This is where having five Smallmouth Bass lakes becomes an advantage.
Normally between 1st and 4th of July, the Smallmouth Bass feeding switch is flipped and they start to feed very aggressively. Another reason why we give it little jigs as it's sinking is we can feel the bass hit the jig. My best day was 120+ fish. Predators such as perch, sculpin, crayfish, suckers, sunfish, crappie, etc. On the Fly-Fishing end of things the Summer Stage patterns & techniques will work very well, and the need for sinking tip line with a slower presentation becomes more valuable for success as the water temperatures cool. They will locate mainly by lake points leading into bays, plus off shore reefs & rock structures. This will last a week or less, normally between the 3rd or 4th week in June, varying by a week. The first may be because the population of Smallmouth Bass is so high that they have eaten the shore and shoals clean and have to go out into deep open water to feed on Lake Herring, Chub & Suckers.
On Lake Erie, we drift over deep ridges with worm colored tube jigs. This stage starts at ice-out, normally May 5th-10th, and goes to June 1st to 15th, exact dates depending on the water temperatures. Lake Simcoe has become a trophy smallmouth bass fishery, with fish in the 8 lb range caught annually.
FYI – we had the best day of my 6 years this past year too. Important Smallmouth Bass spawning facts all fisher’s should be aware of when fishing during this time period are listed below.
They are concentrated in and near shallow spawning bays with a mix of sand, rubble rock, and weeds, and since they are in mating pairs or … Being that a wide variety of presentations are being used so will the lures, which can vary in use from jigs, soft plastics, twitching minnow baits, surface baits, and live bait or live bait imitators fished wit a Carolina style rig or drop shot rig. Each lake will experience these changes during slightly different times. In early spring and late fall when the weather is unstable bass tend to go deeper to minimize discomfort because of drastic changes in atmospheric pressure.
If you continue to fish the same areas you will be catching the same fish protecting the same nest, which will decrease chances of nest survival.This Smallmouth Bass Stage spans from the 3rd week in July for about 4 weeks depending on seasonal weather changes. Dropping a minnow straight down also works well but many of the lakes in Ontario, especially in Provincial Parks, don't allow the use of live minnows for bait. Optimal fishing depths range from 6 to 14ft, and because of the large amount of food available, varying presentations are needed to keep fishing success consistent.Use of fast aggressive to slow meticulous, and surface to deeper presentations will be used Fabulous Trophy Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Canadadepending on conditions and Smallmouth Bass feeding moods.