A Vacation for Everyone

Fish TV visits Elmhirst’s Resort for Largemouth Bass Fishing.
fishtv_elmhirst_bass.jpg

Filming new Fish TV episodes this year had us travelling all over Ontario, often scheduling around the frequent rain, but as the saying goes… “the show must go on”. We were fortunate to film at some beautiful locations, and we met some fantastic people.

One of our excursions took us to the breathtaking Elmhirst’s Resort on nearby Rice Lake, just 90 minutes east of Toronto. Elmhirst’s boasts a 240-acre cottage resort property, including a working farm, passed along from one generation to the next for many years. It also has a conference facility and spa with world-class dining and activities for the whole family in all 4 seasons right on the shoreline of the lake.

elmhirst's resorts rice lake

There are 30 cottages ranging in size from 1 to 5 bedrooms, and every cottage offers WiFi, a full kitchen, a fireplace, a dock, and a BBQ…you can even order fresh meat and produce delivered daily right to your cottage. There are many guest amenities available at no additional charge, so go for a swim, get in a workout, go for a hike, drop a line in the water, or try a new sport. You can even go on our floatplane for a sightseeing adventure in the Kawarthas!

elmhirst's resorts rice lake

Boat rentals are available for fishing enthusiasts who want to get out and enjoy one of the best fishing areas in eastern Ontario. Rice Lake is full of bass-smallmouth and large, crappie, bluegill, walleye, and musky. On this Fish TV adventure, the guys targeted largemouth bass. With the abundance of weed cover, this is an ideal lake for every fish, especially largemouth. We left the dock at Elmhirst’s and headed north to the Hastings River, where the current was pretty strong, so we looked for back bays off the river in order to find our fish. Largemouth aren’t a big fan of the current, so they tend to head for slower-moving water.

elmhirst's resorts rice lake fish species
angler holding musky
Leo Stakos with a musky.

Once we located some of these areas, it was game on using flipping jigs in real heavy cover (weeds). We hooked a number of fish and some up to five pounds and for this type of fishing, you will need the right gear. We used 7-foot 9-inch med/heavy action Rapala flipping rods with 50-pound suffix 832 braid line in order to get those fish out of that cover. The next time you head to Elmhirt’s Resort, bring some of this gear and head north on Rice lake and you will have a fantastic time just like we did.

The variety of Elmhirst’s Resort vacation packages is outstanding, and we know you will find the perfect one to fit your vacation plans! Check out their website at: elmhirst.ca

(All photo credits: Fish TV)
About Leo Stakos

Leo Stakos is the host of a national television series, Fish TV, which has been on air over 10 years, allowing him to host several outdoor industry events and star in television commercials, which led to Leo being nominated for nine Golden Moose TV awards, winning best salt water episode/show in the country.

Recommended Articles

Top Three Ontario Musky Waters

Where to catch the fish of 10,000 casts.

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

What baits do you use to target bass? Find out why these 5 are the best!

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

The Musky Hunter shows you where to land the best musky in Ontario waters.

3 Great Ontario Walleye Destinations

Karl of Extreme Angler recommends must do walleye lakes in Ontario.

Long Nose Gar

A Fish for the Bucket List

Catching Ontario Walleye

Pro Tips for Bait and Walley Presentations

Baptiste Bass

Catching 5- to 6-Pound Smallmouth Bass Each Fishing Season

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

The Tigers of Sunset Country

The most picturesque of all freshwater fish.

Cracking the Code: How a Finesse Pivot Saved a Fly-In Dream at Buck Lake Lodge

When a massive mayfly hatch threatened to derail the mission, Pete turned to an unlikely bass-fishing staple to haul in trophy-class walleye.

Jack's Lake Lodge

The Musky Hunter visits the Kawarthas in hopes of landing a trophy!

Three Keys to Ontario Muskies

Where to Find Muskies in Ontario Waters.

Stalking Prehistoric Long Nose Gar

Fishing a unique fish species in Ontario.

Eating Northern Pike

The Best Recipe to Cook This Fish

Ontario’s Fishing Gems: Algoma and Sunset Country

Ontario's most popular fishing destinations.

10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!

Big Boat Portaging

Fishing on Lady Evelyn Lake in Northeastern Ontario

A Guide to Fly-in Ontario Lodges

Today’s fly-in fishing vacations are no more expensive than most other getaways.

Keystone Muskies

Fishing Tips for Targeting Muskie on Cedar Lake

Nipigon Brook Trout

Experience some high caliber trout fishing in Northwestern Ontario.