Ontario Bass Opener - 2014

[SteveSchmelzle]

My family tradition is to load up whatever we are driving at that time and head into northern Ontario for Bass Opener. For Dad and I, nothing beats northern Large Mouth Bass. The lake we fish does have smallies, but they are generally incidental catches between the buckets. If I want smallies we have many lakes close to home that we can fish.

This year's opener was a strange one. Water temps are at least 5 to 10 degree's colder than usual opener temps. Morning lows were 65 degree, only warming the water to 72 degrees late afternoon. Vegetation growth was very limited. We fished new area's as many of our traditional haunts were unproductive.

While I threw just about every bass bait imaginable, the trusty Senko fished dead slow was the ticket for the majority of the big fish. Other big bass were caught on Jerk Baits and Spinnerbaits, but by far, slow falling senko's worked along flats was our best producing bait.

Numbers were slightly down, mainly because the "high number" baits (spinner baits and jerk baits) weren't taking fish in the colder water. We had to be so patient with the senko's that high numbers were not possible. However, average size was still quite good for Ontario bass, with numerous bass starting to put on the feedbag after finishing the spawn.

Dad kicked my arse as usual - when the water is cold, and senko's are the ticket, I constantly get schooled.

Here's some pics of our Northern Bass.

I will also being doing separate reviews of two new combo's I put together for this trip.

1) G Loomis NRX 804S XMR with Shimano Sustain SA 2500FG [The ULTIMATE Senko Rod for heavy cover]
2) G Loomis Mossy Back BCFR894 with Shimano Calais CL201DC [Spinnerbait Rod for heavy cover]


























and a shot that will be framed.

[IlliniDawg01]

Looks like an awesome trip. Never been fishing for lmb up there. Do a lot of fly in trips out of Red Lake for walleye and pike. What lake did you guys hit up (if you don't mind sharing)?

DaveJ

[SteveSchmelzle]

this is just a small cottage lake north of parry sound.

would be quite a bit south of the area your speaking of (which is a beautiful area).

there are many Canadian Shield lakes with smallies, but not nearly as many with big buckets.

[Bronzeye]

Big largemouths, especially for that far north!

[MTBF]

Nice report, love bassin Ontario…I got to go more north, I'm always headed more east than north

Congrads on the trip, can't wait 4 more weeks and I'll be fishin again!

[cndbasshunter]

Nice!!

[SteveSchmelzle]

mike, i started by going east year after year.

dog lake chain, rideau's, lower beverly, clayton, muskrat, gan, ..... dozens of lakes in the East.

fun lakes, but too much pressure for my liking....too many tournaments, too many bass boats....

started looking west of 62 and north of 7. after a few years we found a new area that was fished less, and had some good bass.

the east is a ton of fun however. the slop is amazing.

[dhottle]

Great pics. Your dad definitely kicked bass.

[SteveSchmelzle]

ya, he just chills in his chair in the back of the boat and drifts his senko's around ....

i'm power fishing on the trolling motor.

he always tells me I work too hard....move too fast....fish too shallow ... etc.

but he often catches more than me.....

one day I may start listening

[fishingman88]

Senko's do the job Great report and great fish. I hope to head up to Ontario sometime

[Redfish]

Very nice LMB from anywhere...but especially nice for Canadian fish! Good job.

[Teal101]

Some nice buckets from the great white north!

[Gone Phishin]

Lunkers! Nice!

[targaboy175]

nice ! thanks for sharing

[thaos95]

Awesome fatties!!