Lake Ontario
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Lake Ontario Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake Ontario. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Ranger521vxBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Smallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureBouldersWe had a great day on Lake Ontario near the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Although the wind was somewhat challenging, we caught about 25 fish on several soft plastics. The fish were tight to cover in about 20-25 feet of water and the 4” Xzone lure original slammer in the 309 special on a drop shot rig was the hot bait. I caught a new personal best smallmouth twice during the day. In the morning, I caught a 5 pound 4 ounce smallmouth on a drop shot in about 20 feet and in the afternoon I caught a 5 pound 11 ounce smallmouth on a drop shot in about 10 feet. We also caught several fish in the 4 pound class on a Berkley green pumpkin Lil General NED Rig and we also caught some quality smallmouth in the afternoon throwing the 3” Hazedong swimbait in shallow water around boulders. Awesome day catching 2 PB smallmouth!
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueFinesse Hair JigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureBoulders
Bass were suspended hitting moving baits. I caught most of them today on a hair jig. They also were hitting a jerkbait.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueFootball JigsSeasonFallStructurePoints
Dragging a Strike King Rage Bug rigged on a wobble head produces big bites. Use a 3/4to 1 ounce wobble head with a 3 or 4/0 VMC Wide Gapworm hook. I usually throw the baits on y flipping setup. Braided line helps you feel every rock as you wobble head bounces along the bottom. You can reel slow or most times I drag it a few feet with the rod and reel slack. Make long casts and let the bait drop until your line slacks up. I then just work it back to the boat while maintaining bottom contact the whole time.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureBoulders
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureHumps
This is an amazing bait when water is a bit stained or with cloud cover. Early in the season go with a slower cadence and 3-5 second pauses. Hold on tight to your rod since they tend to hit it hard on the pause!
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureRock Pile
I fished a Lake Ontario creek tributary in 55-60 degree water. Tried every technique but the smallies only bit the ned rig and a Keitech Mad Wag worm on a Keitech tungsten ballhead jig. They only wanted dark colors, like California craw for the ZMan ned rig and black/blue for the Keitech worm. I only got bites by slowly dragging the baits and counting rocks in 2' of water until I felt a very soft bite. Prespawn will be in full force soon.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureBouldersLots of fish in the 10’-15’ range wherever there was chunk rock or boulders. Quite a few had crawfish in their throats but they still ate the swimbaits.
