Freshwater Fishing.
Pretty River runs Great Lakes-tributary salmon and steelhead through Collingwood — wild Chinook salmon spawn successfully in the river and in Silver Creek, and the cold-water habitat also holds rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. The river is viewable from the west-side path that runs from Highway 26 / Pretty River Parkway up to where the rail trail crosses Peel Street.
The brief.
Pretty River and tributaries inside the Town of Collingwood carry a fish-sanctuary closure under Fisheries Management Zone 16 — no fishing from the fourth Saturday in April to May 31, with an extended sanctuary closure from January 1 through October 31 in Collingwood and Osprey Townships. The Nottawasaga River downstream from the Boyne to Georgian Bay is rainbow-trout C-0/S-0 (no harvest).
Per the Ministry of Natural Resources study cited by NVCA, 95% of the salmon caught by Georgian Bay sport fishers are wild fish that spawned in tributary streams. Adult Chinook in the river system measure around 72 cm and weigh around 4 kg; chinook spawn in the river August through October, rainbow trout in spring.
Anglers structure their year around the open windows.
3. places.
- 01
Pretty River within Collingwood
Rainbow trout (spring run), chinook salmon (fall run), brown trout, brook trout; viewable from the west-side path between Highway 26 / Pretty River Parkway and the rail-trail crossing at Peel Street.
Map ↗ - 02
Collingwood Harbour
Nottawasaga Bay shoreline fishing on the harbour edge.
Map ↗ - 03
Silver Creek
Wild Chinook spawning tributary near Collingwood; documented spawning population.
Map ↗
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort.
By the book.
- 01Pretty River and tributaries in the Town of Collingwood: fish sanctuary, no fishing from the fourth Saturday in April to May 31 (FMZ 16).Source ↗
- 02Pretty River within Collingwood and Osprey Townships: extended sanctuary closure January 1 through October 31.Source ↗
- 03Nottawasaga River from the Boyne River downstream to Georgian Bay: rainbow trout C-0 and S-0 (no harvest).Source ↗
