Ottawa River

Ottawa River

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Species: Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Muskellunge, Pike, Shad, Walleye/Pickerel

Location: Ontario/Quebec

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Length: 1,271 km

Why we chose it:

In 2012, ranked #18 in all-time hot spots

The Ottawa is one big, diverse river, ranging from semi-wilderness to, well, Parliament Hill. Most freshwater species can be found throughout the river, but the upper and middle reaches are better known for smallmouth and walleye. Where the lower river widens into a lake, however, its weedy (and under-fished) bays produce lunker bass, as well as muskies up to 50 pounds. For something different, there are also shad and hawg drum to be had, as well as a hot spring bite for crappies.

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In 2010, Muskie; The next world record is likely to come from here

When to fish: The action is hottest in fall.

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Where to fish: Focus on typical muskie habitat near Arnprior.

Tip: Troll big baits and be patient.

—Brent McNamee, co-founder and vice-president of marketing for BoaterExam.com

Largemouth bass; Good numbers of fish and lots of typical bucketmouth habitat

When to fish: All season

Where to fish: Focus on shallow back bays, such as Lochaber and Noire, and main rive weedlines and rock points.

Tip: Throw frogs on heavy tackle in back bays earlier in the season, then flip Strike King Coffee Tubes to weedlines and skirted jigs to rock points in the fall.

—John Noel, owner of Principle Outdoors Agency

Crappie; Good numbers

When to fish: Ice-out until early May is best.

Where to fish: Focus in and around old cattails and submerged trees on the stretch between Ottawa and Montreal.

Tip: Toss small jigs tipped with grubs, crappie niblets or maggots under floats.

—Marc Thorpe, walleye and muskie guide based in Terrebonne, Quebec, tournament angler and pro staffer with Princecraft

Drum; Big fish

When to fish: June is prime.

Where to fish: Key in on the dam at Carillon.

Tip: Use a basic bait rig tipped with frozen shrimp, or try a Hopkins jigging spoon

—Ben Woo, an event producer and the president of the Berkley B1 Canadian Bass Open

Shad; Great spring migration

When to fish: The end of May through June is prime.

Where to fish: Just below the Pie IX bridge.

Tip: Cast locally available shad darts across the current.

—Marc Thorpe, walleye and muskie guide based in Terrebonne, Quebec, tournament angler and pro staffer with Princecraft

In 2009, Largemouth bass; Big fish

When to fish: The action is great all summer long.

Where to fish: Look for bays with thick vegetation.

Tip: Flip a 10-inch PowerBait Worm or burn a frog on heavyweight baitcasting equipment.

—Anthony Badham, Quebec/Maritimes Territory Manager at Pure Fishing Canada

In 2008, Muskie; One of the top five muskie waters in Canada

When to fish: Summer through fall.

Where to fish: Weed edges and break lines near the town of Plantagenet.

Tip: Rip or troll big jerkbaits.

—Pete Bowman, Mike Miller & Angelo Viola, hosts of the Fish’n Canada Show

Largemouth bass; Big, hard-hitting fish

When to fish: Summer.

Where to fish: Lily pad patches along the shoreline.

Tip: Fish topwater Moss Bosses or SaladSpoons, or try a worm along the weedline.

—Mark Krupa, host of Hooked with Mark Krupa