Bass Fishing on Vancouver Island 

Fishing for bass on Vancouver Island, which is a great fishing destination, is challenging and adventurous; there is more than one place to choose from when it comes to top angling and bass fishing on Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island is among the top 10 locations for bass fishing in Canada. Bass fishing has so many lovers around the world, and it is the first most popular fishing in North America. Sportfishing for bass, especially largemouth bass, has become greatly popular On Vancouver Island. There are many many reasons to choose bass fishing; first of all, you can enjoy bass fishing most times of the year, and there are so many opportunities on the island according to its healthy population. For those chasing fame and glory in their fishing exploits, you’re going to want to head over to Vancouver Island. The island offers excellent bass fishing opportunities with hundreds of miles of Oceanside, lakes, and rivers; you can try bass fishing by kayak in Shawnigan Lake, Elk Lake, and so many other lakes. Spending a day on the lake is a great way to break from the norm, get some rest, enjoy relief from stress, and enjoy nature. Embarking on a trip focused on bass fishing takes respite to an entirely new level. You’ll find smallmouth bass fish, as well as largemouth and even the occasional whale sighting. Is, so it is no wonder that many anglers around the world enjoy this activity.

Shawnigan Lake, Quennell Lake, Thetis Lakes, Prospect Lake, Spider Lake, Langford Lake, Long Lake, Glen Lake, Holden Lake, Matheson Lake, St Mary Lake on Salt Spring Island and Elk Lake (including Beaver Lake) are famous lakes for bass fishing on Vancouver Island; Victoria is considered as one the popular cities for bass fishing too. Both off-shore and on-shore fishing are available in most of the locations.

Bass approximately can be found at most times of the year and the hours around dawn and dusk are considered the best time for bass fishing on Vancouver Island. Although midday is the best time for bass fishing efforts during late fall and early spring.
But which time of year you can find bass on Vancouver Island? Fall bass fishing, winter bass fishing and spring bass fishing on Vancouver Island have so many lovers among anglers.
And the best month for bass fishing on Vancouver Island starts from mid-June until mid-October.

With so many options for bait and lures, bass fishing has many lovers all over the world and, of course, on Vancouver Island.
Picking the ideal lure for a given situation is so important. Versatility is one of the important items that you should -consider while choosing lures and bait.
The Curl Tail Grub is an example of the best and most versatile lures necessary for a beginner's Bass tackle box. Stick baits are the most popular lures among pro bass anglers and are good for beginners, too; Cinnamon and green pumpkin are the most productive coloures.
The skirted Bass Jig or weedless is arguably a top 3 because of its versatility and popularity among the Bass fishing public. The other most useful lures that anglers prefer are included plastic worms, Spinnerbait, Rubber worms, Crankbaits, and Topwater Lures. But the legendary Stick Bait is still the most popular and fundamental Bass lure ever. Don't forget that fishing with a professional guide is the best way to develop your bass fishing skills and become a pro bass fisher.

Smallmouth bass is native to Eastern and Central North America and is mostly found through southern Vancouver Island. They are also commonly known as a "jumper" or "smallie," which most anglers recognize as trophy fish.
Smallmouth bass lives in freshwater systems, including streams, ponds, rivers, and reservoirs under cover of submerged logs and docks, gravel with little aquatic vegetation is another place that you may find them.
Smallmouth bass are a predator and feeds on smaller fish, amphibians, and aquatic insects. They are dormant in colder, deeper waters during the winter months and then return to feeding and spawning in shallower depths when waters warm.
Female Smallmouth bass can spawn several times in a year and produce up to 10,000 eggs, as long as water temperatures stay above 15 °C (59 °F).

The largemouth bass is native to Eastern North America. It was introduced as a stockfish in BC and now can be found throughout the many Vancouver Island lakes, including Elk Lake, Quennell Lake, Long Lake, Langford Lake and Shawnigan Lake.
Largemouth bass are preferred to live in clear waters and vegetated lakes, creeks and rivers. Largemouth bass habitually spawning in the areas that are covered with a firm bottom of sand, mud or gravel.
The length of largemouth usually reaches 40 cm, although the longest one that reported it was 97 cm.
Grown and adults largemouth bass feed on fish, crayfish and frogs. Young largemouth bass will feed on crustaceans, insects, and small fish. Largemouth bass rarely feeds during spawning or when the water temperature dips below 5 ᵒC (41 ᵒF) or above 37 ᵒC (98.6 ᵒF).

The method you choose to fish will depend on where you are, bass fishing does not require any special poles or lures, it does not require an immense amount of skill, and it also does not require that you take any deep-sea fishing trip unless you are fishing for sea bass. Bass is that kinds of fish that are easily attracted to both artificial lures and worms and other smaller baits, so they are highly recommended for people of all skill levels, ages, and means.

Jigging for bass uses a skirted jig with a plastic grub or craw imitation trailer that is worked along the bottom or reeled through the middle of the water column. Bass jigging is effective in both large and small bodies of water around the country.

Drift fishing is a useful way for bass fishing that can be used in any body of water, from lakes, rivers and streams to the deep ocean offshore. The idea is to let the current carry your bait and, allowing your bait to pass through the fishing grounds with ease. Although the boat motion will move the bait through the water, we use some weight to get the lures down. When done correctly, this technique has the potential to bring you everything from salmon and trout to tuna.

When bass fishing, this method holds your bait at a defined depth. Use a slip bobber in deeper water or when casting long distances to avoid casting issues created by the long length of line between the bobber and the hook. An overly large bobber may cause the bass to drop the bait.

According to the Government of Canada, if you catch any of the Aquatic species listed under the Species at Risk Act and protected by the Fisheries Act, you should immediately remove the hook from it and releasing where you catch it. If the fish is deeply hooked, hooked around the gills, or bleeding, you should improve its chances for survival by cutting the leader as close to the hook’s eye as possible and releasing it with the hook left in.

Effective fishing regulations can be a key factor component of healthful fisheries. It contains information about open seasons, recreational fishing licences, fishing methods and, catch limits, as well as up-to-date fishing regulations for diverse fishing areas.
• Using a fishing line to which more than one artificial fly is attached (i.e., to use “dropper flies”) is forbbiden. • Using light in any way to attract fish except the light is submerged and attached to the fishing line within 1 m of the hook is unlawful. • It is forbidden to fish with nets, including minnow nets, dip nets, cast nets, or gill nets. • Using barbed hooks or any hook with more than one point in all rivers, streams, creeks, or sloughs in B.C is prohibited. (Although the use of barbed hooks in lakes is allowed except the one noted in the Regional Water-Specific Regulations Tables).

• Keep boat launch areas clear to give all boaters equal access. Prepare your boat for launching away from the ramp to avoid creating unnecessary delays. • Don’t try boating and alcohol. You will need your complete reflexes to keep you, your boat, and other stream users safe. It’s unlawful to operate a boat while impaired. • Limit your speed (particularly when getting into corners) to keep away from collisions with other boaters, anglers, swimmers, and hidden obstacles. Respect the Universal Shoreline Speed Restriction of 10 k.ph within 30 metres of the shore. • Be careful when boating at dawn and dusk and in other conditions of limited light or visibility. • Refrain from running your boat through water being fished by way of others. Go slowly or drift by anglers along the shoreline. Be considerate of others. • Avoid sensitive habitats such as spawning areas, shallow water, and wildlife nesting or foraging areas. • Give animals crossing the river the space and time to do so. It’s unlawful to harass wildlife with a boat. • Pack out your garbage. Old fishing lines, litter, fuel, and oil damage fish habitat, endanger aquatic life and reduce water quality.

Mercury levels in larger Smallmouth Bass may exceed national guidelines in lakes on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Mercury levels tend to increase with fish size, and larger Smallmouth Bass have higher mercury levels. The general public is advised to limit their consumption of Smallmouth Bass, particularly children and women of childbearing age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women. HealthLinkBC Food Safety has more information on mercury in fish and fish consumption.