ErieCan Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 I fish the waters of Ontario Canada, and we used to go fish the American side of the upper Niagara before our season opened. This always made me wonder why our season was the way it is. (Opens the 4th Saturday of June, when the bass are done spawning). I'm not sure about the regs in all States, but it seems like you can fish bass all year in most places. I know male bass will guard the nest (eggs/fry), and they say that pulling them off the nest leaves their young open to predators. But it seems that you all have fairly healthy bass populations down there, so is fishing them during/post spawn really that detrimental? For 2021, they are opening a short pre-spawn "catch and release only" season in one of the Ontario management zones. Probably an experiment. Some areas here are completely closed to all fishing from around mid May until the season opens at the end of June. Mind you, that's probably the reason it's such a good fishery, but as stated, the US has good fisheries as well with year round seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCG Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 I live in south west Ontario, I feel your pain. I fish for bluegill, carp, catfish, pike and trout before bass season opens. Not huge into any of those species, but I love being on the water and fishing. Like you said parts of America seem to have a full open bass season and they do well with conservation. Hope it changes but not holding my breath. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted April 10, 2021 Super User Share Posted April 10, 2021 Minnesota closes bass from end of February until the middle of May...pike and walleye are also closed that same period. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErieCan Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 1 hour ago, LCG said: I live in south west Ontario, I feel your pain. I fish for bluegill, carp, catfish, pike and trout before bass season opens. Not huge into any of those species, but I love being on the water and fishing. Like you said parts of America seem to have a full open bass season and they do well with conservation. Hope it changes but not holding my breath. Same, I fish Erie and the bays. Can catch 5lb and under pike all day long. Keeps the fishing bug in check at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted April 10, 2021 Global Moderator Share Posted April 10, 2021 Here in Michigan it was catch and release from (I believe the third Saturday in in April) then catch and keep the third Saturday in May. Now, it’s catch and release until the third Saturday (again I believe) until the third Saturday in May. Basically catch and release (which is all I do) all year long which makes me happy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted April 10, 2021 Super User Share Posted April 10, 2021 Back in the ‘50’s California had statewide opening days for trout fishing May 1st and Black bass fishing June 1st. With 10 fish limits, 25 for panfish (Bluegill or Crappie). Today no opening day for Black Bass, limit is 5 fish. Trout still has a few counties along the Eastern Sierra with May 1st opening day. Bass are on their own to spawn and survive. Some lakes have off limit spawning zones, very few. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User soflabasser Posted April 10, 2021 Super User Share Posted April 10, 2021 Every place is different so regulations cannot be exactly the same everywhere. Florida gets lots of fishing pressure from locals, people from other states, people from other countries, yet the bass fishing is still world class. In Florida you can fish for bass whenever you want which is great. The bass here grow fast and are very plentiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 10, 2021 Global Moderator Share Posted April 10, 2021 Fishing for bass when they are spawning is the worst time of year for me, but I still go. I like fishing for bass that are eating Also our bass spawn from about late April into June and you can't really ever see them sooooo....... Its basically a month or two out of the year when fish don't bite much. They can obviously still be captured and you can always find fish that haven't started or are done. But in my opinion, I'd rather fish any other time of year. Between spawning fish and once a year type crowds, I prefer any other season to spring time. Spawn: the most overhyped word in fishing 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cdn Angler Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Bass fishing in the USA is more of a developed "sport" so they make it possible to catch them while spawning. Basically from political pressure. Canada we are conservative due to cold weather/less pressure from tournament fishing. People can try for trout/crappie/perch/pike/muskie/walleye until bass season starts and spawning ends. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishingtx Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 2 hours ago, MN Fisher said: Minnesota closes bass from end of February until the middle of May...pike and walleye are also closed that same period. Here in Texas we can fish all year round for every legal species. Not that I fish for any species other than bass. Private lakes or clubs may have rules. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulVE64 Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 They grow slow in Ontario! Very sad to see 4# bass tossed and left on the bank in the spring by some Idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Darth-Baiter Posted March 9, 2023 Super User Share Posted March 9, 2023 On 4/9/2021 at 5:32 PM, MN Fisher said: Minnesota closes bass from end of February until the middle of May...pike and walleye are also closed that same period. hard to argue the fact that your fisheries are off the hook fantastic. my friend moved there and he hated it his first year, but when he was pulling in bass after bass after bass, he thinks the system works. plus he visits family in Ohio during the closed season to get his fix. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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