Great fishing on Lake Erie
In the market for fresh fish? Look no further than Ontario’s smallest Great Lake.
If you love fish, chances are you have tried some Lake Erie pickerel, yellow and white perch, northern pike and freshwater drum rainbow trout. They make this Great Lake the largest freshwater commercial fishery in Canada, and one of the most valuable in the world.
The Lake Erie commercial fishing industry provides many people in the area with income and employment. Last year alone, the industry landed nearly 22 million pounds of fish.
If you’re in the area, you may want to check out Lake Erie’s many fish markets to pick up the catch of the day. Take the ferry to Pelee Island ,or wander through Port Dover for a day, visit the beach, then take in a gorgeous sunset. Or ask for the freshest Lake Erie pickerel at your local fish market.
Hankering to try your own hand at catching Lake Erie pickerel? Check out our interactive map and Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish to find out more about catching and safe eating.
Did you know?
- Lake Erie’s commercial fishery accounts for about 80 per cent of the value of Ontario’s Great Lakes commercial fishery worth $200 million.
- The commercial walleye (pickerel) fishery is widely considered one of the best in the world. The average walleye is 5-6 pounds, with 10-12 pound fish caught regularly!
- Lake Erie is the smallest and shallowest of the Great Lakes: It measures about 388 kilometres (km) across and 92 km from north to south, with a surface area of 25,700 square km. The average depth of Lake Erie is only about 19 metres.
Lake Erie is facing pressures from human activity and from aquatic invading species. The proposed Great Lakes Protection Act, if passed, would ensure that Lake Erie and the rest of the Great Lakes are drinkable, swimmable and fishable. Check out the Strategy and let us know what you think.
