It’s
almost Canada Day, and this year our magnificent country turns 152 years old!
But for many people in the Biosphere this time of year also marks the start of
a special season –
BASS SEASON!!
Season is when you can legally fish certain species of bass. Whether you
are already an expert fisher or just beginning, here’s to how you can get
involved in this year’s Bass Season, starting June 22nd! 
While many species of bass
live in the biosphere, Bass Season refers to two species in particular: the smallmouth
bass and the largemouth bass. These two species are very similar, but there are
a few key differences in how they look and where they live, let’s take a look!
SMALLMOUTH
BASS
Smallmouth
bass have vertical bands along their sides, like stripes. Their bodies will be
a shade of pale brownish-green, the exact shade depending on the food they have
eaten, and the environment they live in. If you follow the top lip of the
fish’s mouth, their jaw will hinge between the front of their eye to the middle
of their pupil.
LARGEMOUTH
BASS
Largemouth
bass have black blotches along their sides that make a jagged, horizontal line,
and the body will be an olive colour. By following the top lip of the fish’s
mouth, you will find that their jaw hinges behind their eye. This extra jaw
room allows the fish to open its mouth wider than the smallmouth bass, giving
it a ‘large’ mouth, and its name!
SMALLMOUTH
BASS HABITAT
Smallmouth
Bass like to live in clear, rocky lakes and streams. Look for them near rock
ledges, submerged ridges and islands, fallen brush and submerged logs. They
prefer habitat with a clean bottom of sand, gravel, or rock, rather than murky,
muddy bottoms. Depending on the time of year they can be found in a range of
depths from 10 to 40 feet of water.
LARGEMOUTH
BASS HABITAT
You
can find largemouth bass living in lakes, rivers, and ponds. Look for them in
areas with submerged logs and rocks, and heavy vegetation like weeds and lily
pads. Largemouth bass live in less than 20 feet of water.
Bass Fishing and Catching
Both
smallmouth and largemouth bass can be caught with a wide range of bait and
lures. Try using a mixture of crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and top water
lures for the best results! And if all else fails, you can always resort to
putting a worm on a hook with a small weight and bobber further up the line!
Tailored Tackle
Three
cheers for the wish of catching Georgian Bay fish!
