Largemouth: The Weedbed Game
Largemouth own the shallow, weedy upper bay and back bays. Docks, milfoil beds, and reed edges near Trenton, Belleville, and Hay Bay hold heavy fish all summer.
Texas-rigged soft plastics shine here because they slide through weeds without snagging. Locals run 50-pound braid with a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader and flip craws and creature baits into the thick stuff.
Smallmouth: The Rock Game
Smallmouth are the bay's muscle. They hold on rocky shoals, points, and river mouths, especially toward the deeper, clearer eastern reaches. Tube jigs, drop-shot rigs, and crankbaits along rock-to-sand edges all produce. Early morning is prime in summer heat.
Seasons and Size
Bass season on the bay opens the third Saturday in June. Serious tournaments run here every year, which tells you the average size is real. Four-pound smallmouth won't raise an eyebrow at a Quinte weigh-in.
If you're new to the bay, start with wind-blown rocky points for smallmouth and the nearest thick weedline for largemouth. You'll find fish fast. Need a ramp? See boat launches and marinas.