During the last half hour of our 4 ½ hour drive from the GTA to New York’s Lake Chautauqua my son Izaak and I were beginning to think we might not get out fishing as the constant rain, cold and wind did not look all that inviting. When we pulled into the gates at We Wan Chu Cottages, it had stopped raining and Peter, the owner was there to greet us. We would be staying in the same cottage as last year and our boat in the same slip. This would be our home away from home for the next five days and the familiarity and inviting atmosphere of this fish-friendly resort helped get us into vacation mode right away. As it was already close to suppertime, and the rain started again, we chose to just launch the bass boat, tie her up to our slip and get ready to fish the next day.

Once bass season rolls around here in southern Ontario (3rd or 4th Saturday in June depending on the area) there usually aren’t too many occasions when I go out and willingly target another species. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate or enjoy fishing for trout, big pike, muskie or even panfish – but day in and day out until bass closes at the end of November, I’d just as soon fish the best- and in my mind bass are it baby!

Well bass season in 2013 began the 3rd week in June for many anglers who fish in Eastern Ontario but the traditional 4th Saturday opener held firm for Lake Simcoe and the rest of FMZ 16. Still it was an early start thanks to five Saturdays in June. It would not be surprising then to still find smallmouth bass on nests in Southern Ontario's largest inland lake. My pre fish on opening day however didn't point out any nesting bass pattern. Why? Because, the windy conditions and rough waters reduced visibility beneath the surface so I didn't know if the 7-9 foot pattern with drop shot included catching bedding bass or if they were just cruisers.  What pre fish did teach me however was that drop shot ruled and 7-9 feet was key for most bass.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources doesn't produce too many extensive smallmouth bass reports, but thanks to one of our finest biologists, we are pleased to let you know about a new provincial bass report available on the MNR website at the link below - or see attached pdf: The Smallmouth Bass in Ontario.