Ontario Smallmouth Fishing

[mweidmanks]

New to the forum. Looking for a lake to do some smallmouth fishing in late June. Have fished in the Dryden area and caught some nice ones. Looking for a little more quantity. Would be driving up from Kansas. Any suggestions? HUA

[solopaddler]

If you're willing to paddle and portage, Quetico provincial park just south of Atikokan has the best smallmouth fishing I've ever experienced.

The topwater fishing in early June is incredible.

In one small spot I caught 5 in a row topping 5lb's...

[uglyfish]

lake erie or lake simcoe. plenty of trophys in both lakes! and great numbers too.

[mbac31]

My first bet would be Simcoe. Second bet would have to be Rice lake.

[Pigeontroller]

There's no lack of good Bass fishing in Southern Ontario! Try the Haliburton region north of the Kawartha Lakes for a nice area to vacation with plenty of lakes to choose from.

[charlied]

if you got a boat...gotta say erie and simcoe for smallie numbers for sure!

[NBR]

I have gone to Ontario for close to 30 years for smallmouth. I used to go to Namakan Lake but when I was transfered to New Hampshire I started going to eastern Ontario. Lake Simcoe and other eastern Ontario locations are too far from Kansas and way to far if you are going to pull a boat.

 

The lodge I went to has closed. If I were you I'd look at Rainey Lake as first choice, Lake of the Woods second and the Antikokan area third. Small mouth season has been open year around in western Ontario and as far as I know it still is. I prefer a boat in lodge, cooking for ourselves and you can find several on Rainy and Lake of the Woods.

 

Rainy (I haven't fished there in over 30 years) gives you a great chance for 4 pounders with 5's or 6's not out of the question. New regulations have been imposed on some of the border waters with a maximum size on SMB's of 13.4". The last time I was up we weren't catching any walleyes and needed fish for dinner. Our biggest problem was getting a few smallies small enough to keep and eat My favorite weeks were the second and third weeks in June with the first week following closely behind.

 

I don't know where you are in Kansas (my wifes family was from Smith Center and a brother in law worked at K State in Manhattan) but the trip is as easy as getting over to I35 in KC MO and heading north. When you get near Duluth you can cut off a few miles by going through Cloquet to Rte. 53.

[Whopper]

Welcome aboard, love the user name, story of my life

 

Many places to choose from good luck in your search

[derekadam]

If you'd like to stay close to the border, Lake St. Clair has a great smallmouth fishery, and there's always the chance of "accidently" bringing in a muskie!!

[1Harringtona]

A great place to fish for bass would be in lake erie.

 

Go to a place called Dunville then launch your boat at the mouth of the river. Then leave the river and turn left after about ten to fifteen minutes you will see an island (Gull Island) then fish between the mainland and the island

 

PS: the Island has a light house

[Rich]

For quantity, sometimes quality and more reliable conditions (not as rough) hit up the Haliburton area. Pick a lake and drop a tube chances are you'll get tons.

 

For quality, Lake Simcoe has it. Lots of people nailing 5lb+ fish there all the time. Just gotta keep an eye on the weather.

[NBR]

hungupagain, refer to my earlier reply if you would like more details shoot me an email.

 

NBR

[mweidmanks]

Thanks for all the suggestions .... starting to do the research. Any recommendations for resorts or places to stay? HUA

[Rizzo]

topwater fishing in early June is incredible

 

can't believe nobody has jumped on this one yet, unless of course they have an earlier opener there than most of the province

[irishfield]

I 'tink you'll find it's open year round Roger. Like many places should be for bass... that are getting too thick with them.

[Rizzo]

thanks Wayne

[irishfield]

Pretty much everything North of New Liskeard is open year round. Or at least it was... haven't obtained a new reg book yet... only printed out the areas I fish in.