What does everyone like to fish? River or lake? I myself like fishing the rivers.  Just for the fact less boats.

Both. Probably more so lakes because of the accessibility with a larger boat. The rivers I fish are small and shallow, so the only way to access them is with a small craft like a canoe, kayak, or Jon boat. But the rivers are where the hard fighting brown bass reside and they are aggressive in midsummer, so I go there.

 

I do generally agree that rivers have less pressure. At least here they do.

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Both. Probably more so lakes because of the accessibility with a larger boat. The rivers I fish are small and shallow, so the only way to access them is with a small craft like a canoe, kayak, or Jon boat. But the rivers are where the hard fighting brown bass reside and they are aggressive in midsummer, so I go there.

 

I do generally agree that rivers have less pressure. At least here they do.

I fish the ohio river and it's a pretty big river.  Actually caught a smaller this morning.

Lakes..The shallower, weedier and dirtier the better. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

Lakes/ponds - I don't have much of a chance to fish rivers though I did years ago...time element getting to a launch point is the main reason.

 

2 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Lakes..The shallower, weedier and dirtier the better. 
Mike

I just want to see some trees in the water - around here they clear out all the laydowns...million dollar homeowners with lakeshore property don't want that 'unsightly' mess in their lake.

Grew up on the Mississippi and the Rock River. Love those rivers. More of a river guy 

I fish more lakes but enjoy rivers too, esp. the St Johns.

I like ponds. Small lakes are cool too

Every time this question comes up, I get in trouble for saying rivers and lakes are one and the same in my area 

46 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I just want to see some trees in the water - around here they clear out all the laydowns...million dollar homeowners with lakeshore property don't want that 'unsightly' mess in their lake.

I feel your pain!!!! I gripe about this all the time, but for a good reason. I love catching bass shallow but what kind of a bass wants to hang out along a structureless shoreline where the lawn goes right to the water and geese poop everywhere? I want to see some laydowns, lily pads, and reeds next to shore.

Ponds and small lakes only because that's what's readily available to me and what I've focused on for 20+ years. I have done some small river fishing for small mouth over the years and enjoyed the challenge of looking for current breaks and presenting a lure correctly in moving water.

I like fishing where the fish are biting,

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Lakes/ponds - I don't have much of a chance to fish rivers though I did years ago...time element getting to a launch point is the main reason.

 

I just want to see some trees in the water - around here they clear out all the laydowns...million dollar homeowners with lakeshore property don't want that 'unsightly' mess in their lake.

My neighbor down at the lake got a little perturbed at me for stacking some logs next to my dock. I just moved them to the other side where she wouldn’t see them haha

Lakes for me. 

I like them both equally . I think rivers are easier to pattern .

Rivers

 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Every time this question comes up, I get in trouble for saying rivers and lakes are one and the same in my area 

Oh you’re in big trouble now, mister 

2 hours ago, Brent Christian said:

I fish the ohio river and it's a pretty big river.  Actually caught a smaller this morning.

Definitely. Some of the big river systems fish more like lakes to be honest. The river I primarily fish is a shallow, rocky, swifter-moving river that really does fish like a river.

Much the same reason as @MN Fisher I do prefer lake and pond over river. Plus I live closer to them than the river.

 The one with more biting fish.

38 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Oh you’re in big trouble now, mister 

Haha! There is one (1) natural lake In the entire state of Tennessee. It is called reelfoot lake and was formed by massive earthquake in the 1800s that caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards. I want to say I have heard that it gets shallower and shallower every day so it probably won’t exist for another couple hundred years

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Haha! There is one (1) natural lake In the entire state of Tennessee. It is called reelfoot lake and was formed by massive earthquake in the 1800s that caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards. I want to say I have heard that it gets shallower and shallower every day so it probably won’t exist for another couple hundred years

We're the reverse here.

 

Of the 11,842 lakes of 10 acres and larger in Minnesota (if, like Wisconsin, you don't put a size limit on...it goes to over 20,000) - not including the 'Pools' of the Mississippi caused by damming, only 2 are man-made and one is a private lake for a housing development.

Lakes and ponds are my go too. For whatever reason that is what I’m drawn to and fish the most 

If I have more than a couple hours I am hitting the river, otherwise I am going with lakes.  A big part of that too is I prefer catching smallies and I won't get those unless I am on the rivers so that is what I go for most of the time.  

 

 

One of my brothers lived on the Potomac at Falling Waters for 20+ years. I’ve lived on a lake for the last 23 years. I’d rather fish the Potomac with my brother.