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

Ontario Carp Championship

Is Ontario the Carp fishing capital of the world?

Fishing for Muskie on the French River

Crane's Lochaven Wilderness Lodge

Trophy Pike & Ribs

Fishing at Kesagami Wilderness Lodge

Smallmouth Fishing After a Northern Ontario Cold Front

An exciting smallmouth bass fishing trip to Sunset Country.

Shield Lakes & Rivers

A Million Acres of Water. Where do You Start?

5 Flies for Ontario’s Most Popular Species

In these northern waters live of the most revered fish anglers wish to target on fly.

Top 5 Wet flies for Brook Trout

Fly Fishers describe their favourite brookie flies.

Green Wilderness Lodge

Fishing on Lake Mattagami

Terrific Topwater Bass of Lake Onaping

Lake Onaping Lodge in Northeastern Ontario.

Reflections of Borden Lake

The lake is home to walleye, pike, whitefish and smallmouth bass.

Lake Nipigon Adventure

Fishing for Lake Trout, Walleye & Pike

Ontario’s Fishing Gems: Algoma and Sunset Country

Ontario's most popular fishing destinations.

Great Fishing in Northern Lights Country Up Highway 588

Find bass, walleye and trout on your next fishing trip.

Ultimate Drive-to Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Explore Rocky Island Lake part of Zone 10 with Ontario bass fishing in May and June.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grass Carp

Learn how to detect these fish species and how to keep them out of the Great Lakes.

Guided Lake Trout Fishing

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

10 Tips For Ice Fishing Safety

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

Summer Fishing Patterns for Multi-Species

Bob Izumi discusses tips for different species and how to catch them when summer temperatures soar.

Fishing Esnagi Lake

Train-in Fishing at Lodge Eighty Eight

Mammoth Magnets

Learn how water temperature can affects northern pike & muskie fishing.