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Warm water • heavy cover
Ontario Largemouth Bass
Bucketmouth bass, thick weeds and explosive topwater strikes.
Ontario record: 10.43 lb
The Ontario water
Ontario record: 10.43 lb
Touted as a hard fighter and a tough customer, the largemouth bass rates high with Ontario anglers. Its green and white body stands out in summer light, but the oversized mouth is the feature everyone remembers. The old nickname “bucketmouth” fits perfectly.
Second only to walleye in popularity, largemouth bass draw plenty of attention during Ontario tournament season. They strike many lures, respond to several fishing styles and live around weed and wood cover that makes every cast interesting.
Found mainly through southern and central Ontario, largemouth bass favour vegetation. Shallow, fertile lakes, rivers and bays often provide the best chance to connect with this species.
FIELD NOTE
Work the weeds, wood and docks
Spinnerbaits, soft-plastic worms and craws, crankbaits, jigs and topwater lures all catch largemouth bass. Watch for lily pads, thick weeds, bulrushes, fallen timber and boat docks. These areas give bass shade, food and a place to strike from cover.
Watch Ontario fishing
Two videos. One next-trip idea.
Dave Mercer: Heavy-Cover Bass
Techniques for fishing weeds and thick largemouth cover.
Quick answers
Ontario fishing FAQ
Where are largemouth bass found in Ontario?
They are most common in southern and central Ontario, usually in warm, shallow water with weeds, wood or docks.
What lures catch Ontario largemouth bass?
Spinnerbaits, jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, crankbaits and topwater frogs are dependable choices.
Keep planning
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