Lakes.  Most of the year, the rivers near me are shallow enough to walk across without getting your shoes wet.  

6 hours ago, Brent Christian said:

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

River anyday

Around my neck of the woods not many lakes have smallmouth and largemouth (or at least in plenty)

My preference in order is,

 

1. Pond

2. River

3. Lake

 

I prefer ponds (especially the secluded variety) above all because it's incredibly easy to locate and catch bass. I'm not obsessed with size at all (although some of the biggest bass are caught in secluded ponds); I'm all about numbers and fun; size is secondary.

 

Next would be streams (again the secluded variety) because I like to go wading and take it all in. 

 

I'd rather pleasure boat and swim in a lake than fish in a lake.

5 hours ago, scaleface said:

I think rivers are easier to pattern .

 

My favorite is a pond and then a lake. I do enjoy fishing rivers, especially the Susquehanna and the Delaware but they are not easy to pattern because they change after each big storm. 

Primarily a lake fisherman but I'm building a small jon to explore our shallow rivers. Really looking forward to chasing some Shoal bass.

I Don't Care ?

 

Ya didn't mention marshes or swamps!

 

If it holds bass, I'm happy, happy, happy!

Fishing the river is a little more work because it's usually floating from point A to point B but the fishing is fantastic, especially smallmouth. 

Probably choose a small lake though. 

5 hours ago, Catt said:

I Don't Care ?

 

Ya didn't mention marshes or swamps!

 

If it holds bass, I'm happy, happy, happy!

 

Marshes & Swamps. ?

I love anywhere that holds fish. But at heart, I am a river guy. 

I usually fish alone and by kayak, and lakes are much easier for me to get in and out of. So I fish lakes most often. 

 

But I always make time for some river float trips each year because they are always an adventure, and in the middle of the summer, they often outfish the lakes.

 

Also, if fishing from shore, the rivers in my area are much easier to fish than the lakes, as they have more public shoreline, while the lakes usually have just one public access point, with the rest privately owned (except for a small park, in some cases).

 

 

Rivers 110%. Around me they are by far the best option for size and numbers of fish. The fact that they're brown bass doesnt hurt either!

22 hours 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 

That’s what I was thinking.  By my definition the lower end of the reservoir is a lake and the upper end is a river.  Exactly where the river becomes a lake is one of life’s great mysteries.

40 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

That’s what I was thinking.  By my definition the lower end of the reservoir is a lake and the upper end is a river.  Exactly where the river becomes a lake is one of life’s great mysteries.

It’s all just water! How you feeling buddy? 

I like fishing lakes, but I like rivers when I'm going after smallies.

From shore, rivers and streams. From a boat....can't answer yet, not enough data.

Reservoirs

Great Lakes > big inland lakes > small inland lakes > reservoirs > large rivers with pools that fish like lakes > ponds w/a kayak > small rivers

On 5/1/2022 at 9:28 PM, NavyToad said:

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. 

I live in Falling Waters and almost exclusively fish the Potomac River.

River rat here.

8 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

River rat here.

Yeah buddy!!!!!!

On 5/1/2022 at 11:20 PM, Dogface said:

 

My favorite is a pond and then a lake. I do enjoy fishing rivers, especially the Susquehanna and the Delaware but they are not easy to pattern because they change after each big storm. 

I avoid rivers when they are high , muddy and swift . 

11 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I avoid rivers when they are high , muddy and swift . 

Those can be pretty good conditions ! Some years the TN river is high muddy and swift for several consecutive months, like 2019, 2020, and 2021. The pickwick bass elite series event last year was a good example 

I think Steve was spinnerbaiting 5 lb smallies right there . I’ve seen him do the same thing on the Alabama river with 5 lb spotted bass 

Another "500 year" flood?

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Another "500 year" flood?

Ha! Biannually 

I'm a river rat. I like em shallow for the most part but any will do. Lakes are easier for me. I always seem to do better on those but it's the moving water that calls to me.