Largemouth Bass Fishing on Ontario’s Grand River
When most anglers think of the Grand River, they picture its fast riffles, rocky pools, and hard-fighting smallmouth bass — but venture into the slower, weedier stretches downstream, and you’ll find another predator waiting: the largemouth bass. Often overlooked on this famous Ontario waterway, the Grand’s largemouth population thrives in quiet backwaters, side channels, and reservoirs that offer thick cover and warm, shallow habitat. For anglers who love the visual strike of a topwater hit or the solid thump of a jig under a dock, this river holds some real surprises.
The Grand’s lower reaches, especially around Brantford, Caledonia, and Dunnville, are tailor-made for largemouth bass. Here, the river widens and slows, resembling a chain of small lakes more than a flowing stream. Cattails, lily pads, fallen timber, and submerged weeds create endless ambush spots for big bucketmouths. These sections produce largemouths in the 2- to 4-pound range on a regular basis, and trophy-size fish are not uncommon for anglers who know where to look.
Timing is everything. In late spring, largemouths move into the shallows to spawn. During this period, sight-fishing along warm, protected bays can be exciting — soft plastics, creature baits, and floating worms are deadly. As summer heats up, bass slide under cover to escape the sun. Flipping jigs into thick weeds, skipping soft stickbaits beneath overhanging branches, or working a frog over pads can draw explosive strikes. In autumn, they feed heavily to bulk up for winter, hitting spinnerbaits and shallow cranks along weed edges.
Fishing for largemouths on the Grand is a slower, more methodical game compared to chasing smallmouths in the rapids. It’s about precision and patience — placing your lure right in their strike zone, then waiting for that unmistakable thump. A light breeze on the surface, a patch of shade under a log, or a pocket of current can make all the difference.
What makes this fishery truly special is its accessibility. The same parks and access points that serve smallmouth anglers also connect you to largemouth territory. Launch a kayak near Wilkes Dam, drift toward Caledonia, or explore the quiet back channels near Dunnville, and you’ll discover miles of water loaded with structure.
There’s something satisfying about hooking a largemouth in the current — the fight is deliberate, powerful, and unpredictable. They’ll bulldog into weeds, turn for cover, and test every knot in your line. And when you finally bring one to hand, that wide-jawed grin and green-gold sheen make it all worthwhile.
The Grand River might not be the first place that comes to mind for largemouth bass, but that’s part of its magic. It rewards anglers who slow down, explore, and pay attention to the details. Whether you’re a weekend fisherman or a seasoned pro, this river has plenty of hidden largemouth gems waiting to be found.
Top Grand River Hotspots for Largemouth Bass
🎯 Cambridge to Brantford
- Baits: Wacky worms, 1/4 oz jigs, spinnerbaits
- Tips: Cast tight to cover — fallen trees, weedlines, or shoreline brush.
- Access: Riverside Park in Cambridge, and stretches near Glen Morris.
🎯 Brantford to Caledonia
- Baits: Texas-rigged plastics, topwater frogs, chatterbaits
- Tips: Fish mornings or cloudy days near vegetation edges.
🎯 Caledonia to Dunnville
- Baits: Lipless crankbaits, jigs with trailers, jerkbaits
- Tips: Focus on submerged timber and shallow reeds. Summer topwater can be electric.
Best Times to Fish
- Late May–June: Spawn and post-spawn — use slow plastics and sight-fishing techniques.
- July–August: Fish early or late with topwater frogs or buzzbaits.
- September–October: Bass feed heavily before cooling temps; crankbaits and jerkbaits shine.
Where to Buy Bait & Tackle
- Catch’em Bait & Tackle (Kitchener) — large selection of bass plastics.
- H & H Tackle (Brantford) — live bait and topwater gear.
- Riverside Bait & Tackle (Brantford) — near Caledonia and lower Grand spots.
Pro Tips for Largemouth Bass on the Grand River
- Target structure — bass love cover like laydowns, docks, and thick weeds.
- Use weedless rigs to fish heavy vegetation.
- Match lure color to the water — darker colors in muddy water, natural tones in clear water.
- Try topwater lures at sunrise and sunset for explosive strikes.
Final Word
Largemouth bass are the heavy hitters of the Grand River. From flipping jigs in weed mats to working topwater frogs in calm bays, you’ll find countless ways to catch these aggressive fish. The lower Grand especially produces trophy-sized largemouths every summer — it’s time to chase yours.
