Canada Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Welcome to the Smallmouth Bass Fishing -Photo Album

Smallmouth are not native to our area as we are about 60 miles north of  where smallmouth exist.

As the tale goes . . It all started in the early 1960's with 6 smallmouth that was caught on The Lake of the Woods and then live released on one of our portage lakes by float plane.

Since that time they flourished and populated and made the lake a superb smallmouth fishery with some of the biggest smallmouth one can find. It has always been catch and release when one was caught and remains so to this day.

During this time they  populated onto our lake chain where they are doing equally well.

Somehow . . a smallmouth like this has a way of putting a smile on anyone's face.

History continued ... On our lake chain there are certain area's where they are very abundant, and what is really amazing is the size and quality of these smallmouth . There is nothing like the thrill of catching one of these trophy smallmouth.

When we talk trophy smallmouth we are talking about healthy, fat, fish in the 17 to 19 inch range which is as big as you will find anywhere.

If you want good smallie fishing, we have it!!!

Kids's - You gotta love it!!!

Yes .. if I were a kid I would love it enough to give that nice smallmouth a kiss too.

Can you just imagine the imprint it will put on the minds on those two kids after catching that fish. There will never be a better experience in their eyes.

Even if they catch a larger one later in life . . that smallmouth will always be the biggest one.

That is the magic of being a kid!!!

Too bad those times don't last forever . . all kidding aside we have big smallmouth worth that kiss.

Terry has been a guest at Canada North Lodge for many years and he is what I rate as one of the best fisherman I have ever met. He fishes hard and produces fantastic results. Catching fish for him is almost second nature.

When I see him totally pumped up with the fishing action he has had  you know that he had another good day.

He has had many a good day fishing for these big smallmouth bass and has caught a lot of them over the years. . and still gets totally excited about the quality of these fish.

I guess that may be why he keeps coming back. When it is that good, why look for better?

"Catch & Release fishing"

Our smallmouth fishing is simple proof how to keep good fishing. Good fishing does not happen by accident . . it cannot be all take . . at CNL we practice a very strict conservation policy for all fish on all our lakes.

No big fish are ever taken out and when it comes to smallmouth bass . . they are all live released.

"Catch and Release fishing makes the difference"

• Light to medium action rod, spinning or casting are the most popular.

• A reel with a good drag system set correctly will allow the fish to run and give you plenty of action

• A hand full of lures suitable for smallmouth fishing. Jigs, small spinner baits, small crank baits, mepp's spinners, etc.

• 6 to 8 pound test line.

• A guide that knows the lake and where to go. Guides are required on all our portage lakes to ensure that "Catch & Release" is followed. All our portage lakes are assigned by the MNR as NO FISH TAKEN or we could lose the rights to the lake. 

Important Fish Handling Techniques

Besides live releasing the fish, the most important part is how you handle the fish before you release it.

• If you are going to take a picture have the camera ready before the fish comes out of the water, then take the picture & release as quickly as possible.

• Don't handle the fish roughly - don't squeeze - don't let it bounce up and down on the bottom of the boat. If it is a smallmouth grab it by the lower mouth/lip like the pictures above. Smallmouth are the only fish in the north that have no teeth.

• If the hooks are swallowed - cut the line and leave the hook in - the fish will dissolve the hook in a very short period of time.

• When released if the fish acts like it does not want to swim upright - hold it there loosely with your hand while moving your hand back and forth over the body and occasionally move the fish back and forth until it revives itself and swims off. Usually in a flash and a splash.

• Never throw the fish out of the boat, gently release it over the side of the boat.

• Don't overstress the fish by fighting it longer than necessary. As soon as possible land the fish or better yet unhook it while still in the water.

• Use barbless hooks on your crank baits or baits with treble hooks.