Campfire Island - Rainy Lake - Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Rainy Lake Trophy Smallmouth Bass

The smallmouth bass fishing on Ontario’s
Rainy Lake is truly World-Class.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing on Rainy Lake is the Name of The GAME!

Rainy Lake Smallmouth Bass - Super Sized! Rainy Lake Monster Smallmouth Bass

From the day the ice leaves Rainy Lake, the smallmouth bass are on a steady move toward their spawning grounds. The darker water in the South Arm warms up faster than the clearer water of the North Arm.

The smallmouth move to the shallower water, and once they are near their spawning areas, they gather in large schools waiting for the water to reach the perfect temperature to start spawning. They stage on shallow rocky points from 5-15 feet deep - - deeper in the morning and moving shallower during the heat of mid-day.

Trophy Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Adventure

Campfire Island’s easy access to both the South and North arms of Rainy Lake greatly increases the length of time that guests can angle for these shallow-water smallmouth bass. By starting mid to late May in the South Arm and ending late June in the North Arm, Campfire Island guests can utilize their top-water presentations and fly-fishing techniques for a much longer period of time.

Smallmouth Bass - Fly-Fishing

Top-water flies, sub-surface flies, light jigs tipped with plastic tubes or tails work well. Towards the end of the spawning period, the mayflies start to hatch (warmer areas first), so small top-water poppers, floating Rapalas and Mepps spinners will get some good action.
As July approaches, smallmouth bass start their move for the open water to set up in their summer patterns. Some schools of bass will be found on weed edges next to deep water feeding on crayfish and small minnows. Other schools of bass will favour open-water structure like rocky reefs and deep points feeding on baitfish and smelt. And some bass will move into the middle of the lake chasing smelt and shiner minnows unrelated to any structure. Jigs with plastic tubes work well in the shallower water, while Xraps, crankbaits and weighted flukes are the open-water baits.
Rainy Lake Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Fishing At Campfire Island Smallmouth Adventure


From early August on, the smallmouth will continue their aggressive feeding and gradually move to the deep water points and rock reefs. With the increasing number of smallies moving for open-water structure to feed on baitfish, the number of bass in any school can range from 50 to well over 100 fish. Smallmouth bass feed hard in the fall to bulk up for the long winter ahead; and after you catch even one, it will not be hard to see why they are commonly referred to as “footballs”.

Fall Smallmouth Footballs - Fall Feeding


This is definitely some of the best smallmouth fishing of the year for size of fish and numbers of fish. Most days it is not uncommon to catch between 50 and 100 smallmouth bass and most of them will be in the 3-pound to 5-pound range.

Campfire Island’s guiding staff is quite simply the best! – Rainy Lake is their playground and smallmouth bass is their passion. When Rainy Lake provides the fishery and Campfire Island supplies the guides, you will experience smallmouth bass fishing like never before!



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