Ontario

Grand River

Ontario·Grand River·43.66° N, 80.45° W

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About Grand River

The Grand runs about 300 km from the Dundalk highlands to Lake Erie, but trout anglers mean one 28 km stretch: the tailwater below Shand Dam, which holds back Belwood Lake. Cool water released from the reservoir keeps the river cold enough for brown trout through Fergus and Elora, and down to West Montrose. The browns are stocked. MNRF puts 23,000 to 34,000 brown trout into the river each spring, because they reproduce poorly here. They grow fast on the hatches, and most of the tailwater is catch and release, so many fish live to a good size. The Grand River Conservation Authority owns much of the valley, and there are more than a dozen marked access points, many of them at bridges.

The tailwater changes character twice. From Shand Dam to Fergus the river runs over bedrock and follows the dam's releases. From Fergus to the Elora Gorge it drops faster over limestone ledges in a narrow valley. Below the gorge it widens over gravel, with more spring water, down to West Montrose. That lower reach warms in a hot summer and takes anchor ice in winter. The dry fly season is the draw: Hendricksons in mid to late May, Gray Fox in June, Isonychia in late June and July, then Light Cahills and tan caddis into August. Tricos and flying ants carry August and September for anglers who like small flies and long leaders. Read the Shand Dam gauge before you go. Wading is easiest from about 3 to 9 m³/s, and past about 20 the river is too high to wade safely. Releases can raise the river fast, so watch the water around your feet.

The trout season runs from the fourth Saturday in April to September 30. Most of the tailwater is catch and release for trout, with artificial lures and one barbless hook. Two short stretches fall under the zone's general rules: the Fergus town water between Scotland Street and Tower Street, and the Elora Gorge itself, where the conservation area runs tubing trips on summer days. Downstream, the Paris to Brantford reach is a different fishery: wide water you can wade or fish from a canoe or drift boat, with Lake Erie steelhead from October to December and again after the April opener, and smallmouth bass all summer. It is artificial lures, one barbless hook and catch and release there. Grand River Troutfitters in Fergus guides the tailwater, and the Elora Gorge Conservation Area has a campground above the lower river.

Species

Brown Trout
Primary · Late Apr-Sep (best mid May-Jul) · 25-45 cm, some larger
Stocked each spring. MNRF stocked 23,000 to 34,000 brown trout a year from 2021 to 2025. They reproduce poorly in the river, so the stocking carries the fishery. Catch and release on most of the tailwater.
Smallmouth Bass
Common · Late Jun-Nov · 25-45 cm
In the lower tailwater below the Elora Gorge, and all through the Paris to Brantford reach. The bass season opens on the fourth Saturday in June. Catch and release from Paris to Brantford.
Steelhead
Present · Oct-Dec, late Apr · 50-75 cm
Lake Erie fish that run up the lower Grand to Paris. Catch and release from Paris to Brantford. Below Paris the trout season runs to December 31.

Species	Abundance	Best Season	Size
Brown Trout	Primary	Late Apr-Sep (best mid May-Jul)	25-45 cm, some larger
Smallmouth Bass	Common	Late Jun-Nov	25-45 cm
Steelhead	Present	Oct-Dec, late Apr	50-75 cm

Sections

5 reaches

Shand Dam to Fergus

WadeBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout

The top of the tailwater, from below Shand Dam down to Scotland Street in Fergus. The river runs over bedrock here and follows the dam's releases closely, so it is the first water to rise when the dam opens. Catch and release for trout from the West Garafraxa 2nd Line down, with artificial lures and one barbless hook.

Best for: Brown trout on nymphs and streamers in the spring, and dry flies during the May and June hatches. Watch for rising water below the dam.

Fergus to Elora

WadeBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout

From Scotland Street in Fergus down to the Bissell Dam in Elora. The river drops faster here over limestone ledges in a narrow valley, with pocket water and short runs. The town water between Scotland Street and Tower Street follows the zone's general rules. Below Tower Street it is catch and release for trout, with artificial lures and one barbless hook.

Best for: Brown trout in the pocket water and ledges, on caddis and mayfly hatches from mid May through July.

Elora Gorge

WadeBrown Trout

The river runs through a limestone gorge below Elora, inside the Elora Gorge Conservation Area. The walls are steep and the access points are few. This stretch follows the zone's general rules, not the tailwater's catch and release rule. The conservation area runs tubing through the gorge on summer days, so fish it early or late in the season.

Best for: Brown trout in the deep pools and runs in spring and fall, away from the summer tubing crowds.

Elora Gorge to West Montrose

WadeBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Smallmouth

Below the gorge the valley opens and the river widens over gravel, past Pilkington and Inverhaugh, down to the covered bridge at West Montrose. There is more spring water here and long runs and riffles, but the river warms in a hot summer. Catch and release for trout, with artificial lures and one barbless hook, from 100 m below the gorge's south boundary bridge to 100 m above the Highway 86 bridge.

Best for: Brown trout on dry flies in the riffles from mid May to July, tricos in August, and smallmouth bass in summer.

Paris to Brantford

Wade & FloatSteelhead · Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Northern Pike · Walleye · Smallmouth

The Exceptional Waters reach, from below the Dundas Street bridge in Paris to the pedestrian bridge above Brant Conservation Area in Brantford. The river is wide here, and you can wade it or fish it from a canoe or drift boat. Artificial lures only, one barbless hook, and catch and release for brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, walleye and pike. No fishing from March 1 to the Friday before the fourth Saturday in April.

Best for: Lake Erie steelhead on swung flies and nymphs from October to December and after the April opener, and smallmouth bass from late June.

At a glance

Ideal wading flow: 3–9 m³/s
Blow-out: >20 m³/s
Ideal water temp: 10–18°C

Best seasons

Late April to September on the tailwater. The best dry fly fishing runs from mid May through July: Hendricksons in mid to late May, Gray Fox in June, Isonychia in late June and July, and Light Cahills and tan caddis into August. Tricos and flying ants carry August and September. Flows are read at the Shand Dam gauge. Wading is easiest from about 3 to 9 m³/s, and past about 20 m³/s the tailwater is too high to wade safely. Steelhead come to the Paris to Brantford reach from October to December, and again after the late April opener.

Regulations

Trout season runs from the fourth Saturday in April to September 30. Most of the tailwater from Shand Dam to West Montrose is catch and release for trout, with artificial lures and one barbless hook. Paris to Brantford is artificial lures, one barbless hook and catch and release for trout, bass, walleye and pike, and below Paris the trout season runs to December 31.

Zone 16 seasons: brown, brook and rainbow trout from the fourth Saturday in April to September 30. Bass from the fourth Saturday in June to November 30.
Catch and release for brook, brown and rainbow trout, artificial lures only and one barbless hook, from the West Garafraxa 2nd Line below Shand Dam to Scotland Street in Fergus, from Tower Street in Fergus to the Bissell Dam in Elora, and from 100 m below the bridge at the south end of the Elora Gorge Conservation Area to 100 m above the Highway 86 bridge near West Montrose. The rule breaks for about 100 m on each side of the Pilkington 8th Line bridge and the Pilkington and Woolwich township line.
The Fergus town water between Scotland Street and Tower Street, and the river from the Bissell Dam through the Elora Gorge, follow the zone's general limits: 5 trout and salmon a day with a sport licence (2 with a conservation licence), no more than 2 of them rainbow trout.
Paris to Brantford, from 100 m below the Dundas Street bridge in Paris to the angled pedestrian bridge above Brant Conservation Area: artificial lures only and one barbless hook. Catch and release for brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike. No fishing from March 1 to the Friday before the fourth Saturday in April.
From Paris to Lake Erie, brown and rainbow trout are open from the fourth Saturday in April to December 31. Below Brantford you may keep 1 brown or rainbow trout a day from October 1 to December 31 with a sport licence, and none with a conservation licence.
No fishing from the Penman Dam to the William Street bridge in Paris from October 1 to November 30.
Carry an Outdoors Card and an Ontario fishing licence. A conservation licence has lower limits than a sport licence.

The Grand River Conservation Authority warns that the river below Shand Dam can rise quickly with releases from Belwood Lake. Most land along the river is private, so use the marked access points and the conservation areas. Check the zone page for changes before each trip.

Source: Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary 2026, Fisheries Management Zone 16. Regulations change annually. Verify before fishing.

Getting there

Fergus, ON

About 1.5 hrs from Toronto, 25 min from Guelph, 35 min from Kitchener-Waterloo

Camping: The Elora Gorge Conservation Area has a campground on the river between Elora and the lower tailwater. Fergus and Elora have inns, bed and breakfasts and restaurants.

The Grand River Conservation Authority marks more than a dozen access points on the tailwater, many at bridges, and the Elora Gorge Conservation Area charges a day-use fee. In Paris, enter the river from the town parks. In Brantford, use Brant Conservation Area or the city parks.

Grand River

Ontario·Grand River·43.66° N, 80.45° W

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Fishing: Good
Flow: 3.3m³/s; Steady · normal; Grand River below Shand Dam
Water temp: —

Flow

3.3m³/s

Steady ·

Grand River below Shand Dam

Water temp

—

Normal range

2.9–7.7m³/s

Median 5.3 m³/s

Weather

3°C

Clear