You booked your fishing vacation. The lodge website says it is a great location for big bad Ontario smallmouth bass. So what baits should you bring with you?
If you’re anything like me, you have way too many options to choose from. But here are three bass baits I've used to catch giant smallmouth everywhere I have fished for them across our province.
Tube jigs seem so old-fashioned to many bass anglers these days because of the influx of so many new baits and techniques to catch smallmouth bass, but the tried and true tube jig is high on my list on any new body of water regardless of the time of year, spring, summer and fall.
You can fish tube jigs throughout the entire water column by altering the size of the jig head you insert into the tube jig and choosing a handful of your favourite colours, you prepared to catch bass.
Snapping tube jigs off bottom or on the first shoreline ledges usually find active roaming bass.
I will fish these tube jigs on a medium-action spinning rod and reel combination with a fifteen-pound test braided line and a fluorocarbon leader tied directly to the jig eye. The braided line increases strike to hook up rations with virtually no stretch whatsoever regardless of how far you cast and the leader is invisible.
Regardless of which top water bait you choose or prefer, these noisy splashy hard baits call smallmouth bass from long distances and can be fished all day long, not just sunrise and sunset. Baits with noisy props and cupped lips that spit water and cause even more noise on the surface are my favourites, biting smallmouth just love to smash these baits all season long.
Jerkbaits can be fished at virtually any depth depending on the styles and sizes you choose but they are an excellent bass bait to fish from the cooler late spring conditions throughout summer and into late fall.
Something about a suspending jerkbait drives smallmouth mad and triggers them into striking even if they are not actively feeding.
Northern Ontario has virtually thousands of lakes and rivers filled with smallmouth bass of all sizes, shapes and colours, bringing these three proven baits will help you find bass faster and make them bite.
Enjoy your vacation and remember how the catch and release of trophy bass works.
