Boat Launches & Fishing

Residents are encouraged to report any damages or concerns through our Report an Issue page.

We have several boat launches which grant access to bodies of water including the Salmon River, Hay Bay and the Bay of Quinte. See our boat launches below:

Location: Near Adolphustown Park Road

Boat Launch Fee: No

Dock: Yes

Parking: Yes

Public Washrooms: Yes

What's Close By?

The UEL Heritage Centre & Park is located right beside the boat launch. The Loyalist Parkway with its shops and wineries leads to the entrance of this launch.

For more information on this boat launch, please see the UEL Heritage Centre and Park website

A map of all boat launch locations can be found below:

The Napanee River and Hay Bay are great spots for fishing, as they are home to walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, lake trout and crappie.

Check out the popular bodies of water in Greater Napanee and the fish found in them:

Adolphus Beach

Fish Species: Largmouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Salmon, Pike, Panfish and Walleye

In the fall, troll this area for 10+ pound walleye! Its deep water, which sometimes exceeds 100 feet, can be stacked with walleye making their annual migration into the Bay of Quinte to stage in front of the spawning rivers.

Hay Bay

Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Pike, Panfish, Lake Trout and Walleye 

Hay Bay, for the most part of the east, is shallow and weedy and is a great location for Largemouth Bass fishing. The western end is deeper and is a great area to troll for walleye.

Long Reach

Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Pike, Panfish and Walleye

This narrow long stretch connects to Hay Bay and was known for its power boat races in the 1960s.

Napanee River

Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Pike, Salmon, Panfish and Walleye

The Napanee River runs through the heart of Downtown Napanee and is a great location for Spring walleye fishing. It hosts a fantastic salmon run as well.

Salmon River

Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Pike, Panfish and Walleye

Flowing through the north rural area of Roblin, this river is a great place to fish in the spring.

Ontario Fishing Regulations & Zones

Stay safe and be smart on the water. Get licensed and know the rules by visiting Ontario's Fishing Regulations.

Greater Napanee falls under Zone 18 & Zone 20. Please ensure that you're familiar with each zone's seasons and limits.

Local Bait & Tackle Shops

• Canadian Tire
• Baker's Baits
• Brook's Baits 
• Walmart
• Moon's Bait & Tackle (Deseronto)

Local Organizations

• Friends of the Salmon River 
• Friends of the Napanee River
• Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council
• Napanee Rod & Gun Club

Find out why Greater Napanee is a great place to fish:

Need more information? Visit the County of Lennox and Addington's website for more areas to fish in and around Greater Napanee.

You can find all these amenities located along the Napanee River: 

• Public dock;
• A beautiful picnic area;
• Newly redeveloped walking trail which leads up to the falls and fountain;
• A pavilion;
• Children's splash pad and playground;
• Public washroom facilities;
• One block away from beautiful downtown Napanee, there are many shopping and dining opportunities within walking distance for a fun filled afternoon!

What is a Wake?

A wake is simply the waves in the water that are created by a moving watercraft. Unlike natural waves, watercraft wakes travel at the same speed as the watercraft which created them; often making wake frequencies high. The combination of a wake’s high speed, height and wave frequency can cause serious damage or injury to other motorized vessels, swimmers, canoes and kayaks, docking and shorelines.

Effects Wakes Have on the Environment

Wakes not only erode the shoreline, but they can also disturb aquatic ecosystems and damage the nests of waterfowls.
Wakes can cause environmental damage immediately or over an extended period, depending on the circumstances. When erosion occurs, the roots of vegetation along the shoreline are exposed and the banks collapse. In addition to the erosion, the impact of the wakes can stir up sediments which will damage the aquatic environment for plants and animals. 

Effects Wakes Have on Docks, Swimmers and Other Watercrafts

Keep in mind that wakes travel at the same speed as the boat which created them. That means, at times, wakes can be very dangerous and can damage your watercraft due to the speed and impact. This damage happens when the wake slams into a watercraft at a rapid succession.

Congested areas on the water are the most hazardous areas for wake damage. When wakes are created by multiple boats in the same area, the impact is even greater.

Boaters should also be cautious around areas with rock walls. Rock walls can act like mirrors for wakes, creating multiple high-frequency surges and cross-chops that are just as strong. Wakes can even damage boats when they are secured to docks. A large wake taken broadside causes a boat to rock severely, no matter how tightly it is attached to the dock. A large enough wake can pull hardware out of the boat, the dock, or both.

Remember that not all swimming areas are marked, especially on a river. When operating a watercraft near shore, always keep a lookout for swimmers or pets in the water. Wakes can endanger swimmers, especially children. If a strong enough wake comes into shore, it can pull swimmers underwater or knock them off their feet, leading to injury or even drowning.

Wakes can rock, swamp or capsize other boats, especially light-weight, smaller vessels such as canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Passengers of these watercrafts can be thrown off balance or tipped overboard when another boat passes by too fast or too close and causes a wake.

How You Can Help Decrease Wakes

The best way to reduce wakes near shorelines is to slow down when operating a watercraft. In Ontario, the Canada Shipping Act regulations limit the maximum speeds of vessels within 30 metres of shore to 10 km/h. Violations of the regulations are subject to fines. Please continue to respect signage posted in and along the water to protect the natural environment.

When passing another boat or shore structure, stay as far away as possible. Remember when operating near shore, keep your eyes open for swimmers and pets. When you slow down, steer quartering into the wake. Position your passengers throughout the boat, not only at the stern, to reduce the time spent while in transition speed. You are held responsible for any damage or injury caused by a wake that your boat creates.

The Napanee River, located just one block south of the downtown core, is known for not only its beauty, but for the fact that it has its own tide. The river will rise and lower regularly between six to sixteen inches!

Winds across Lake Ontario push the lake water to the north shore. When the wind eases, the water surges back to where it came from. The surge repeats itself, creating what is called a "seiche" effect. The seiche effect can go on for a few days. Many factors working together create what appears to be a regular tide in the Napanee River.

This effect only occurs in one other river in the world, which makes the Napanee River unique and a great place to visit!