Nestled in the heart of Ontario’s lake country, Bass Lake is a popular 1,000-acre recreational lake just west of the town of Orillia. Only 60 miles from Toronto, the lake is an easy trek for a weekend getaway. Vacation rentals in the area are plentiful, many with lake frontage or spectacular lake views.

Bass Lake is located in the southeast corner of Oro-Medonte Township. The lake was formed more than 10,000 years ago when waves in post-glacial Lake Algonquin (which included all of Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior), pushed up a barrier beach along the north edge of present-day Bass Lake. As the water level slowly dropped, water in the deepest depressions remained, forming Bass Lake and many other lakes in the area. The North River now cuts through the barrier beach, into Bass Lake, and exists northeast to Matchedash Bay.

Beautiful Bass Lake Provincial Park sits on the western shore of Bass Lake. The 160-acre park offers visitors a boat launch and docking facilities, sandy beaches and swimming areas, picnic facilities, a children’s playground, hiking trails, and boat rentals. The park also features a large campground with electrical hook-ups. All sites have fire pits and picnic tables. Bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, water taps for fresh drinking water, and vault toilets are scattered throughout the campgrounds. A walking trail follows the shoreline of Bass Lake and allows guests to explore the remains of the homestead of Basil H. Rowe who settled near the lake in the 1830s.

All types of water sports can be enjoyed on Bass Lake. Canoes and kayaks are a common sight on the water; power boating, water skiing, jet-skiing, tubing, sailing, and windsurfing allow visitors to enjoy the lake at any speed. Bass Lake offers anglers some excellent fishing, and true to its namesake, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are the predominate species. Crappie, perch and sunfish can also be found in the lake.

Often called “cottage-country”, Bass Lake is located in an area rich with sparkling lakes and vacation rentals. Fishing resorts, bed-and-breakfasts, private cottages and luxurious lakeshore homes are plentiful. Towns around the lake offer motels, condos and other lodging. Over 60 percent of Bass Lake’s shoreline is developed, and real estate for purchase or rent is available in the pristine wilderness setting. With an average depth of 10 feet, Bass Lake is a great family lake for swimming and other forms of recreation.

Winter activities on Bass Lake include cross country skiing, showshowing, ice fishing and hiking. Bass Lake Provincial Park is open during the winter months and allows everything except snowmobiles.

The city of Orillia is just east of Bass Lake. Located on the shores of Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching, Orillia offers an abundance of outdoor recreation. Lake Simcoe is one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes that freezes completely in the winter. Because of this, Lake Simcoe is known as the “Ice Fishing Capital of North America”. For warmer fun, a casino, hotel, and entertainment complex operated by the First Nation Chippewa is located along the eastern shore of Lake Couchiching and is a popular tourist attraction. The Port of Orillia provides docking and launching facilities just a short distance from downtown where visitors can discover fascinating shops, enjoy showcase theater, superb dining, and historical sites. Paved walking trails can also be found throughout the city.

Hikers and bikers visiting Bass Lake will find a number of trails in the area including the Uthoff Trail from Orillia to Coldwater and the Lightfoot/Millennium Trail system in Orillia. Both trails are part of the Trans-Canada Trail. There are also several wildlife reserve/wetland areas with trail systems and boardwalks, including the Cowan Trail at Matchedash Bay and the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club trail near Bass Lake Park.

Located in the heart of central Ontario, the Bass Lake area is filled with beautiful lakes, fascinating attractions, and rolling hills. Try your hand at ice fishing in the winter or sunbathe and sail in the summer. Either way, Bass Lake is an outdoor paradise.

Local Waters
logging the miles
Belwood Lake Conservation Area Gate BB
Conestogo Lake Conservation Area
Fly Fishing Lesson - 2 Person on the Credit River II Resized
Lake Eugenia
Ferry Lake Acton Arial
Upper Grand River at the Second Line
Guelph-Correctional-Ponds
Guelph Lake Conservation Area Arial
Island Lake Conservation Area Orangeville Reservoir
Marden Park and Community Centre and Park Guelph Eramosa Township AA
Mountsberg Conservation Area
Puslinch Lake Little and Big
Robert Edmondson Conservation Area Sign AA
Rockwood Conservation Area
Shades Mills Conservation Area
Carp Speed River Confluence Eramosa Covered BridgeSV100516_01
Speed River Above the Hanlon Expressway
Valens Lake Conservation Area
Whiteman's Creek & Grand River Confluence
The Beaver River Thornbury River Mouth B
The Bighead River in Meaford Updtream from The Legion Hole Fall AA
The Bronte Creek or 12 Mile Creek Steelheading Upper Middle Road BBB
Credit River at Erindale Park above Dundas April 24th at 9am
Migratory - The Ganaraska River or The “Ganny” - Port Hope, Ontario
The Lower Grand River Below Caledonia Dam HH
The Nine Mile River Port Albert Ontario EEE
The Lower Maitland River
The Niagara River The Glenn BBBB
The Nottawaga River
The Sauble River at Sauble Falls BB
The Saugeen River at Denny's Dam at Summer levels.
Sixteen Mile Creek
Owen Sound Sydenham River AA
Migratory - Wilmot Creek - Clarington, Ontario
Local Freshwater Species
Ian 22 inch Grand River Brown Trout CC
Saugeen River Steelhead October 21st 2016AAA
Fairy Lake Crayfish March 2017AAA

Crayfish

Guelph Lake Largemouth Bass Ultra Tungsten 12 ounce Spinnerbait AAA

Largemouth Bass

Guelph Lake Rock Bass AAA

Rock Bass

Steve Silver Bass Hamilton AAA
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Smallmouth Bass

bluegill (2)

Bluegill

Bowfin
Guelph Lake Bulhead Catfish AAA
Carp on the Fly Rod Thames River

Common Carp

Catfish Rapala Centerpin Float Reel AA

Channel Catfish

Creek Chub

Creek Chub

Upper Grand River Horny Creek Chub AAA
Crappie through the Ice Guelph Lake AAA

Black Crappie

Steve Freshwater Sheephead Drum Hamilton DDD
Mooneye Fishing on the Lower Grand Rver BBB

Mooneye

Saugeen-River-Musky
Perch Guelph Lake Ice Fishing A
Longnose Gar Pike Kawarthas A
Northern Pike Chartreuse Trout Bead Okuma Raw Float Reel Resized

Northern Pike

Upper Grand River Walleye on a Bead Head Nymph AA
Jim Boni Atlantic Salmon Petite Cascapedia 22lbs AAA.13
Early Lake Huron Chinook Salmon on the Centerpin Float Rod AAA
Coho-Salmon-Lamson-Fly-Reel

Coho Salmon

Common Shiner AA
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Steelhead

Sucker Float Centerpin Fishing Mad River Bead Raven Fixed Float BB

White Sucker

Sunfish and a Berkley Pink Worm

Sunfish

Waterworks Lamson Force Grand River Second Year Brown Trout AA

Brown Trout

Lake Trout Lake Simcoe Pearl XZone Swammer

Lake Trout

Resident Upper Saugeen Rainbow Trout BB
Brook Speckled Trout Erin Ontario CC
White Fish Lake Simcoe Gold Cotton Cordell CC Spoon Resized for Web

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