Bass Lake Fishing in Simcoe County, Ontario

• Overview

  Bass Lake lies in Simcoe County, in Ontario. The ground around here is rolling bush. About 5.46 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. With 11 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Few waters listed in Simcoe County are bigger. Start from Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School, 6.5 km down the road. Orillia lies 6.8 km off, Amigo Beach another 13 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Simcoe County records list pumpkinseed, northern pike, yellow perch and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Bass Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -9°C in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Bass Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Launching is possible: a slipway lies 1.4 km off. Expect 1.4 km away in from where the car goes. You can camp about 1.2 km away, going by the mapping. Facilities run to toilets 1.2 km from the water. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Lake Couchiching is 12 km distant. What applies at Bass Lake may have changed since it was mapped.