Algonquin Park Bass Fishing

[jwm]

Last weekend some friends and I went on another backcountry camping trip in Algonquin Park, we only had two nights so we stayed pretty close and only did one portage but found a nice far tucked in campsite on the lake. Most of the interior lakes only have trout, but this lake had smallmouth as well. Unfortunately the majority of my algonquin fishing gear is setup for trolling spoons (the w60 williams wobblers are my favorite), but I always pack some jigheads and GULP minnow baits so those would have to be my go to lure.

We set off in two separate canoes in search of some fish for dinner with all kinds of bets and foul language being tossed around about who was going to catch dinner and who wasn't. Sure enough a competition was brewing and I wasn't going to come in last place, not in a fishing contest anyway! My buddy and I paddled around to the shore towards the nearest bay dropping our jigs around structures and drop offs. It wasn't until we got to the areas with tons of submerged logs that we started to see and catch some small fish. Unfortunately we also caught the logs and lost a few jigs.

As we were rounding the back end of the bay I noticed a submerged stump that looked perfect. I even cockily said "Look at that stump, it's perfect. Watch this I'm gonna catch a fish." And it was at that moment that I noticed the tail of a small mouth bass that was almost as big as my hand. He was laying right in the middle of the stump in a massive split in the wood. I threw my jig about 4 feet from the stump right in his field of vision and I watched him lurch forward out of the stump. The wind was now pushing me further away and I couldn't see through the water anymore, so I bounced my jig.... Nothing. I'm really hoping I didn't scare him off at this point.. Bounce my jig again.. Nothing.. WHAM!

The fish starts peeling line like a carp while performing an acrobatic show more suited for a largemouth bass. My heart is pounding and I'm yelling at my buddies over the walkie talkie that I've just hooked in to a huge fish hoping they're nearby. My buddy who is in the canoe with me is just sitting back amazed at the battle that is taking place right now. I'm only fishing with a small jig head on 6# fluorocarbon line and this bass is pulling line like a race horse, if it crossed even one of these submerged logs the right way my line could snap- if it jumped hard enough my jig could get tossed. Some how luck was on my side in that respect, because I was able to land the fish.

When I reached down and pulled this bass out of the stained water I could not believe my eyes. This was undoubtably the biggest bass I've ever caught. Even bigger than bass I've caught on Mystery Lake. It was about 22" long and must have weighted 6 pounds or more. The belly on this thing was thicker than my forearms at the widest point! I had goosebumps all over, I reached in my chest pocket for my camera..... I LEFT THE CAMERA BACK AT THE CAMPSITE!

Now obviously I could have taken the fish back to camp and taken a picture and maybe even eaten this fish, but the conservationist in me felt otherwise. Even knowing I couldn't prove I caught the fish to anyone but my buddy in the boat, who was still staring back at me in disbelief, I couldn't cull such an amazing specimen. I gently tucked the fish back in to the water and held on until it swam away.

We went back the next day, with my camera, but I could not raise the same fish again. But you know I'll try again...

[jwm]

Haha no replies! That's ok I realize fisherman make up stories, the beauty is I didn't have to make this one up.

Also my friend dropped one of my walkie talkies into the lake, never to be seen from again. I think my next pair will be waterproof and floating

[evanxrs]

Sounds like it was a blast.
I love that park.
There are some huge fish there.
Last year I am jigging for Lake Trout on Cedar Lake in 50ft. of water and thought I had hooked a BIG Laker. Took a while to get it up to the surface it and turned out to be a 45 in + Northern Pike.
The second I had it to the surface and saw the fish, it looked at me, snapped his head and was gone. Cut right through my steel 45 lb leader.
I was pretty upset, buddy in the canoe saw it, but of course the others were convinced it was a fish tale.
Oh well...

[blairwelsh]

Great Narrative!

You had me there in the boat with yah.
Congrats on the Bass! You know you caught it...

SUPER KUDO's on the RELEASE
- it's the Big ones that have the experience, the genes ... the future!

Dont get me wrong, a wonderful fish fry / shore lunch is awesome. That's what the medium ones are for!
The BIG ONES deserve their place back in the water.

My last GREAT EAT, was back in the Spring up at Parry Sound.
My brother In Laws friend brought over about 400 pre-cleaned smelts and we cooked them up in Butter, Garlic and some pepper batter.

Pretty well ate for about 4 hours at the campsite.
My mouth is still watering.

[tangledline]

jwm releasing the smallie makes you an angler that has our respect far more than if you had killed it as a trophy to prove you out fished your friends.
THANK YOU for being a conservationist and visionary!

[jwm]

Thanks guys!

[Ed]

Great story Jon and congrats on a huge smallmouth. My largest ever was 20" seemed massive so I can only imagine how big that fish would have been. I bet it will be a long time before you forget your camera again

[jwm]

It only takes one fish like that to make sure you never forget your camera!