 | 2022 | 1.8 | |
| 7 | Sixteen Mile PondNiagara | 1 of 5 | 2005 | 0.54 | |
| 8 | Ottertail LakeAlgoma | 1 of 5 | 3 | 4.34 | |
| 9 | Sturgeon LakeRenfrew | 1 of 6 | 1964 | 3.56 | |
| 10 | Lac Dollard-des-OrmeauxArgenteuil | 8 of 141 | 2020 | 11.6 | |
| 11 | Gloucester PoolMuskoka | 4 of 55 | 2014 | 27 | 13 |
| 12 | Lake CouchichingSimcoe | 4 of 60 | 2013 | 47.1 | |
| 13 | Pichette LakeRenfrew | 1 of 9 | 45.7 | ||
| 14 | Martindale PondNiagara | 1 of 11 | 2011 | 5 | 1.39 |
| 15 | Bond LakeYork | 1 of 21 | 1970 | 32 | 0.18 |
| 16 | Muskrat LakeRenfrew | 1 of 24 | 2009 | 12.5 | |
| 17 | Little LakeSimcoe | 1 of 31 | 2008 | 10 | 4.01 |
| 18 | Lake SimcoeYork | 1 of 474 | 1979 | 41 | 752 |
Top 18 of 18 lakes. Download the full list (CSV). Source: Ontario’s Aquatic Resource Area survey summaries and fish stocking records (Ministry of Natural Resources, OGL-Ontario). Data as of October 9, 2026. A record means a survey caught or observed the species, not that it is abundant today.
Other fish in Ontario
- Walleye (Pickerel)706
- Northern Pike819
- Bass881
- Trout1,717
- Lake Trout591
- Brook Trout626
- Rainbow Trout161
- Muskellunge (Muskie)56
- Crappie138
- Yellow Perch1,006
- Black Crappie129
- Bluegill178
- Brown Trout24
- Burbot375
- Cisco514
- Lake Sturgeon22
- Lake Whitefish478
- Largemouth Bass287
- Pumpkinseed490
- Rock Bass532
- Sauger53
- Smallmouth Bass594
- Splake315