Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smallmouth Bass fishing on Rainy Lake is some of the best in Northern Ontario, if not North America. The structure of the north arm of Rainy Lake is ideal habitat. Smallmouth bass fishing on Rainy Lake is truly an avid fisherman’s outdoor adventure.

angling-for-bass_1   971126_10151435253597666_2000517698_n

Smallmouth Bass Tips & Techniques

  • Spring fishing (pre-spawn) in May and early June is done off of any point or reefs with some sandier areas in behind.  The smallmouth bass congregate in water around 14′ -18′ deep,  waiting for the water temperature to warm up. This is the time when tube jigs and grubs work the best. Plastics can also be thrown to the shores.
  • When the ice goes off the lake, the smallies move up into the very shallow water and start to feed. Slow moving plastics thrown shallow and retrieving slowly back is productive. During the first couple of weeks in June, the spawn is on. We prefer you do not target bedding areas. Fishing on the outer edges or points adjacent to these areas will pay off.
  • During the summer months, the fish are found in many areas of the lake. Some school up and chase the smelts in the deep water’s away from the structure. Others can be found in the huge cabbage beds in shallower water. Depending on the weather of the day and evening, top water bites are awesome. Windier days weightless plastics or weighted tubes or grubs can be thrown towards the wavy points or banks. Jigging in deeper water, trolling, fly-fishing, crankbaits, etc can all be used. Just ask us, we will be sure to tell you what is working at the time.
  • Fall fishing, probably the best of the year, is done on the sunken humps and rocky deeper points. The smallmouth school up in the hundreds. This is also the time of year when you really know what “fish eating smelt” is all about.

About Ontario Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smallmouth bass can be found in thousands of Ontario’s rivers, creeks, and lakes. Smallmouth are most active from late spring to late autumn and can usually be found in more open water or along rocky points, drop-offs, or shoals.

When targeting smallmouth try curly-tailed jigs, crankbaits, shallow-diving spinnerbaits, in-line spinners, streamer flies, or crayfish imitations. Live bait is also effective. Leeches, minnows, and juicy night crawlers rigged beneath a float or with split shot on the bottom will draw strikes. Smallmouth are particularly fond of crayfish, especially soft-shells that have just molted.

Information for Smallmouth Bass Anglers

  • The Ontario smallmouth bass record is 9.84 pounds. Average size, depending upon body of water and type of fishery tends to be between 1 to 4 pounds.
  • Smallmouth bass usually live in deeper water, often on rocky habitats, sand, or gravel areas. They prefer water temperatures under 70 degrees, with bigger fish often preferring cooler water above thermoclines.
  • Smallmouth bass spawn in late May and June on their nests. They deposit their eggs in shallow gravel and rocky areas. Males guard the eggs and fry. We strongly recommend anglers to not bed fish.
  • Smallmouth bass are most common in the southern areas of the province and along the north shore of Lake Superior.
  • Rainy Lake has a mandatory CATCH & RELEASE policy.
  • Regulations vary by specific zones and waters throughout Ontario. Please adhere to regulations for your specific waters through your purchase of an Ontario Sport Fishing License or Conservation License for resident and non-resident anglers.
Share

News and Updates from the Camp Narrows Blog

Hunting with Camp Narrows

Seasoned hunters and those new to the sport are all welcome to try a little (or a lot!) of fall hunting at Camp Narrows. We offer duck, grouse, black bear, and whitetail deer hunting opportunities. Fo

March 18, 2014 read more

Outdoors Cards & License Tags

Before visiting Camp Narrows, order or renew your hunting or fishing outdoors card, buy your Ontario fishing or hunting license tags, and (during annual application periods) enter big game draws.

Outdoors Card | Buy Licenses


Ontario Regulations

Strict laws regulate when, where, what and how a person can hunt or fish in Ontario. Visit the links below to know what rules apply on your waters and woods in every Ontario region. Read the summaries & regulations.

Hunting Regulations | Fishing Regulations | Ontario Laws

Explore Rainy Lake with Navionics


Our Navionics Web API allows Camp Narrows guests and Rainy Lake visitors to see the terrain and contours of Rainy Lake. Use our map as a navigational source.

Rainy Lake Navionics Map
Show Buttons
Hide Buttons



 fishing camps, hunting camps, camp narrows, ontario, canada, resorts, walleye, fishing, hunting, rainy lake. bear hunting, trophy bucks, deer hunting, grouse hunting, duck hunting, waterfowl hunting, goose hunting, Hunting Ontario, Canada, Outfitters, hunting lodges, hunting guides, Ontario lodges, big game hunting, bear hunting lodges, moose hunting, Ontario wilderness, big game, canadian outfitters, big game outfitters, resort, bear hunting, whitetail deer hunting, fishing vacations, hunting vacations, hunting lodge, hunting and fishing lodge, camp narrows resort, camp narrows lodge, tom pearson, camp narrows, rainy lake fishing, rainy lake hunting, outpost camp, shed hunting, hunting adventures, fishing adventures, cabin rentals, hunting guides, fishing guides, hunting guide service, ontario resort, sunset country, ontario sunset country, ontario vacation, hunting lodge, hunting trip, deer hunting, moose hunting, ontario canada hunting trip, black bear hunting trip, whitetail deer, fly-in, fly in fishing, canadian outposts, northern outposts, outpost camps, outpost fishing, canadian fishing, fishing in canada, northern fishing, fishing in the north, canadian, northern pike, walleyes, Smallmouth bass, Lake Trout, fishing, outposts, Ontario resort, hunting in ontario, fishing in ontario, deer, ontario conservation, drive-to hunting resort, drive-to fishing resort, North Arm Rainy Lake, Northwest Ontario hunting, northwest ontario fishing, ontario canada, ontario, fort frances outdoors, fort frances, labelles resort, rainy lake fishing, ontario deer hunting, ontario mosse hunting, ontario bear hunting, ontario duck hunting, ontario waterfowl, canadian outfitter, drive-to fishing in canada, drive-to hunting in canada, visit northwest ontario, ontario CA, canada outdoors, Ontario cottage, adventure vacation, camping ontario, canada vacation, cheap vacation, family vacation, honeymoon vacation, hotel reservations, ontario canada, ontario resort, ontario tourism, ontario travel, ontario vacation, romantic vacation, tourism, tourism ontario, travel and tourism, travel destination, travel information, travel ontario, travel to canada, trip planner, trip planning, vacation destination, vacation idea, vacation package, vacation planner, vacation resort,ontario, hunting outfitter and lodge