Healthy populations of the feisty smallmouth bass can be found in all of our lakes within the Clearwater-Pipestone Chain of Lakes. Bass fishing season is open year round on our lakes. Smaller populations of Largemouth bass are available in Pipestone Lake and Cedar Lake. Their size is up to 2 pounds.

The average size of the smallmouth is 1-3 pounds. Every year many of these beautiful bronzebacks caught by our guests are in the  4 to 5 lb range. The Ontario record smallmouth bass weighed 9.84 lbs and the record largemouth is 10.43 pounds.

To catch bass in spring, fish shallow water close to deep water,  points, coves and banks with deep cuts or breaklines, and creeks running close to shallow water will produce. Large bass are caught in late May through the early June while still on and protecting their spawning beds. It is important to quickly take a picture and safely release them.

In the summer months most of the larger bass are deeper, relating to structure such as humps, reefs, sandbars, ledges, and drop-offs.

In our region, bass will be on their spawning beds anytime from the last week of May to the first week of June. With our clear water it is extremely entertaining exploring the shallows and sighting pairs of spawning smallmouth. Early fall is another excellent time for that opportunity to catch a trophy smallmouth.  Look for underwater humps and reefs.

There is a topwater bite throughout the seasons on this fascinating waterbody. Cast topwater lures such as a buzzbait, hula-popper or jitterbug and get ready for the calm glassy water to explode at the surface with an acrobatic leap of a bass smashing your lure. This heartpounding fishing action is quite the rush!

Other angling methods that work well are casting Terminator spinnerbaits, tube jigs, texas rigs. Jerkbaits such as the Rapala X-rap slash bait or a soft jerkbait such as Zoom's super fluke are excellent choices.

Realistic looking lures with natural colors such as white, red, silver, blue, green, gold and black usually produce the best results. It is also wise to have some flourescent colored lures in your tackle assortment as well.

For the deeper water bass, Carolina rigs and tube jigs are consistent fish producers, as well as trolling or casting deep diving or lipless rattle crankbaits.  Slow presentations such as live bait lindy rigs or drop shot rigs with minnows, leeches or nightcrawlers are always tempting treats for bass.

For the adventurous bass angler we can also make arrangements for a day trip to one of our boat caches on a portage lake. If you want total seclusion, catching dozens of bass, day trips departing from Clearwater Lake to a fly-in lake can be arranged.