Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Canada is a very popular type of fishing just like in the United States. Smallmouth bass are highly regarded and are ranked among the hardest fighting freshwater fish. They are often referred to as the brown bass, brownies, bronzebacks, smalls and smallies.
Let’s dive right in.
Going Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Canada
Many anglers and fishermen love the challenge of catching these aggressive fish and the great feeling after a well-fought battle.
Smallmouth bass fish are well thought of by most people to be the sportiest freshwater fish. They are known for their fighting stamina and beyond belief leaping ability.
Any Kind
Like largemouths, they will take almost any kind of lure or bait, but they commonly prefer smaller sizes. When you go smallmouth bass fishing in Canada take note of their favorite ones.
Favorites include jigs, crankbaits, spinners, streamer flies, shiner minnow, crayfish, hellgrammites, leeches, and nightcrawlers.
The jaw of a brown bass, which extends directly below the eye, is smaller compared to that of a largemouth bass. Its cheeks have from twelve to seventeen rows of scales and the dorsal fins are joined with ten spines and thirteen to fourteen soft rays.
Dash of Red
It is golden bronze or brown in color, with a lighter, more creamy underbelly that the largemouth which has a greenish one. It has vertical dark bands or marks on the sides and its eyes have a dash of red.
Most brownies weigh between 1 and 1.5 pounds and they can run as high as 4 or 5 pounds.
Environmental Factors
They have a preference for cool water, but will have a tendency to follow food sources. It is sensitive to environmental factors and can be greatly affected by polluted waters. Clean rivers and lakes are necessary for them to survive.
When you go smallmouth bass fishing in Canada temperature is a factor. As they will move about from one habitat to another as temperature changes throughout the year.
Hard Bottoms
Smallies prefer rock strewn, gravelly hard bottoms. It is not common for them to stay in areas with soft sandy or muddy bottoms. Bronzebacks, which are found in rivers, usually hangout in shallow rocky pools and ledges during the cooler spring weather.
It is also likely for them to settle on grass beds and weedy patches growing on small islands and along the banks. Especially as the growth attracts forage.
Deeper and Faster
When the water heats up, they will tend to go to the deeper pools in the rivers main channels. Or to the faster moving parts of the riffles that offer cooler water.
In lakes, they generally move to deeper water as the water warms up. They cling around structures and shade. Smallies can be found in deeper grass and weed beds where forage and cover are available.
Spawning
Smallmouth bass prefer to spawn in water temperatures within 62 to 65 degrees. They can usually be found spawning sometime between April and June. And will spawn in depths of 2 to 10 feet.
The male clears debris from a small circular area to create the nest and guards it for about a month after spawning to allow the fry to grow and swim freely.
Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Canada on Lake Panache
The rocky lakes of the Canadian Shield produce the perfect environment for smallmouth bass fishing in Canada. You can find not only the large trophies of this species but a great number of other fish species as well.
On Lake Panache, it is not uncommon to catch your limit of smallmouth right off the dock.
If you are looking for big smallmouth bass then you’ll probably want to visit this lake. Smallmouths are one of the hardest fighting fish in Canada. And it’s definitely easy to find them in Lake Panache.
Its might be because of the cool spring fed water that makes them extra scrappy and they also taste fantastic.
Five Mile Lake
Northern Ontario is another hot spot for smallmouth bass fishing in Canada. It is well-known for big trophy brown bass especially in Five Mile Lake. They are found off rocky points, shoals, reeds and islands.
Even though this kind of fish is not the dominant species in the lake, it still has a healthy population. And can still provide a full day of fishing if you go after them. They are usually around 2 pounds but a fair number of 3 and 4 pounders are also caught.
Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Canada on Norse Lake
Norse Lake is another lake which is in close proximity to Five Mile Lake. It also offers a good site for bass fishing, smallmouth bass in particular.
Norse Lake remains calm even on windier days. The smallmouth bass population in this lake reaches into the 5 pound class.
Truly, the Canadian coasts have a lot to offer especially when we speak of Smallmouth Bass fishing in Canada. Visit the net for more information, tips and guides and see for yourself!
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