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

Get Hooked on Ice Fishing

Ice Fishing is very enjoyable and one of the fastest growing sports.

Birch Dale Lodge

Discover why muskie fishing in Ontario's Sunset Country is world-class!

How Smallmouth Bass Came to Ontario

Ontario has Smallmouth Bass lakes from the far reaches of the north and south.

Awesome Algonquin

World Class Brook Trout Fishing in Algonquin Park.

St. Francis Titans

Fishing the Original Muskie Capital of the World

Shoreline Strategies

Try These 2 Techniques For Targeting Winter Brook Trout

Salmon Fishing

The Michipicoten River is a Sleeper for Chinook

Guided Fishing on Lake St. Clair

Captain Jim remembers over 600 muskies in a 3 month period.

Bass Fishing at Agnew Lake Lodge

This family-owned lodge is the perfect base for excellent angling adventures in Northeastern Ontario.

Saugeen River Fishing

Great Fly Fishing Guide Trips with Grindstone Angling

Do-It-Yourself Fly-In Fishing

Fly into one of nine outpost camps on nine lakes with Lauzon Aviation

Polarized Sunglasses

Why Quality Shades are a Must-Have Piece of Fishing Gear

Winter Fish Scents

How to Use Fish Scents When Ice Fishing

Fly-in Fishing

Why You Need to Book a Fly-in Fishing Trip

Four Seasons of Bass in Ontario

Northern Ontario is home to year-round bass.

Abitibi Walleye Experience

Fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike and Jumbo Perch

Guardian Eagle Resort

A Fly-in, Full-Service Resort in Ontario's Sunset Country

Perfect Shore Lunch

Try This Award-Winning Recipe

Musky Mayhem in the Kawarthas

Experience top notch musky fishing on Buckhorn Lake in the heart of the Kawarthas.

Fishing Northern Lights Country

Whitefish Lake is Great for Adventuring Angler