How to catch Bass on the Niagara River

Fishing for smallmouth is fun on the Niagara River in the spring, summer and fall, offering hard fights and the chance at a personal best fish.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing on the Niagara River

For those visiting the Niagara river area and fishing, smallmouth bass are one of the most consistent species to catch, regardless of the time of year.

While there are miles of Upper and Lower Niagara shoreline to explore from shore, getting out on a boat certainly offers advantages if you want to find the mother-load of smallmouth bass.

The Niagara River is known for its beautiful scenery and water, with a constant fast flow of oxygenated water that fuels great fishing for many species. Smallmouth bass are no exception and can be caught on many different fishing lures and presentations throughout the year. Here are the best lures and baits to catch bass on the Niagara River.

Dropshot Rig for Niagara River Smallmouth Bass

Drop-shotting is the best way to catch bass on the Niagara River. This rig allows you to use a heavy drop-shot weight to get down in the fast current, and present a bait that imitates a minnow, goby, or leech.

Because bass on the Niagara River feed on a variety of food sources, the dropshot is versatile and effective at fooling even the most stubborn fish.

Running a size 2 to 1/0 drop-shot hook, and a 1/4 to 1 oz weight depending on current speed will get you to the fish. Generally, an 18 inch length between your sinker and the hook is a good place to start, as fish hide behind rocks to rest. Adjust as needed.

When fishing a drop shot rig on the Niagara River, it is important to not overwork your bait. In the fast current, the bait is naturally going to have action as it skips over rocks.

There are many colours that work well when fishing a dropshot on the Niagara River. Blacks and green-pumpkin work well in the summer for smallmouth bass, while more smoke, grey, or green emerald shiner colours are the best when fishing smallmouth bass on the Niagara river in the spring or fall.

Tube Jig for Bass

A classic bait for Niagara River bass fishing is the salted tube jig.

Salt tubes imitate crayfish and gobies which are favourite forage for smallmouth bass on the Niagara River.

Tube jigs for bass are a simple way to get to fish and are not difficult to fish effectively, making them a great bait for beginners to catch trophy fish.

Tube jigs that range from 1/4 to 1/2 oz are popular on the Upper Niagara River and jigs that are 3/8 to 3/4 are best for bass fishing on the Lower Niagara River.

There are main colour patterns that are best at different times of the year depending on what the bass are foraging on. In the spring, blacks, or smoke are best when fish are eating minnows, while in the summer time, green pumpkins and coppers are good when smallmouth are feeding on crawfish and gobies.

When there is stained water on the Niagara River, black and blue tubes work well as does two-tone chartruse.

Swimbaits for Niagara River Bass

There are times where swimbaits are great for fishing bass on the Niagara River.

When the water cools off, bass push towards rocky shorelines on the river and feed heavily on minnows and gobies living amongst the rocks.

Swimbaits in 1/4 to 3/8 ounces are good baits to catch bass on the Niagara River.

Spring and fall are the best times to throw these moving baits as fish are aggressive in cold water along the shorelines.

Any colour that imitates a minnow in the 3 to 5 inch range will work for bass, depending on the water clarity.

If fishing around deeper drop-offs, it is also possible to catch walleye and trout while throwing swimbaits on the Niagara River.

Jerkbaits for Niagara River Bass

The Niagara River offers many calm areas called “eddies” where fish seek shelter from fast current, and feed heavily.

Fishing with a jerkbait is a great way to catch aggressive fish that want to chase fleeing baitfish in and around slow water pockets.

Fishing on the Upper Niagara River for bass can be great using jerkbaits around many of the rocky stretches of shoreline.

Using a jerkbait that dives to the right depth based on where you are fishing is important. Generally, a jerkbait that dives from 4 to 8 feet is a good starting bait.

My favourite jerkbaits are a Nishine LureWorks Erie SD115 which dives to 6 feet, or a Rapala Shadow Rap which gets down to 10 feet on a long cast.

Regardless of the jerkbait or time of year you are fishing, it is important to use the correct rod, reel and line, or your shoulders and forearms will be dissapointed!

Spinning and baitcast setups in the 6’6” to 7’2” range are ideal, with a fast tip, and medium power to allow for long casting and effective action on the jerkbait.

Go Fishing on the Niagara River for Bass

Want to experience great fishing for bass on the Niagara River?

Spring, summer and fall, I offer fully guided fishing experiences on the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and would love to meet you.

Check out the Hooked on Niagara website to learn more.

Get outside and go fishing.