fishing
Best Smallmouth Bass Destinations
by: Gord Pyzer
1. RAINY LAKE, ON

Ten years ago, I would have said Lake Simcoe or Lake Erie was the best smallmouth lake in Canada. Today, I can't visit Rainy Lake, near Fort Frances, often enough. Rainy Lake is smallmouth heaven on earth. Three- and four-pound fish are common and six- and seven-pounders are a possibility.
     In early July, when the smallies pull out of protected bays, the topwater action is spectacular. It's still great in midsummer, but the pros in the last two Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championships relied on suspending Husky Jerks and Storm Thundersticks to win the event. Lures that imitate baitfish have been the ticket on Rainy ever since smelt established themselves over 15 years ago. And by the way, you need three, five-fish daily limits approaching 60 pounds before you even begin thinking about winning a tournament here.
     •Contact: Northwest Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association, (800) 665-7567.
2. QUETICO PROVINCIAL PARK, ON

Years ago, I'd strap a canoe onto the roof of my car, toss in my fishing tackle and camping gear, and drive 20 hours non-stop to Quetico Provincial Park. The smallmouth fishing in the 4,700-square-kilometre wilderness paradise was that good. It still is today, thanks to the fact most folks come here to paddle not to fish. And the number of visitors is controlled, which means that other than a few walleye or trout that are eaten for shorelunch, fishing is pretty much a catch-and-release proposition.
     Most of Quetico's lakes are headwaters so even in midsummer you rarely need to probe deeper than 15 feet. Then, Power Baits (tubes, finesse worms and spiders), jigs tipped with Mister Twister Grubs, and frantic crankbaits, like Fat Raps and Frenzies, account for most of the non-stop smallie action.
     Wolsely, Minn, Robinson, Russell, Bart, Agnes, Basswood and Crooked are a few of Quetico's celebrated smallmouth waters, however, don't restrict your search. Some of my most memorable fishing occurred when I ventured to an unnamed lake just over the hill. The problem is there are so many great lakes over the next ridge. Some problem.
     •Contact: Quetico Provincial Park, (807) 597-2735.

3. BERRY LAKE CHAIN, ON


Not surprisingly, the huge expanse of lake, rivers and forests in the area northwest of Rainy Lake and Quetico Park and south of the Trans-Canada Highway is a smallmouth paradise. This is essentially fly-in country, with more Top 20 waters than one can possibly imagine.
     All of the Berry Lake chain lakes are chock-full of 16- to 20-inch smallmouth. Berry itself is 1,100 acres in size, and its two sister portage lakes are almost as large. The average angler can expect to catch 25 bass a day.
     Best time of year means little on wilderness waters like these. It's whenever you get here. The same goes for presentation. Throw the lures you like to throw, and see if you can find something that the bass won't hit.
     •Contact: Northwestern Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association, (800) 665-7567.
4. LAKE SIMCOE, ON

When I was six years old, I watched my mother land an acrobatic smallmouth she had hooked on a leech in Lake Simcoe. From that point on I was hooked—on the fish and the lake. Today, Simcoe's water is clearer than ever because of zebra mussels. And the forage base has changed too. Herring, shiners and crayfish used to be the predominant foods. The latter two species are still important, but smelts are now key. And on a high-protein smelt diet, Simcoe's smallies grow into footballs.
     But you have to be stealthy. Anchor along the edge of an open-water reef or the rim of a shoreline shoal, and wait for a school of fish to come to you. Or, scan the water in front of your boat as you cruise along—like a bonefish angler on the Caribbean flats—casting ahead of sighted bass. Tube jigs and jerkbaits account for many bass. But don't discount live bait, especially leeches—they work as well today as they did 45 years ago.
     •Contact: Wil Wegman, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, (905) 713-7343.

5. RICE LAKE, ON


Located in the heart of southern Ontario's popular Kawartha Lakes, Rice Lake is shallow, fertile and packed full of weeds. And it's one of the best spots to reel in a trophy. Not numbers of bass, perhaps, but dream-size bronzebacks.
     Indeed, five-fish, 20-pound creels win tournaments on Rice. Zebra mussels are one reason. They are rapidly changing Rice Lake's water quality and transparency, to the point where the clear-water-loving smallmouth may soon overtake their scummy-water-loving bigmouth brothers. Rice Lake smallmouth are also more weed-oriented than their counterparts in most other lakes. That is why Rice veterans target deep weed edges and open areas between weed clumps. They pick the vegetation apart with tube jigs and similar slow-moving, finesse presentations.
     •Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, (705) 755-2001.

6. LAKE ERIE, ON


Lake Erie should be known as a "Great Lake" because of its bass fishing rather than because of its size. This is banana-belt country and smallies thrive in Erie's warm waters.
     The lake is divided into three basins—all great bass fisheries—with the western basin being the shallowest and most productive. The big difference between Erie and most Shield lakes is the absence of structure. Erie is much flatter and bowl-shaped. As a result, the fish relate to very subtle changes in bottom composition, and depth, often as minor as a foot or two.
     Erie smallmouth also suspend and chase baitfish. A walleye-tournament friend once complained that when he ran his jointed Number 11 Rapala through the schools of Erie fish all he could catch were four- and five-pound smallmouth. Too bad.
     •Contact: Sandra Chabot, Southwestern Ontario Travel Association, (800) 661-6804.
7. LA RESERVE BEAUCHENE, QC

Some say Beauchene offers the most consistent, high-quality smallmouth angling in the country, with the average fish weighing an ounce shy of three pounds. This magnificent fishery—in some three dozen lakes spread over 50,000 acres, an hour northeast of North Bay, Ontario—didn't happen by accident. Beauchene is the product of careful management and regulations. The owners of La Reserve Beauchene are recognized leaders in this field, and judging by the number and size of smallmouth that are swimming here, the praise is well deserved. With so many lakes—available only for reserve guests—picking the lake to fish is your only challenge.
     Lac Beauchene is the largest in the reserve. But there are smaller waters to savour in this bass-fishing paradise if that is your pleasure.
     •Contact: La Reserve Beauchene (888) 627-3865.

8. MACTAQUAC LAKE, NB


If you're searching for easily accessible bass waters, with light fishing pressure, amidst some splendid scenery, look East—to Mactaquac. At local tournaments, it takes a four-pound bass to win big-fish honours, and three-pound limits are common.
     Mactaquac is the 100-kilometre-long impoundment that was created in the late 1960s when the Saint John River was dammed. Located only 16 kilometres outside Fredericton, the Mactaquac fishes like an American reservoir. That means man-made structure—submerged roadbeds, sunken foundations and flooded timber—is often the key, especially in the spring. In the summer, varying water levels and current position the bass. Try the "Headpond" for big fish as it receives only light pressure.
     The bass season opens on May 1, though it's catch-and-release only while bass are spawning. From the start of July to mid-September, anglers can keep two bass over 12 inches.
     •Contact: New Brunswick Tourism, (800) 561-0123.
9. TEN MILE LAKE, NS

Ten Mile Lake, in Queens County, averages 12-feet deep and contains the kind of hard-rock bottom that smallies relish. Because of this, and an obviously favourable forage base, Ten Mile Lake grows smallmouth faster than any other lake in Nova Scotia. How fast and how big? Forty-fish days are common, and enough five-pound-plus smallies are caught each year to make you wonder how big they really do get. Many Maritimes anglers rely on big boats and use spinning and baitcasting outfits, while others canoe and fling bass bugs.
•Contact: Bill Curry, Tight Lines Guide Service, (902) 656-3329.
10. VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC

Vancouver Island hosts possibly the best-kept bass secret in Canada. On lakes like Shawnigan, Quesnel and St. Mary's, you can routinely enjoy 50-bass days, with the average fish in the two- to three-pound range, and plenty each season pushing six pounds.
     Most anglers fly-fish from a drift-boat or float-tube. You're properly rigged if you bring an 8- to 10-foot fly-rod with a five- or six-weight floating line. And stock plenty of your favourite bass bugs, poppers and streamers, especially Mickey Finns, Muddler Minnows and Woolly Buggers.
     Bass season opens on April 15, but it's catch and release until June 15, when spawning is over.
     •Contact: David Bourne, Summer Place Lodge, (250) 715-1222.
11. LAKE ST. CLAIR, ON
•Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Chatham, (519) 354-7340.
12. TOOTH LAKE, MB 
•Contact: Manitoba Natural Resources, Fisheries Branch, (800) 214-6497.
13. HORSESHOE LAKE, MB 
•Contact: Manitoba Natural Resources, Fisheries Branch, (800) 214-6497.

14. LAKE OF THE WOODS, ON
•Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Kenora, (807) 468-2501.

15. LAKE COUCHICHING, ON 
•Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Midhurst, (705) 725-7500.
16. ATIKOKAN CHAIN, ON   (Sandford, Irene, Robinson, Bow and Gamble lakes)
•Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Fort Francis, (807) 597-6971.
17. NEW BRUNSWICK CHAIN, NB   (St. Croix River, Lake George, Lake Harvey, Digdeguash & Magaguadavic)
•Contact: New Brunswick Tourism, (800) 561-0123
18. NOVA SCOTIA CHAIN, NS (Gaspereau and Killiams Lake, The Black River and Carleton System)
•Contact: Evangeline Trail Tourism Association, (902) 681-1645.
19. BALSAM LAKE, ON 
•Contact: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, (705) 755-2001.

20. LAKE MAHOLEY, QC
•Contact: Quebec Tourism, (800) 363-7777.

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