Tips for smallmouth bass fishing in Ontario Canada

Smallmouth bass can be found in Ontario's Great Lakes as well as the glacial lakes of the Canadian Shield and in a number of rivers, creeks, and lakes in this beautiful Canadian province.

Largemouth bass are commonly found in warmer bodies of water with shallow cover, usually comprised of fallen timber and weeds or stone outcrops. Some of the lakes with mixed habitat result in the largemouth region intersecting and co-mingling with that of smallmouth, making for a variety of fishing opportunities.

In Ontario, smallmouth bass fishing success is usually optimised in more open water, where you can utilize light to medium-action six to ten pound test lines and normally a six foot spinning rod. The fly fisherman will also find  smallmouth bass eager to attack top-water poppers or minnow-shaped ribbons in a shallow water setting.

During the Canadian summer, deep underwater points, submerged islands, rocky shoals and weed bed edges are the prime locations to snag these agile and spectacular fighting species of bass.

Ontario smallmouth bass fishing is somewhat unique when compared to other bass fishing settings. In the rugged Northern Ontario lakes and rivers where some of the best medal smallmouth bass fishing can be experienced, smallmouths favor the unsteady clear lakes with little plant life and congregate in shoreline rocks and points. But don't limit your fishing to the shoreline as some of the prize catches can be had in the deeper water.

If you really want to experience the great remote areas you can charter with Wilderness Air and fly in to your own exclusive lake. You can bunk in a  deluxe outpost cabin, which are very well maintained and comfortable. Wilderness Air charters is one of the best ways to experience  the Ontario smallmouth bass fishing challenge!

Smallmouth bass derived their name from the anotomical fact that the rear end of the lower jaw does not extend past the eye, while the lower part of the jaw of a largemouth does. There is also a low notch linking the dorsal fins to the body that resembles a series of dark broken bars.

The smallmouth bass typically matures between the ages of roughly two and four years and often has a life span of over ten years. On a light line, the Ontario smallmouth bass is a fierce competitor and pound for pound one of the best battles in Canadian angling. First time bass fishermen are always shocked by the dramatic and frequent jumps coupled with the powerful ability to dive quickly to awesome depths. That's how bass fishing becomes a habit and compulsion that is hard to give up and why bass fishermen keep migrating back to Ontario for return visits. After battling one of these determined creatures the average fisherman is always surprised to find that the average length for a smallmouth ranges between only ten and about twenty inches. The current Canadian record for the biggest smallmouth bass caught in Ontario is a little over ten pounds.

In terms of the better types of lures to use, crawling spinnerbaits or retrieving shallow-running crankbaits along the sub-merged weed patches are very effective. Both species of bass found in in deeper water are attracted to diving crankbaits. Largemouth tecniques employed in most other locations are also effective in Ontario. Tactics vary from flip-and-pitch styles used in the shallow weed beds, docks, and stumps, to the exciting top-water stroke on jerkbaits, poppers, and hovering plastic worms.

If you have never fished for smallmouth in Ontario there are a few points to remember.

Keep in mind that Ontario smallmouth bass fishing is a little different from the the largemouth bass experience. If you are used to fishing largemouth primarily in weed beds, you will find the smallmouth bass would rather hide out where the rock ledges drop suddenly. The popular baits are crawfish, minnow, leeches and hellgrammites. You will likely have success using everything that resembles a minnow such as plastic worms or flag flies.

Also when fishing for Ontario smallmouth bass you will usually find schools of fish about the same size so if you are not satisfied with the size of fish taken from a given location you should probably move on to a fresh spot. If you' are releasing live bait from your boat use as many lines as is permissible.

The season from the middle of June through to the fall is the best time to plan your trip to Ontario. In the early part of the season the smallmouths are often found on the shallower beds, and by fall they are found in the 10 to 20 foot deeper waters. At that time you should group rattletraps, cranks and jigs, and float a marker buoy to mark the school area.

Try it once and I guarantee you will be telling your friends and planning a return trip next season to Ontario Canada.

Tips For Archery Fishing

Also known as Bow fishing, this is a sport wherein a fisherman uses archery equipment to fish.

A regular hunting bow can be used for fishing by simply attaching a reel to the front of the bow grip.

Archery fishing is especially favored by regular hunters when regular game like deer are off season. This way they can continuously hone their skills for whatever season it may be.

Before engaging in archery fishing, one must first take into consideration the following:

1. A fisherman must be duly licensed. Some states require that an individual have a state license to fish.

2. Equipment. Most states have a predetermined set of approved equipment for archery fishing.

3. Archery Safety Course. Still, some states require that an individual go through an approved safety course for archery fishing to ensure that the individual is well versed with the proper safety precautions and information regarding applicable laws in fishing.

4. Seasons. Bow fishing in some states can only be done in certain seasons. This is to allow the fish to spawn.

5. Species of fish. Some states have rules forbidding archery fishing for some species of fish.

The following skills are necessary for an individual to obtain and practice:

Knot tying. Though it may seem like a simple task, tying knots that will not slip (line for the arrow) are crucial in bow fishing.

Tuning. Tuning is making sure that the bow is at its best working condition. To ensure this, one has to continuously adjust the rest and calibrate the nock.

For a faster tuning process, one may shoot a regular bow-fishing arrow (without the tip) onto a target made of cardboard.

Marksmanship or targeting. Bow fishing and bow hunting, though similar on some aspects, really do differ on many things. Arrows for bow fishing are heavier, have larger arrow tips and, the most obvious one, has a string attached to the arrow.

And since fish are shot in the water, resistance differs as when compared to shooting in the air (for bow hunting of games)

There are various methods or ways of archery fishing. This includes the following:

1. Still hunting. A fisherman selects a place by the lake in which he would wait for passing fish to shoot its bow at.

2. Stalking. This can be done on foot or while on a boat. One is in constant motion in an attempt to locate fish.

3. Ambush. Fish that are best ambushed are the ones that are spawning since they tend to crowd thus increasing chances of target.

Thousand Islands Bass Fishing Adventures

One of the most popular sports in the United States is bass fishing. Thousands of articles had been written about this sport, from tips to testimonials to experiences. Thousands or maybe millions are hooked in this sport. You can usually find them basking on their bass fishing in great lakes and rivers or other aquatic formations in the United State.

One of the ore popular fishing venues for bass fishing is the Thousand Islands. This is a group of more than 1,000 small islands in east central North America, in St. Lawrence River just east of Lake Ontario, to be particular.

Most are part of southeastern Ontario and the rest are part of northern New York; and many of these islands are privately owned. It has been estimated that there are as many as 1,700 islands, but an exact count is difficult because of the large number of tiny islets. The largest is the Wolfe Island (127 sq km/49 sq mi) in Ontario. The islands have been a popular summer destinations since the mid 1800's.

Because of these, Ontario’s most important scenic and recreational attraction is its waters. The province is home to some 250,000 lakes and has thousands of rivers and streams. Four of the Great Lakes are the Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

The extensive shorelines of these lakes provide a natural playground for the people. Lake Simcoe, Muskoka and others, are very accessible lakes from the north of Toronto. They are also popular vacation centers. Ontario also shares with New York’s one of the greatest scenic attractions in North America, the Niagara Falls.

The Thousand Islands make a patch work of the river as it leaves Lake Ontario. The islands cater to large rocks, hold farms, estates, and summer cottages that can cost millions of dollars. Now, because of the popularity of it as a vacation and fishing destination, there are islands where in resorts and lodge houses are put up for the accommodation needs of the tourists and bass fishing enthusiasts.

You will find also a lot of establishments that sells and rents gears and boats to be used for their bass fishing. Restaurants are abundant if you finally get tired of eating your catch.

Ontario’s fishing activity can be divided into commercial fishing and recreational or sport fishing. Although fishing was an important economic activity in the 19th century, the commercial catch is relatively small today. Like other fishery problems; overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and the introduction of predators have greatly reduced catches.

Thousand Islands being very rocky are places that small mouth bass species love to stay and live. The beautiful scenery and the rocky background of Thousand Islands, bring adventures to bass fishing aficionados and lovers. They loved to go there not just for bass fishing but also for sight seeing and camping. There, they tried to commune with nature and feed their imaginations.

A large part of Canada’s freshwater catch comes from Ontario. The major species of fish caught during recreational fishing are perch, smelt, walleye, and smallmouth bass. While the colorful fall foliage draws an annual pilgrimage of tourists to the area. It is the fabulous bass fishing of the Thousand Islands region that attracts the attention of anglers competing in Thousand Islands for bass fishing.

The water is clearer, and baitfishes are abundant. The bass always make access to the bait and make feeding better. Because the zebra mussels have cleared up the water, vegetation is more widespread, which means the bass have better overall habitat. Both the largemouths and smallmouths are thriving.

While the bass may be both larger and more abundant, they are still found in the same areas discovered by touring pros. In St. Lawrence, those areas include Lake of the Isles, Goose Bay, Chippewa Bay, and the rocky coves and points around the Admiralty Islands. In Lake Ontario, the key spots are Fox and Grenadier Islands, and Chamount Bay

These characteristics of Thousand Islands of Ontario make the place greatly known for bass fishing. The geographical aspect, location and richness of its great lakes and rivers make bass fishing a sport or hobby very inviting.

Things To Know About Fishing Charter

Recreation is an essential factor in the life of every human being. The anglers or the fishermen represent the largest single group of recreational seekers, and have a decided advantage over the other groups who utilize nature’s creatures and elements for recreation or food.

The popularity of fishing in many areas has been largely based upon the angling pressure, which is far beyond the normal capacity of the streams and lakes. There are species of fish for every type of angler and each one may choose the species of fish or the method of fishing that has the greatest personal appeal or attraction.

It is for this reason that many people are enticed to spend their vacation in a fishing activity. But, for people who would like to have planned fishing activities, they opt for fishing charters.

Fishing charter is one way of enjoying fishing even if an individual does not have the means or the equipment as far as fishing is concerned. It aims to provide the necessary services in a fishing activity.

However, not all fishing charters are created equal. Hence, it is important to know the factors required to be taken into account before jumping into conclusions.

Here is a list of some mportant factors that need to be considered:

1. The cost of the trip

Like any financial decision, people who would like to use fishing charter should know the required charges of the trip.

It is best to know the necessary requirements like deposits or contract agreements before committing to a fishing charter.

Best of all, people should be aware of the items they are paying for. They should know what the kinds of services included on the package are.

2. The length of time required in each charter trip.

Most captains are enticed to do a little fishing before going back to the dock. This will not pose a problem at all but if it will cost the person, who requested the service, additional charges for extra minutes or hours spent beyond the agreed number of hours, then, that is a problem.

Hence, it is important for the individual to know what time the charter will start and end.

3. The captain

It is important for a person who wants to engage in a fishing charter to know the competency and the skills of the captain. Hence, in order to have a successful fishing activity, it is best to get the experienced captain.

A fishing charter is one way of enjoying fishing at its best.

The World Top Water Fishing Champion

The World Top Water Fishing Champion

I was fishing a small lake in central California back in 1980, I think it was that year. I had been fishing for a couple of hours and doing ok, catching some 1-2 pound fish and in a far distance I could see this man walking up with a bright red jacket. The closer he got, the more I noticed his jacket and all the patches on it, one said 1978 World Top Water Bass Fishing Champion, along with about 20 other patches.

We began to talk, of course, I wanted to know all about him and he began to tell me about how he became champion. Now, I do want to say one thing here, I forget what he told me and I don't even know for sure if there is such a tournament for the World Top Water Championship but I watched this guy fish. He was probably in his 50's or early 60's at the time and fished this lure different than I have seen before so I paid special attention.

Finally, after seeing him catch a half dozen fish while I caught two I asked him what he was doing and what bait he was using that he was doing so well. He said he only used one kind of bait and opened up his tackle box. Can you imagine my surprise when the only lure he had in there was Rapalas. I mean bunches of Rapalas, every color and size you could imagine. I said where's the rest of your lures, he smiled and said this is all I use.

By the way, at the time I was fishing with a Rapala, that was ironic to me. I said "that is what I'm using now". He said "yeah, I see that but you're not fishing it right". Well, I had fished for bass for about 25 or so years then and wondered what in the world he was talking about, me not fishing it right. I had fished Rapalas for as long as I can remember. So, I said "what are you talking about not fishing it right?". He said "well, all you're doing is throwing the lure in and reeling it back. I said "yeah". He said" have you ever noticed a minnow or shad or whatever, he said they never go very far, they usually move a few inches at a time and they dart." He said "that lure of yours is supposed to imitate the baitfish the bass is after so make it act like one."

Then he showed me and guess what? He was right! His acted just like a baitfish and even looked like one swimming the way he did it. As he stood there twitching the end of his rod and letting it sit every two or three twitches then twitch it two or three times more and let it sit, I seen his point. I also seen him catch another bass, which made me a believer. Now I don't know if this man was the top water champion or not but I do know one thing.........his technique works.

I have used it on most of my retrieves anytime I fish top water and it works. Cast the lure, let it sit, twitch the end of your rod two or three times and let it set again. The only thing I have done is add one additional move. I throw the lure out and let it sit, twitch the rod two or three times and let it sit and then I move the lure so slow it barely cause a ripple and that is when I get most of my hits.

Try this techniques the next time you fish your favorite top water lure and see the results.

The Sport Fisherman’s Dream: Alaska Salmon Fishing

Alaska is home to the biggest sport caught King Salmon ever. Weighing in at 97 lbs. 4 oz., this magnificent specimen taken from the Kenai River is what Alaska salmon fishing dreams are made of. For this reason, anglers from far and wide are lured to Alaska in hopes of bringing home their own fishing legends.

The frigid, crystal clear waters of the Kenai River are home to numerous species of trophy fish including salmon, Rainbow Trout and Char. At the height of a red salmon run, these fish are so bountiful that all one has to do is gaze down into the clear waters to see numerous sport fish making their way through. In fact, the salmon are so plentiful that one of the great Alaska legends says that the salmon runs so thick you can walk across their backs.

With all of this bounty, it is no wonder that Alaska has become the prime destination for anglers, both novice and seasoned. Accommodating the flood of anxious fisherman during the peak Alaska fishing season (peak season runs from June to August), has led to the establishment of fishing lodges and guided fishing tours with the primary goal of giving guests the fishing vacation of their dreams.

Many of these establishments offer lush, wilderness accommodations that are within feet of prime fishing spots. No worry of these spots being crowded though. Situated on private property, many lodges are let out to only one group at a time which means that you and your buddies or family will be the only fishermen for miles around. And many of these prime spots are only accessible by boat or plane. There are no nearby residents and no access roads. Now that is a vacation!

You can fish clear waters loaded with all kinds of salmon including King Salmon (Chinook), Silver Salmon (Coho), Red Salmon (Sockeye), Chum Salmon (Dog) and Pink Salmon (Humpies) to your heart's content. Amazingly, it is estimated that a catch of 10 to 20 salmon per day is not uncommon on some parts of the Kenai River. You'll only be able to keep your limit, of course, but you can catch and release fish till you're too tired to fish. Always check local regulations and make sure you have a fishing license.

Are you going to be visiting Alaska and would like to do a little salmon fishing but do not want to dedicate an entire week to the sport? Maybe a one-day charter complete with a guided tour would be perfect for you. On these tours, experienced and knowledgeable guides direct you to unbelievable fishing spots on the Kenai or one of many other Rivers and creeks in Alaska . Once there, they help you through every step of the way to ensure that your Alaska salmon fishing experience is unforgettable.

Interested? Sure you are. Why not take some time to see what an Alaska salmon fishing vacation could have in store for you. Have fun!

The Recreational Value Of Fishing

Many people consider that fish are only a medium of survival, or to some extent a food supply; yet there is another angle that is little known. The manufacturing industry utilizes more than two billion pounds of fish and fish by-products every year. This is slightly more than is used for food.

What most people do not know is that fishing continues to provide recreational activity of making it one of the most preferred hobbies.

In fact, fishing as a hobby is continuously growing and that is why the estimated number of people who acquire fishing licenses each year is more than 12 million.

Moreover, surveys show that for every dollar spent for a fishing license, there are sixteen dollars spent for equipment, such as fishing tackle, food, clothing, and transportation. There is more money spent on fishing than on any other hobby in existence.
Why is it a Great Hobby?

It is a means of providing something to free the mind and body of the worries of the day. It has also been proven to help in mentoring troubled teens, replacing negative thoughts and activity with more positive traits and pursuits. Fishing is truly a wholesome sport.

The use of all types of fishing equipment has added something that no other feature could possibly accomplish. Thousands of youngsters are enthusiastic to learn how to cast a fly or plug bait.

These youngsters have an interest in fish and fishing and they desire to fish in a lawful and recreational manner.

Boiled down, fish and fishing may be considered one of man’s essential resources. It is hoped that further realization of fishing as a hobby will develop the necessary knowledge of the true recreational value of fishing, the fish, and the general conservation of all natural resources as well as the value of good sportsmanship and developing good citizens.