Bass Fishing

Catching largemouth bass is all about understanding their behaviour and choosing the right presentation. These fish love structure, so look for them around weeds, docks, fallen trees, and rocky shorelines. Early morning and late evening are prime times when bass feed near the surface. During hot summer days, they often move deeper or under shade. Effective baits include soft plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwater lures like frogs or poppers. For clear water, natural colours work best; in murky water, go bold with chartreuse or black. 

At Angling Sports, we carry top brands like Rapala, Strike King, Megabass, and Berkley, along with rods, reels, and tackle to help you land your next trophy largemouth. 

The dropshot rig is one of the most effective and versatile techniques for bass fishing, especially when the bite gets tough. To set it up, tie a dropshot hook 8–12 inches above a small weight, letting your bait hover naturally just off the bottom. Use finesse-style plastics like Great Lakes Finesse Drop Minnows, Z-Man Trick ShotZ, or Berkley MaxScent Flat Worms. All favourites for finicky smallmouth and largemouth bass. Light spinning gear with 6–10 lb fluorocarbon line works best for sensitivity. Slowly shake or twitch your bait to trigger bites from suspended fish.

The best bass fishing rod depends on how and where you’re fishing. For spinning techniques like dropshotting, ned rigs, or wacky worms, choose a medium-light to medium spinning rod around 6’6” to 7’ with a fast action for sensitivity.

For power fishing crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or jigs, a medium-heavy baitcasting rod offers better control and hook-setting power. Bass anglers often keep multiple rods ready to switch techniques fast.

A braided fishing line is ideal for bass fishing when you need strength, sensitivity, and zero stretch, that is perfect for heavy cover or long casts. It shines when fishing frogs, jigs, or spinnerbaits in thick weeds, pads, or wood where you need to pull big fish out fast. Popular braid strengths for bass range from 30–65 lb test, depending on your setup. For finesse techniques like dropshotting or shaky heads, you can use braids with a fluorocarbon leader for a stealthier presentation. Brands like PowerPro, Sufix, and Daiwa J-Braid are favourites among Canadian anglers.

The best time to fish for bass in Ontario is from late spring through early fall, depending on your region. Largemouth bass become active once the water warms above 60°F (15°C), usually around June, while smallmouth bass thrive in slightly cooler temperatures. Early summer mornings and evenings are ideal for topwater action with frogs or poppers, while mid-summer calls for deeper presentations like crankbaits and drop shots. Fall is an excellent time to catch big, feeding bass as they bulk up for winter.

Choosing the right bass lure depends on the conditions and the fish’s mood, but a few classics always produce. For largemouth bass, try soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and topwater frogs. For smallmouth bass, go with crankbaits, jerkbaits, tubes, and finesse plastics like drop shot minnows. Natural colours work well in clear water, while bold shades like chartreuse or black are great in stained water. Brands such as Berkley, Z-Man, Strike King, Megabass, and Rapala are favourites among Canadian anglers.

Though they’re both popular sportfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass have key differences in appearance, behaviour, and habitat. Largemouths prefer warmer, shallower, weedy waters, while smallmouths thrive in cooler, clearer lakes and rocky rivers. 

• Largemouths have a jawline that extends past the eye and tend to strike larger, slower baits like jigs or frogs. 

Smallmouths, known for their fierce fight, respond best to crankbaits, tubes, and drop shot rigs. Both species are abundant across Ontario and the Great Lakes region, making bass fishing a favourite among local anglers.

Getting started with bass fishing is easy, all you need is a quality rod and reel combo, some basic tackle, and a few reliable lures. A medium-action spinning setup with 10–15 lb line works great for beginners, allowing you to fish soft plastics, crankbaits, and small topwaters. You’ll also want essentials like hooks, weights, and pliers, plus a small tackle box for organization. Don’t forget a landing net and polarized sunglasses to spot fish in the shallows. 

At Angling Sports, we offer everything from starter combos to pro-level setups, and our staff can help you pick the right gear to give you the best chance at a catch.