A Vacation for Everyone

Fish TV visits Elmhirst’s Resort for Largemouth Bass Fishing

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 daily delivered 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.

angler holding bass

Ron James with largemouth bass.

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

5 Deadliest Fishing Lures

Use these lures when ice fishing for lake trout in Northern Ontario.

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Top 5 Flies for Smallmouth Bass

The inside scoop on bass flies from the hosts of The New Fly Fisher.

Speckle Splake Spectacular

Ice Fishing for big Northern Ontario speckled & splake trout.

Lake Nipigon Adventure

Fishing for Lake Trout, Walleye & Pike

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

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

10 Tips For Ice Fishing Safety

Proper preparation is key to ensuring a safe day on the hard water

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

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

Shoreline Strategies

Try These 2 Techniques For Targeting Winter Brook Trout

World Class Walleye

Fishing Day Trips on the Bay of Quinte

Don’t Be Afraid Of Muskies

Muskies are fish of 10,000 casts and are found in large bodies of water in Northwestern Ontario.

Spring Perch Fishing

Use These Tips on Your Next Ontario Fishing Trip

Lake of the Muskies: An Angler's Paradise in Northwest Ontario

It’s not a question of will you catch a musky, but of how many.

Wilderness WAlleye

Fishing Jumbo Perch, Walleye and Pike at Kanipahow Resort

5 Places to Shore Fish

Fish’n Canada shows you where to go shore fishing in Ontario.

Beaverland Bass on Marten River

In search of smallmouth bass at a traditional Northern Ontario fishing camp.

Bigger, Better, Deeper

The most valuable fishing lessons are the ones you learn early on without any help.

Fishing Walleye on Dog Lake

What it is about Northern Ontario fishing lodges that appeal to so many anglers?

Speed is Key When Fishing for Muskie in Northern Ontario

Anglers need to balance the size of their lure with the speed of their retrieve.

Best WhiteFish Tactics

In Part Two, Learn Best Rods, Reels and Lure Presentations for Whitefish