Smallmouth Bass Fishing - Showing The True Ontario To The World…

Smallmouth bass are found from picturesque glacial lakes of the Canadian Shield to Ontario's Great Lakes shoals and in thousands of creeks, rivers, and lakes which lie in between.

Soft-plastic twister-tail, tube, and shad jig bodies on 1/8- to 3/8-ounce heads are the most common smallmouth lures. Good jig colors are black, smoke, purple, amber, yellow, and white. Bounce jigs along bottom, while retrieving or drifting with the wind over potential hotspots. One trick is to allow a tube jig to settle on bottom, then release 20 to 40 yards (18 to 36 m) of line. As the boat drifts, nudge the bait along, as you feel for a strike. This technique is particularly useful in clear, deep water for spooky smallmouth. Smallmouth is particularly fond of crayfish, especially soft-shells that have just molted.

Largemouth tactics that workout in other places, work equally effective in Ontario also. Fishing varies from flip-and-pitch techniques around docks, matted weeds, shallow, and stumps, to exciting top-water action on poppers, jerk baits, and floating plastic worms. Although some southern lakes or rivers are turbid, clear water is normal in Ontario. Bait casting tackle spooled with 12- to 20-pound line is ideal around heavy cover for largemouth in stained waters. Light spinning tackle, though, is often necessary to fool largemouth in clear water on sunny days. In these conditions, thin, yet strong, braided or fused line and small plastic worms, grubs, or jigs can jump-start the action, while allowing you to handle fish around cover. Live bait is effective for both species. Leeches, minnows, and juicy night crawlers rigged beneath a float or with split-shot on the bottom will draw Ontario fishing lodges, camps resorts and outfitters. It's the greatest vacation in Canada! Whether you want to casually do some fishing or try some more serious angling, our province is an angler's paradise.

Nowhere else can boast such a catch. Think of it: The largest fresh water lakes in the world, a huge diversity of fish, and Walleye in abundance (over 4.7 million kg caught every year). What's more, there's an entire range of experiences that allow you to "go remote" at fly-in camps in the Northwest and Northeast, or cast a line on day-trips in our Playground. Come here for all your vacation, equipment, and news and weather information. Come equipped, buy, or rent at any one of the outfitters throughout the province. There are boats to charter, guided trips, fishing packages, or be your own guide and take yourself to a place where there's just you and the fish. Discover the riches of a tackle and bait shop, the hub of commerce in any small lakeside town. Ontario at its best and do check it out.

Ontario has the very best Smallmouth Bass fishing in the World with some areas having really good Largemouth Bass Fishing. Bass Heaven's many lakes, rivers and streams are here for you to enjoy.

Temperatures colder or warmer than these will generally cause smallies to slow down their metabolism, making them tougher to catch. Smallmouth bass also inhabit a wide range of water - there are "deep" and "shallow" bass and they are a schooling fish - meaning if you catch one there's a good chance there are several others in the area. Bass generally stick close to the bottom or near structure like humps and saddles. As ambush predators, bass need cover to feed successfully so casting accuracy and presentation are key elements to consider when fishing for them.

Live or artificial baits both work well - night crawlers seem to work particularly well as do tube jigs and small spinner baits. Bring a variety of tackle and experiment to find what works best under the particular conditions you're fishing that day.