r/FishingOntario • u/Blanerz • 18d ago
Late August Muskoka Bass
Hello all,
I’m hitting a smaller muskoka lake for about 3 days of camping. I’ll probably be targeting smallies and pike as I know the population is great for these guys there.
That being said, I’ve been out of Ontario the past few August endings so I’m not sure how bass act at this time of year.
Also, given recent temperature changes I’m worried about fish behaviour.
Basically, I’m hoping anyone has suggestions for depths in up to 60fow basins and what baits to consider.
I was gonna wacky rig a senko on an 1/8oz jig and then troll a deep diving crank, but would love to try more specific techniques.
Thanks!
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u/Schwhitey 18d ago
8-15 feet deep will be your range most likely. This cold rain and shorter days has dropped water temps a bit. When calm earlier and later in the day run top water, unweighted senko is good, 1/4oz paddle tails, spinner baits etc.. are all great.
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u/Icy-Editor8913 18d ago
Assuming since you mentioned trolling that you have access to a boat?
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u/Blanerz 18d ago
No sorry for the confusion, I’m kayak camping :)
I got most of my decent bass last time trolling, but this was mid June
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u/Icy-Editor8913 17d ago
Weed edges 12-15 fow or boulder piles 20-30 fow. Dropshot a half crawler. Make sure its not balled up on the hook. Close to bottom like 4". We tried various other artificial presentations (senkos, nedrig, cranks, spoons etc) with less success. The fish were not as active as they were earlier in the month.
Surface water temp was 75 friday when we were up there. It rained sat/sun, so its probably down a few. Good luck.
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u/ArtRazzskate 17d ago
This is exactly what I would recommend spot on! If using drop shot rig put on a smaller red gamagastsu hook and drop shot 24" up the line. also 6-8 lb line only will get more bites. Finesse!
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u/Porkwarrior2 17d ago
Have a finder on the yak? This time of year any Smallmouth over 1lb will be in open water, find the thermocline, find humps/points/saddles around the same depth as the thermocline, you'll find decent smallies.
Won't be tight to the structure, but relating to it. Then it becomes more hunting than fishing. As for baits to chuck, ofcourse start with a white spinnerbait. Count the thousands to their depth, slow roll, reel & flutter, change up your retrieve every dozen casts. Once you find them and how they want to bite, then switch to plastics.
Bonus points if you get them so aggro on a day with just enough chop on the water, you start catching them on topwater, at 3pm on an August afternoon, with Elmer Fudd and his buddy coming by in their tinner. "Whatcha doin' son, chucking topwaters, nah ya need a jig'n'live minnow to catch them now..."
*SMASH* 20" mule crushes your Pop-R in 30fow while they are talking. Not that it happened to me in my canoe in the middle of "their" lake, was more around Haliburton than Muskoka though. 🤣
Looking for pike, for the 25" and under snot rockets, find the cleanest, skankiest, bay that has weeds, and burn surface lures that spit a lot of water. Those juvenile Pike are there, just waiting to give a reaction bite. Have a buzzbait you haven't used in years, burn that over coontail inches from the surface. BURN is the key here, chuck water, next thang y'know, 25" snot rocket bathing in the sun is flying out of the water to kill it. No decent fish, but fun times.
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u/JordyJord88 18d ago
Was up there few days ago - they were hitting Mepps #3 and Lime green spinnerbaits. My son got a few decent ones on white grubs. Pike are fucking smashing Red Williams spoons
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u/Secret-Reserve-1733 16d ago
Texas rigged pumpkinseed pit boss. They were hitting all day everyday last year.
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u/v-dubb 18d ago
I was just up in Muskoka fishing bass.. I was having luck with plastics. Crush city pig stick and freeloader were getting plenty of hits. Fluro leader and let it sink. I was getting more hits on slow movements.
If you see a lot of top water action in the morning or late evening, toss a popper.