Best Bass Fishing in Ontario: Lakes, Lures & Where to Find Giants

Ontario is home to some of the most exciting and diverse bass fishing in North America. From crystal-clear shield lakes loaded with smallmouth to weed-choked southern backwaters crawling with largemouth, the province offers something for every bass angler whether you're casting from a canoe, a dock, or a tournament rig.

And if you're fishing in Ontario, you'll want the right tools for the job, from reliable crankbaits to topwater poppers and durable jerkbaits. At Last Cast Lure Company, we build our lures to handle Ontario bass and this blog is your guide to where, when, and what to throw.

 1. Ontario’s Best Smallmouth Bass Waters

Smallmouth bass love clear, rocky lakes with structure, current, and deep water access. Luckily, Ontario has thousands of those.

 Top Picks:

• Lake Simcoe – One of the best for size and numbers
• Lake of the Woods – Big, wild, and loaded with smallies
• Georgian Bay (Lake Huron) – Deep, clear, and packed with structure
• Rideau River – River current + rock piles = smallmouth heaven
• Lake Nipissing – Great mix of smallmouth and walleye

 Best Lures:

• Jerkbaits – Perfect for clear water and targeting suspending fish
• Micro Crankbaits – When you want finesse with flash
• Topwater Poppers – For that early morning blow-up on flat rock points
• Squarebill Cranks – Bounce off rocks to trigger big strikes

 Pro Tip: During summer, target deep breaks and humps. In fall, smallies move shallow to feed that’s prime time for jerkbaits and crankbaits.

 2. Ontario’s Best Largemouth Bass Waters

Largemouth thrive in warmer, weedier, shallower lakes, and southern/central Ontario has plenty.

Top Picks:

• Lake St. Clair – Excellent numbers and consistent action
• Kawartha Lakes – Great for flipping docks, weed edges,and frog fishing
• Bay of Quinte (weedy zones) – Overlooked but holds monsters
• Lake Scugog – A weedy largemouth stronghold
• Thames River backwaters – Perfect for tight cover and topwater

 Best Lures:

• Wake Baits – Jointed options create irresistible surface commotion
• Topwater Poppers – Great around pads and sparse weeds
• Deep Diving Cranks – For weedline edges or drop-offs
• Squarebill Cranks – Crash through shallow weed clumps

 Pro Tip: During midday heat, largemouth bury in weeds or under shade. Use lures that either call them up (like our poppers) or bump into cover to force reaction bites.

 Why Ontario Bass Fishing Stands Out

• Extended season (especially south of Zone 20)
• Healthy populations thanks to strong conservation
• Wide range of environments: rivers, lakes, bays, ponds
• Fishing pressure is lower than many U.S. states, more natural bites
• Accessible waters everywhere: you don’t need a boat to catch trophies

Whether you're targeting wild smallmouth up north or casting for thick-shouldered largemouth in cattails, Ontario offers true variety  and our baits are built to match the forage they feed on.

Built for Bass: What We Recommend

At Last Cast Lure Company, we craft baits that handle repeated strikes, structure abuse, and real Ontario conditions. Here's what we suggest for bass anglers:

 Flicker-style Crankbaits – Great for both species, available in natural baitfish patterns
 Suspending Jerkbaits – Trigger reaction bites, even in pressured water
 Topwater Poppers – Our hand-painted options pop, spit, and float just right
 Squarebills & Deep Divers – Durable, loud, and tuned to track true

Plus, we’re always working on new bass-focused colorways inspired by Ontario forage like perch, pumpkinseed, juvenile trout, and more.

 Final Cast: Ontario Bass Fishing, Your Way

No matter how you like to fish, from rocky shoals for smallies to lily pad lanes for largemouth Ontario bass fishing is elite. The variety, the size, and the access make it one of the best bass regions in North America.

And when you’re ready to fish smarter, cleaner, and with baits that actually hold up to toothy predators, we’ve got your back.

 Fish Ontario. Fish hard. Fish till the Last Cast.