They can be enticed with live bait, plastic baits, deep and shallow-diving crank baits and top-water baits.
They can also be caught through a variety of presentations.
And it’s a species most people have had on the end of their lines at one time or another.
As of the final Saturday in June, they’re fair game for another season.
The recent spell of warm, humid weather combined with the official arrival of summer signifies the start to another season of bass fishing.
For York Region anglers, there’s ample opportunity to pursue the smallmouth bass or its cousin, the largemouth bass.
Most of the action, though, is centered on Lake Simcoe, the sixth-largest body of water in the province.
In recent years, Lake Simcoe has gained notoriety, largely through live-release tournaments, as being home to trophy-sized smallmouths. During these events, it’s not unusual to see smallies tipping the six-pound mark.
Preferring cooler water than the largemouth, smallies tend to relate to rocky shoals, drop-offs and weed-rock transitional areas.
“Lake Simcoe is one of the top smallmouth lakes in the world without a doubt,” says Aurora angler Dave Chong. “And I don’t think we’ve tipped a good chunk of the fish that are out there.”
The presence of zebra mussels in the lake has improved water clarity and has sent a good number of the larger smallies into deeper depths where they might never see a lure come their way, he says.
In general, though, Chong insists catching smallies is a relatively easy task.
“It’s hard to go wrong if you’re using some form of jig, either a tube or grub,” hints the veteran tournament angler. “That’s the easiest technique for someone to use and you don’t need to impart much action. Just vary your retrieve.”
Chong also says anglers should exhibit patience as, quite often, these fish can be visible, yet pick up a case of lockjaw when a bait comes their way.
“Smallies can be finicky. If you know the fish are in the an area, try different baits.”
Among other smallie baits that Chong will employ are hard-bodied jerk baits.
For the fair weather or novice angler, or those who might get out on the water only a couple of times a year, employing live bait will probably tip the scales in your favor.
Favorite live smallie baits include crayfish, leeches and minnows.
Part of your tackle arsenal should also include light to medium-action gear. An open-faced spinning reel spooled with six-pound line will do the trick for these fish, which many anglers describe as being, pound for pound, the most acrobatic fish out there.
“When they jump, there’s nothing more heart-stopping,” Chong says.
Unlike smallies, largemouth bass tend to prefer warmer water and inhabit areas offering plenty of protective cover such as boat docks, lilypads, weed mat, undercut banks and submerged stumps.
Given these locations, Chong suggests employing heavier than normal tackle. Part of this includes line no less than 15 pounds in strength and a heavy action rod.
Texas rigged plastic worms or crayfish, flipping jigs tipped with pork rinds, top-water baits and spinner baits are popular artificial largemouth enticers.
“Largemouth are opportunistic feeders,” Chong says. “They’re like a stagecoach robber waiting to ambush their prey.”
While the shallow water of Cooks Bay is one area in which to target these fish, don’t neglect other smaller bodies of water in York Region.
Preston Lake, for example, currently plays host to the Canadian largemouth bass record of 10.40 lbs. that was caught in 1976. That body of water is now private, but you can still fish it if you obtain permission from one of the landowners.
There’s also places such as the Milne Reservoir, Toogood Pond, Lake Wilcox, Mill Pond in Richmond Hill and the Holland River, which have been known to harbor largemouths.
When fishing Lake Simcoe from a boat, be sure to check the marine forecast prior to setting out as this body of water can change in a New York City second.
Vessels should have the proper safety gear on board and anglers 18 years of age to 64 should possess a residential angling licence.
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