Best smallmouth bass lakes in Ontario
2943 Ontario waters hold smallmouth bass, 2943 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.
- Lac Seul — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie
- Lake St. Joseph — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Lake Abitibi — 49 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Sandy Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Long Lake — 400 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Lake Nipissing — 230 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
- Lake Nipissing — 230 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Eagle Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Lake Simcoe — 135 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
- Sturgeon Lake — 260 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Lake Temagami — 240 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout
- Ogoki Reservoir — 236 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Deer Lake — 217 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Minnitaki Lake — 150 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Wunnummin Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Red Lake — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Missinaibi Lake — 250 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Lac des Mille Lacs — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Trout Lake — 150 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- MacDowell Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Dog Lake — 328 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Wabigoon River — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Ivanhoe Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Cat Lake — 85 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
- Lac la Croix — 168 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
…plus 2918 more Ontario waters holding smallmouth bass.
When to fish smallmouth bass in Ontario
- Spring 3–12 ft — Gravel and rock flats near deep water; spawning happens on hard bottom.
- Summer 10–30 ft — Offshore rock humps and deep points; smallmouth suspend near bait.
- Fall 8–25 ft — Feeding hard for winter — long tapering points and rocky drops.
- Winter 20–45 ft — Deep, vertical presentations near rocky wintering holes.
Also in Ontario: best largemouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best lake trout lakes · best lake whitefish lakes
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