The fishing opportunities that you can find in Ontario are so numerous that some lakes and rivers have never even had the company of a human being. Even so, no matter how many rivers, creeks, streams or rivers a single angler could try to fish here, it is literally impossible for one fisherman to visit each and every one in just one lifetime.

This is the attribute that makes Ontario one of the planet’s most sought after fishing destinations for avid anglers all over the globe. Because of this, there are a number of outfitters situated here that are ready and willing to show you the fishing experience of a lifetime as well as seasoned and experienced guides, and a variety of choices in lodgings in case you are looking to stay for a while.

The North Eastern part of Ontario would likely appeal to the fisherman who doesn’t mind sharing his experience with others as this is the region that is less remote then some of the others. Regardless, don’t be surprised if you find yourself the only soul on the entire lake you choose to fish on even here.

Eastern Ontario is overrun by a vast amount of rivers, canals and lakes. Any angler who knows this area already likely comes here for the beautiful scenery as well as Rideau Canal’s sparkling waters. Being able to get to this are, however, is no easy task since not many fishing locations here can be accessed by a normal road. But what you can expect to find waiting for you once you make your way is plenty of walleye, bass, pike and muskie.

Ontario’s Southwestern region is another great destination for the angler looking to share some experience with the locals other fishermen as this spot is a great place for tourists. In fact, Southwestern Ontario is considered the wine country and besides having great wine, the fishing here is great for catching salmon, walleye, smallmouth bass, and trout.

If you are looking for an exciting place to spend your vacation, Ontario has something for not only the avid angler, but the entire family as well. If you find that you need to get out into the woods and get in some quality bass fishing while forgetting about the daily grind, all you need to do is pack up the family and head for Canada. Don’t forget your fishing gear! You are going to need it.

Standard crappie fishing will typically mean that you will need to have either jigs or minnows with you before setting out on your fishing trip. While worms and other crappie lures will result in some bites, most crappie fish are caught with the use of a simple crappie jig or minnow. Here are a few of the best pieces of crappie fishing gear must not leave home without.

Road Runner

This jig is great whenever you find yourself in the midst of a school of crappie traveling through deeper water. Be on the lookout though because many species take a liking to this jig. You may not necessarily reel in just crappie!

The Beetle Spin

This lure is ideal when fishing in small ponds or remote streams. It is also rather effective in catching other fish such as bluegill and bass. Whenever you use either the Road Runner or the Beetle Spin for crappie fishing, be sure that your retrieve is slow enough to cause the blades on the lure to spin adequately. Since crappie are not usually very aggressive when it comes to feeding unless it is the spawning season, they won’t chase prey very far.

Slider Weedless Jig

These jigs are perfect for when you find yourself fishing amidst areas that are heavy with vegetation such as grass or lily pads. Keep in mind however, that even though these jigs claim to be snag free, it is inevitable that you will get your lure caught from time to time.

Maribou Jigs

These jigs are the old standby when it comes to reliable crappie fishing tackle. These jigs truly do not get as much credit as other more elaborate lures that are out on the markets today. The Maribou jigs are somewhat plain in comparison and much more kind to the wallet of the angler. Still, many fishermen opt for the showy, flashy lures in the face of the tried and true. Use these jigs whenever you are working around natural and manmade structures.

Tube Jigs

Tube jigs are a favorite of many fishermen as well. Use these lures amongst weeds and trees as you lightly dip them into tiny hiding places and openings in the dense cover of your lake or stream. If this is not the kind of situation that you are planning on, you can also use these jigs by drifting them beneath a slip cork.

On days when you are unable to make it out to the water, try out some great online fishing games to keep yourself entertained and your skills sharp.

Standard crappie fishing will typically mean that you will need to have either jigs or minnows with you before setting out on your fishing trip. While worms and other crappie lures will result in some bites, most crappie fish are caught with the use of a simple crappie jig or minnow. Here are a few of the best pieces of crappie fishing gear must not leave home without.

Road Runner

This jig is great whenever you find yourself in the midst of a school of crappie traveling through deeper water. Be on the lookout though because many species take a liking to this jig. You may not necessarily reel in just crappie!

The Beetle Spin

This lure is ideal when fishing in small ponds or remote streams. It is also rather effective in catching other fish such as bluegill and bass. Whenever you use either the Road Runner or the Beetle Spin for crappie fishing, be sure that your retrieve is slow enough to cause the blades on the lure to spin adequately. Since crappie are not usually very aggressive when it comes to feeding unless it is the spawning season, they won’t chase prey very far.

Slider Weedless Jig

These jigs are perfect for when you find yourself fishing amidst areas that are heavy with vegetation such as grass or lily pads. Keep in mind however, that even though these jigs claim to be snag free, it is inevitable that you will get your lure caught from time to time.

Maribou Jigs

These jigs are the old standby when it comes to reliable crappie fishing tackle. These jigs truly do not get as much credit as other more elaborate lures that are out on the markets today. The Maribou jigs are somewhat plain in comparison and much more kind to the wallet of the angler. Still, many fishermen opt for the showy, flashy lures in the face of the tried and true. Use these jigs whenever you are working around natural and manmade structures.

Tube Jigs

Tube jigs are a favorite of many fishermen as well. Use these lures amongst weeds and trees as you lightly dip them into tiny hiding places and openings in the dense cover of your lake or stream. If this is not the kind of situation that you are planning on, you can also use these jigs by drifting them beneath a slip cork.

On days when you are unable to make it out to the water, try out some great online fishing games to keep yourself entertained and your skills sharp.

While the addition of a fly rod to your fishing gear may not help you noticeably increase your fishing ratio, but it can sure help to add to the fun. Thankfully this doesn’t need to be an intricate process as relatively basic outfits usually consist of the fishing reel, rod, leader, fly and line.

When choosing your rod, this should not be a frustrating task; however, if you aren’t sure what you are looking for, it can seem a little overwhelming. Fast action rods are designed to enable the cast to throw tight loops that serve to increase the distance of their cast. This is particularly beneficial when fishing for bonefish and working around weeds such as lilypads. Medium-fast, medium, and slow rods serve to let the angler better feel the load of the rod so that they can more accurately determine a casting cadence.

When fishing primarily for bass, your fly reel doesn’t have to be anything necessarily elaborate. Unless you need your reel for a number of different species, you will not to spend a great deal of money on the high priced top of the line reels that are available to the diehard anglers. As long as your reel has a smooth drag that protects your leader, the fish you are going to catch are not even necessarily tussled with on that reel as stripping in your line will land them easily. Quality reels can be purchased within the $40.00 range. Always make sure that there are additional spools that are available as well.      

When it comes to fly lines, there are a number to choose from. If bass fishing is your interest, you will want a monofilament line of anywhere between 6 and 8 pounds when starting out. You may also want to invest in some line cleaner as this will keep your fishing line working just as well as the day you purchased it for many years to come. Proper care of your equipment is the key.

Your connection from your fishing line to your leader can be achieved with either a loop or a knot connection. While loops tend to add a bit of bulk, they rarely inhibit ones casting, although you should always be sure to keep them clear of the guides whenever you are fishing. Short leaders are recommended in the six to eight foot lengths with either a 14 or 12 pound test tippet. 

The beautiful waters of Muskoka are home to many gorgeous and hungry walleye making this lake a walleye fisherman’s paradise. This lake has plenty of bays that are sheltered just right with plenty of off shore fishing available. During the peak of the summer is when the walleye become the most active as they aggressively begin to feed on bait fish. While every lake has its optimal time of year for fishing, mid summer would be the ideal time to fish in Muskoka Lake.

If you choose to try your hand at walleye fishing in Muskoka, be sure to use local live bait. Choose from worms, leeches or minnows and set out for one of the many shoal drop offs or popular anchored points.

Once you are anchored and ready, keep your jig moving very slowly while reeling in your slack and you will be reeling in walleye before you know it. Trolling using an inline spinner like the Erie Dearie will amaze you with how many fish you will catch using just a worm as bait. Walleye as big as 36 inches have been known to be pulled from the lake with simple live bait like worms.

Some anglers choose to use a bouncy lindy rig and a floating worm and jig head combo to slowly troll in the deeper areas. Many times they are rewarded with success. However, always remember to track your route with buoys if this is the method for you.

The bottom of Muskoka Lake is rather sharp, so plan for having to retie your fishing gear multiple times. You may want to consider having multiple fishing reels and rods that are rigged in exactly the same way in case you need to quickly reach for another in order to stay in the game.

Always fish for walleye with caution by making sure you have a map of the area on hand at all times as there are many large, sharp rocks that are submerged in this lake. Many of the islands all look alike and being able to tell them apart without a map can turn out rather deceiving.

The walleye fish that you will catch in Muskoka Lake are healthy and active, particularly because of the MNR sections off the nearby Muskoka River during spawning season. Always remember to do your part to be sure that the walleye population stays healthy by only keeping the smaller fish.

When it comes to the very best fishing rods, it is probably a good idea to go with rods that have been utilized by record holding fishermen. Here is a list of such fly rods as well as how many records have been achieved with them.

·       Founded in 1980 by the famous rod designer Don Green, Sage Fly Rods are responsible for 75 world records. Letting the number of records speak for themselves it is easy to see how the sage fly rods are by far the best fly fishing rods used by fly fishermen all over the world.

·       G. Loomis Fly Fishing Rods have 24 world records under their belt thanks to their innovative designer, Steve Rajeffthe who himself currently holds the world record for casting at 243 feet. 

·       Thomas and Thomas Fly Fishing Rods have themselves 18 records. This company got its start by two people named Maxwell and Dorsey in Beltsville, Maryland.

·       Coming in at 14 records is Orvis Fly Fishing Rods. For outdoorsman everywhere, Orvis is a household name all over the country as they carry much more than fishing gear and waders. For example, their ZG Zero Gravity Helios fly rods were voted by Field and Stream magazine as the very best for last two years.

·       Redington Fly Rods come in at 7 for world records. This company is based in Washington on Bainbridge Island and is somewhat of a newcomer to the world of making the list for the top fly rod manufacturers. However, this company happens to really understand the newer generation of fishermen today better than any other company that designs rods as they tailor their fly fishing rods to a very specific market making it possible for quite a few anglers to set some world records in a very short amount of time.

·       Albright Fly Fishing Rods have a few records as well with a total of 4. This company also offers a good deal on fishing equipment ranging from reels and rods to fishing line and tackle that is relevant and affordable to the average consumer.

·       Another company with 4 records is R.L. Winston Rod Company. This company is responsible for many quality fly fishing rods ranging in materials from second generation boron to graphite and bamboo models.

·       Cabelas Fly Rods are responsible for 3 records and consider themselves the World’s Foremost Outfitter when it comes to outdoor sporting goods supplies with a great deal of products specifically for fly fishermen.

 Fishing in Canada for largemouth bass is possibly one of the most rewarding and exciting locations an avid bass angler can get to in order to experience their sport. If you are just starting out with this popular new hobby, you may not even be familiar with this coveted species or how to begin bass fishing.

The distinguishing markings of the largemouth bass are usually first attributed to the lower jaw as it looks as if it extends past the eye of the fish into the head. Its coloring is usually a darker shade of green on its back with a belly and sides that are silvery with dark stripes covering its entire body. The belly of the largemouth bass can also sometimes be nearly white or lighter green in color. Their dorsal fins appear as if they are divided in two.

Typically, largemouth bass are somewhat small fish but can reach as much as 20 pounds. You can find them in the waters of the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, the Red River (Hudson Bay), Mississippi River basins, and in Atlantic drainages from Florida to North Carolina as well as Mexico. The water types they like to linger in are rather diverse as you can find them in freshwater as well as brackish waters, which are a mix of both saltwater and freshwater.

They prefer slow moving rivers that are rather large over smaller streams with softer beds and usually like to live in clearer waters. When bass fishing, you can find younger fish congregating in schools but once they reach adulthood, they are solitary creatures. Many times a group of bass will collect into a smaller area, however they will not interact. Largemouth bass tend to seek out areas with ample cover such as rock ledges, logs, vegetation, wreckage and other structures that might be found in the water.

These fish are carnivores that like to prey on sunfish, minnows, insects, frogs, gizzard shad, and the occasional snake. Mature bass are considered the very top predatory animal in their ecosystem. The fry typically prey on insect larvae and zooplankton. Once they are around two inches in length is when they will fully become actual predators.

The largemouth bass is an extremely popular species for sport fishermen as they are incredible fighters once they are hooked with lighter spinning tackle. The most common methods used to catch these fish are fly-fishing, bottom fishing, and bait casting. The best baits to use when looking to hook one of these beauties are live minnows, worms or nightcrawlers.

Fishing for Walleye in Canada is a popular sport for many anglers all over the world who have recognized all that this corner of the earth has to offer when it comes to fishing. Walleye are either dark or olive green fish that are named for their unique eyes that appear as if they are blind. In fact, the reflective cover of their eyes actually gives them quite an advantage when it comes to sight and helps this predator to seek out its prey even in the dark. They have wide teeth filling their jaws as well as on the roof of their mouth.

Walleye belong to the perch family and are the largest members at weights of over 10 pounds and lengths of over 30 inches. These fish can live as long as 8 years and have been known to reach as much as 15 pounds with the record being recorded at a whopping 25.

These fish are native to central regions of North America beginning at the Rocky Mountains and reaching as far south as Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama all the way north to the Mackenzie River, Canada, the Peace River, and Great Slave Lake. They prefer to live in clearer, cool lakes and rivers with either sandy or gravel floors. If you can not make it out to the walleyes spots in Canada, try out some great online fishing games to keep you going until your next trip.
 

Feeding for the walleye typically takes place during both dusk and dawn. Emerald and spottail shiners as well as yellow perch are favorite prey of theirs in addition to crappie, bluegill, crayfish and bullheads and crayfish. Younger walleye actually feed on such things as aquatic invertebrates, smaller, younger fish and zooplankton.

Walleye spawning happens early on in the spring, immediately following ice-out when the temperatures of the water are in between 38 degrees and 50. Spawning usually occurs once other fish have gone ahead upstream. No nests are built and there is no care parental wise for the eggs or younger fish. The female will lay somewhere around 500,000 eggs over shoals and up to two males will fertilize them by releasing their milt. The incubation period takes between as little as five days or as much as two weeks.
 

When fishing for walleye, you will find that it is a much more successful venture if you happen to fish during the evening hours along weed beds and over piles of rocks. Working minnows or night crawlers slowly at this time will get good results.

Many anglers find themselves confused as to how to strategically fish in muddy water. While you must always be aware of the species that you are attempting to catch, you must also be aware that muddy water alone is far different than cold muddy water. Watching fishing videos can help you improve your technique.

Many lakes have a stained color to their water at all times so in cases like these muddier conditions are not the issue when it comes to bass. This means that some muddier conditions can actually serve to your advantage.

If you are able to count the lower prop blades on your unit then you are in relatively clear water. However if you cannot count the blades, this is when you might consider the water legitimately muddy.

Muddy water can be categorized in three different types: Layered mud, mudlines and cold muddy water which is not only common in both the fall and spring, but also considered the worst form of muddy water.

Mudlines are formed when the wind beats the water against bank. This makes the top layer of water muddier than the layer beneath it. Cold muddy water is different because this is where the water is less than 55 degrees and the wind is able to muddy it up.

When you are fishing in muddy water, it is important to remember to fish as tight as possible to cover. This is where you will get the bites. In clear water, it is better that you roam around regardless of the temperature. Bass that are living in muddy water like to linger around objects such as logs, docks and rocks. Since these fish aren’t considered aggressive, it may take you a few casts to feel a bite when bass fishing.

The lures that will be the best to use in these kinds of waters will be wobbling crankbaits. If you prefer to use spinnerbaits, try and stick with the Colorado/willowleaf combo. Your lure should be worked slowly and kept within the strike zone a bit longer than usual. Be careful not to move your lure too fast.

When it comes to color, the best options to choose from for muddier or stained waters are brown, orange, blue, red shad and black. Although it is no easy task to fish in muddy water, working your lures rather slowly can wake up the bass’s main senses of scent, sound and sight, improving your catch ratio.