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

3 Great Walleye Lakes

Lakes Home to Both Eaters and Trophies

A Guide to Fly-in Ontario Lodges

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

Hidden Musky Gems

The Musky Hunter shares 3 favourite musky hot spots across Ontario.

10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!

Top 5 Flies for Brook Trout

Favourite fly patterns from The New Fly Fisher

Big Bass Bonanza at Birchland Cottages

The perfect location to spend time with your family and enjoy the incredible fishing.

Ten Mile Lake Lodge

Enjoy Northern hospitality fishing for splake, brook trout and lake trout

Birchland Cottages: Modern comfort with classic Northern Ontario charm

This Clear Lake gem is a great for kids, and the fishing action is non-stop.

Guided Lake Trout Fishing

Bob Izumi and JP Bushey hit Georgian Bay for big lake trout.

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.

Smallmouth Bass Destinations

From rivers to lakes, smallmouth bass are found throughout Ontario.

The Best Brook Trout Fishing

Discover world class fishing in Northern Ontario—home of the world record brook trout!

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Slate Falls Outposts: Arc Lake Outpost

Fly-in Adventure and First-class Service in Northern Ontario

Reaching Deep For Walleye

Fishing for big Walleye in Ontario's Bay of Quinte.

Whopper Walleye

Discover the 3 lodges in Ontario’s Sunset Country that offer trophy walleye in big waters.

Salmon Fishing

The Michipicoten River is a Sleeper for Chinook

Plan Your Fishing Success

Fish ON-Line makes planning fishing adventures easy

Lake Nipigon Adventure

Fishing for Lake Trout, Walleye & Pike

Discover Northern Pike Fishing at Mar Mac Lodge

Fly into adventure and experience non-stop fishing action on Esnagi Lake in Algoma Country.