Lake Sturgeon Lakes in Ontario
Government fish surveys have recorded lake sturgeon in 22 Ontario lakes, 1% of the 2,365 lakes in this atlas with sport-fish records.
- Lakes
- 22
- Recorded since 2010
- 11
- Median size
- 17.2 km²
- Latest record
- 2024
Where it is found
Most of these lakes are in Thunder Bay (5), Renfrew (4) and Rainy River (2).
In these lakes the sport fish most often recorded alongside it are walleye (95%), northern pike (86%), yellow perch (86%) and smallmouth bass (59%).
Seasons, limits and sanctuaries vary by zone: check the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary before you fish.
Where lake sturgeon 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 | Helen LakeThunder Bay | 2 of 2 | 2013 | 15.9 | |
| 2 | Allumette LakeRenfrew | 63 of 187 | 2014 | 213 | |
| 3 | Grassy LakeRainy River | 1 of 1 | 2015 | 3.29 | |
| 4 | Champlain Trail LakesRenfrew | 1 of 1 | 2009 | 64 | 15 |
| 5 | Lake MadawaskaLanark | 1 of 1 | 9.52 | ||
| 6 | Whitewater LakeThunder Bay | 1 of 1 | 115 | ||
| 7 | Whitson LakeNipissing | 1 of 1 | 0.88 | ||
| 8 | Rainy LakeRainy River | 2 of 5 | 2015 | 826 | |
| 9 | Burntbush LakeCochrane | 2 of 6 | 2010 | 2 | 1.28 |
| 10 | Lac du Rocher-FenduRenfrew | 5 of 40 | 2009 | 18.5 | |
| 11 | Lac la CaveNipissing | 6 of 60 | 2018 | 32.5 | |
| 12 | Makokibatan LakeThunder Bay | 1 of 4 | 2024 | 12 | 59.7 |
| 13 | Muskrat LakeRenfrew | 3 of 24 | 2009 | 12.5 | |
| 14 | Whiteclay LakeThunder Bay | 3 of 26 | 2014 | 48 | |
| 15 | Ottertail LakeAlgoma | 1 of 5 | 2019 | 3 | 4.34 |
| 16 | Rock LakeAlgoma | 2 of 29 | 2011 | 21 | 10.7 |
| 17 | Peekwatahmaewee Sahkaheekahn/Berens LakeKenora | 1 of 27 | 2009 | 9 | 26.8 |
| 18 | Little Sturge LakeThunder Bay | 1 of 29 | 2009 | 6.55 | |
| 19 | Nikip LakeKenora | 1 of 32 | 2012 | 5 | 54.3 |
| 20 | Lake TimiskamingTémiscamingue | 1 of 61 | 204 | ||
| 21 | Lac DeschênesLes Collines-de-l'Outaouais | 1 of 104 | 71.1 | ||
| 22 | Lac Dollard-des-OrmeauxArgenteuil | 1 of 141 | 11.6 |
Top 22 of 22 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
- Channel Catfish18
- Cisco514
- Lake Whitefish478
- Largemouth Bass287
- Pumpkinseed490
- Rock Bass532
- Sauger53
- Smallmouth Bass594
- Splake315