Welcome to our Bay of Quinte Fishing Home Page
The Bay of Quinte is famous for its outstanding walleye fishery. This bay puts out some very big walleye with 30 inch fish a possibility here. What many people don’t realize is that the bay has become an outstanding largemouth bass fishery as well. This area is big water, but it is protected well for being big water, so you can get out here to fish on many days without having a huge boat. Smallmouth bass, northern pike, salmon, muskie and perch round out the fishery.
Primary Species of Fish
Walleye, Largemouth Bass & Northern Pike
The largemouth bass fishery is taking off here, however walleye are definitely king in the bay. The spring spawn brings so many walleye into these waters. The summer and fall seasons also offer good walleye fishing. Northern Pike are also found throughout the bay. Find the deeper weed lines and you will have a lot more success with bigger pike, but if you’re just looking for action, the shallow weeds will have plenty of smaller pike willing to bite. Some very big pike are caught every year out in the deeper water, so don’t rule out some of those suspended pike that roam the deeper waters all summer and fall.
Secondary Species of Fish
Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, Perch, Salmon & Trout
Muskie are definitely secondary in the Bay of Quinte, but there are some muskie available. Salmon and trout move into the Napinee River to spawn. If you time it right, you can catch some nice fish in shallow water. Smallmouth bass and perch are available throughout the bay. The rocky areas, bridges and deep water will hold smallmouth bass. Perch can be found in the area rivers and all over the bay around weeds, bridges and they will often roam the deeper waters in large schools during the summer and fall months.
Trent River
The Trent River is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, which flows from Rice Lake to the Bay of Quinte. This river is full of locks and dams that covers a vast area. Closer to the Bay of Quinte, anglers have lots of public shore fishing options, but if you can get in a boat, you can experience better fishing for a variety of species such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskie, crappie, perch and more.
Trenton Bay
Trenton Bay is located at the northwest part of the Bay of Quinte. The Trent River flows into into this bay and the mouth of the river is a popular walleye spot, especially in the spring and fall. You can catch other species of fish here as well, but walleye are definitely the preferred species of fish among most anglers. When the bite is going good, there will be plenty of other boaters fishing this area.
Moria River
The Moria River flows through downtown Belleville. The mouth of the river is a popular spot for many boaters since there are multiple spots with boat slips down here. Walleye move into this river in the spring and fall, however, a lot more fish move into the river in the spring. Anglers target walleye, smallmouth bass, pike and other fish along the shorelines, while wading in the river and by boat. The upper part of the Moria is known for having a good muskie population as well.
Belleville Bay
Belleville Bay is located at the mouth of the Moria River and it is another popular spot for walleye, especially in the spring and fall. Anglers also target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and panfish in the bay throughout the fishing season.
Salmon River
Salmon River flows into Big Bay. This is a smaller river that does offer some good fishing early in the season. Walleye do move into the river to spawn, so you can catch some nice walleye from shore or in a small boat. Some fish do move back into the river in the fall also, however, the spring is the best time to target big walleye. Anglers also will find some bass, northern pike and panfish in the river as well.
Big Bay
Big Bay is one of the largest areas on the bay and it is a popular area to fish. This is big water out here so you don’t want to be caught out here in a smaller boat. Anglers do well on Big Bay for walleye. You will usually see a lot of boat trolling for walleye so they can cover more water out here and find more feeding fish. Some of the popular spots to fish in the bay are Point Anne, Big Island Shoal, Minnie Blakely Shoal and Horse Point. Largemouth bass are found along the shorelines and in the smaller bays within Big Bay. Pike are here too. Smallmouth bass are usually found offshore during the summer and fall months and perch are here as well.
Moscote Bay
Moscote Bay is a weedy bay located south of Big Bay. The weeds attract plenty of largemouth bass and northern pike, so make sure you tie on a leader if you plan on targeting bass in this area. You may also run into some smallmouth bass and panfish in this area.
Telegraph Narrows
This long narrow stretch is located between Big Bay & the Deseronto bridge. This is a good area to fish for walleye and smallmouth bass during the transition times of the year. In the spring and fall, good numbers of fish will move through this area.
Napanee River
This river runs through the town of Napanee. The Napanee River provides a good spawning run of walleye as well as a fall spawning run of salmon. Anglers also catch northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and perch in the river.
Long Reach
This narrow stretch connects to Hay Bay. It isn’t a super popular spot to fish, however, some anglers do report good success in this part of the Bay of Quinte. Walleye move through here in large numbers every spring and fall.
Hay Bay
Hay Bay is the long arm that comes off of Long Reach. To the eastern part of the bay, you will find lots of weeds and shallower water, which is great for largemouth bass and northern pike. In the west end, you will find deeper water. Walleye anglers usually troll the deeper part of the bay.
Adolphus Reach
This part of the Bay of Quinte is very popular since this is where walleye will stack up before moving farther into the bay. You will also find schools of walleye in this area as they move back out of the bay after the spring spawning season. You have a lot of deep water out here and there are usually plenty of anglers out here trolling for huge walleye.
Fishing Regulations
Ontario Regulations (The Bay of Quinte area is in Zone 20)
