4 hot summer fishing tips from Canadian bass pro Joe Ford

Under a blazing sun in July 2019, professional guide and tournament angler Joe Ford was fishing on Ontario’s Lake Simcoe when he caught the biggest smallmouth bass of his life—a seven-pound 15-ounce tank (pictured above) that inhaled a 2.5-inch tube. It was a fitting reward for someone who spends roughly 200 days a year on the water, guiding clients and competing in tournaments. The Bewdley, Ontario, angler is also a member of Team Canada, the elite bass squad that won gold this past March at the Pan American Sportfishing Bass Championship in Mexico. We recently asked Ford to share his tips for catching summer bass.