High · Low
Marginal today
river / FMZ 16Grand River at West Montrose
This is where the Grand quits being a trout river. Above West Montrose, the cold tailwater off the Shand Dam runs brown trout under artificial-lures-only rules; slide down under the covered bridge and the water warms, spreads out over 70-odd feet of rock and gravel, and the smallmouth take over.
Target Species
02 - Conditions
Today's read.
Quick Summary
Rainy and mild, with a high of 23° and a low of 16°. Breezy, gusts to 41 km/h. Steady pressure should keep the bite consistent.
Daily max · 0-11
Avg · SW · gusts to 41 km/h
steady · -1 hPa/24h
14h 56m daylight
Lunar phase
Peak 21.0 mm/h · 8 wet hrs
C+
Marginal today
Boatable but breezy — a 12 km/h SW average over 0.6 km of fetch builds some chop; the northeast shore stays cleanest. Good bite potential — with bright sun, dawn and dusk are your windows. Work the shoreline edges and lean on the low-light hours.
Craft Verdicts
No trailer launch in seed dataCarry-in launch0.6 km max fetchPressure steady (-1.2 hPa/24h)
Powerboat
No trailer ramp here — a powerboat can't launch.
Kayak
Clear to launch — a 12 km/h SW average over 0.6 km of fetch stays well within a kayak's low, wind-caught profile; easy to hold position.
Canoe
Launchable but exposed — a 26 km/h average gust and 0.6 km of fetch will test an open canoe's shallow draft; put in on the northeast shore and stay tight to it.
Hourly Conditions
5:00 a.m.
19°Temp
UV0
Precip4.2mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · S17kph
Gust33kph
Launch ReadCaution
7:00 a.m.
19°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · SW20kph
Gust37kph
Launch ReadCaution
9:00 a.m.
21°Temp
UV1
Precip0.0mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · SW14kph
Gust36kph
Launch ReadCaution
11:00 a.m.
22°Temp
UV2
Precip0.0mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · SW15kph
Gust38kph
Launch ReadCaution
1:00 p.m.
21°Temp
UV7
Precip6.0mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityFair
Wind · SW5kph
Gust9kph
Launch ReadAll Clear
3:00 p.m.
22°Temp
UV7
Precip4.3mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityFair
Wind · SE8kph
Gust10kph
Launch ReadAll Clear
5:00 p.m.
21°Temp
UV5
Precip21.0mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityFair
Wind · W3kph
Gust12kph
Launch ReadAll Clear
Storm!7:00 p.m.
20°Temp
UV1
Precip0.0mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · NW10kph
Gust21kph
Launch ReadAll Clear
9:00 p.m.
18°Temp
UV0
Precip0.0mm
PressureSteady
Fish ActivityHigh
Wind · NW14kph
Gust30kph
Launch ReadCaution
Weekly Outlook
LaunchFishable
BiteHigh
LaunchCaution
BiteHigh
LaunchAll Clear
BiteFair
LaunchAll Clear
BiteFair
LaunchAll Clear
BiteHigh
LaunchCaution
BiteMaximum
LaunchAll Clear
BiteMaximum
01
How it fishes
West Montrose is the transition point where the Grand's cold brown-trout tailwater gives way to warmwater river — smallmouth bass become the dominant gamefish here and continue downstream.
SourceThe reach runs under the West Montrose Covered Bridge — built 1880–1881 by John Bear, about 205 ft / 62 m over two spans of oak and white pine — the only remaining historic covered bridge in Ontario, a Provincial Historic Site with Ontario Heritage Act designation.
SourceThe Grand is a designated Canadian Heritage River; the West Montrose–to–Bridgeport reach is a documented warmwater fishery for smallmouth bass, northern pike, carp, and panfish.
SourceA public carry-in river access point (#204) opened at West Montrose (West Montrose Family Campground, 6344 Line 86), open mid-May to mid-October.
Source02
Regulations snapshot
This is a summary, not the legal regulation — confirm current rules with the official source before fishing.
Smallmouth Bass
Season: fourth Saturday in June to Nov 30 (2026: Jun 27–Nov 30)
Limit: S-6 / C-2 (Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass combined)
Size: no size limit
Official sourceNorthern Pike
Season: Jan 1–Mar 31 and second Saturday in May to Dec 31 (2026: May 9–Dec 31)
Limit: S-6 / C-2
Size: no size limit
Official source03
Access notes
West Montrose river access point (#204)
West Montrose Family Campground, 6344 Line 86, West Montrose
Carry-in only (canoe/kayak/tube; wade access). Open mid-May to mid-October; ample parking; sign in at the campground front office. No trailer boat launch on this reach; the reach can run too low to paddle in summer.
Access source04