Gentlemen, thanks for your welcome, much appreciated. Muskies? Sure, i've known what those are since the 1960s, always understood they were particularly difficult to catch; I've done a little bit of pike fishing in England & Scotland, using plugs, caught a few, nothing big. They don't appeal to me nearly as much as non-toothy predators such as bass. In this country, sea bass are perfect - trouble is, numbers have been in decline for a long time from commercial over-fishing and I gave up on it some years ago. Fishing for the sake of it is all very well, but you have to catch fish from time to time - preferably including some of good size! My best was seven pounds, caught from the shore on a calm summer evening, used a home-built light 6-foot rod with ABU Mag-1 Plus reel, Rebel J-13 minnow.
I'll be in SW Ontario around the end of June, beginning of July, hunting around the Grey/Bruce boundary, more or less due south from Owen Sound. I'd really appreciate knowing what species are best at that time (I would really, really like to catch some bass...) and whether I would be best off trying Huron or Georgian Bay - or staying inland. I do have a fondness for small lakes and rivers. Happy to fish from the shore or rent a boat/canoe, depending which is most likely to produce results.
On my two previous visits to this area, at the same time of year, it was pretty dry, which might rule out some of the smaller waters - ? I dunno!
But I hope this indicates the sort of advice i'm looking for - really, any pointers will be much appreciated. And I'm planning to visit the Toronto Bass Pro Shops, never seen one - I've been across to the Detroit area with my buddy, to e.g. Gander Mountain and Cabela's, interested to see how BPS compares.
Best, Tony
Welcome we have a lot of different species to fish for here. I don't mean to be picky but the sea bass you fished for are in no way related to large mouth and small mouth bass here. They are members of the sunfish family. Tight lines.
