There are some amazing bass fisheries across the country, but there are a handful of legendary venues that stand out from the crowd. These fisheries are special, and in addition to just the fishing itself, they offer more with great scenery, towns built with the angler in mind, and should be on every bass angler’s “bucket list” of lakes to fish.
While many more could have been mentioned, these eight fisheries are places everyone should fish at least once in their lives.
Clear Lake, California
Clear Lake is no secret and has been kicking out big bass for many years, but it’s taken that up a notch recently as the lake is as healthy as ever. What makes this lake so special is that the bass are healthy, fat, and just about everywhere you look. The lake is also very diverse, and you can catch bass just about any way that you like, and the fishing is good twelve months of the year.
It’s also a scenic lake with rolling hills and vineyards surrounding much of it. Clear Lake is all populated with houses along the shore in many areas, as well as in canals, which means plenty of docks for you to target. No matter when you can make it to Clear Lake, you can expect good fishing and a chance for a fish of a lifetime.
Lake Okeechobee, Florida
While the “Big O” has seen its ups and downs with less vegetation at times, water level changes, and more, it’s still a must-visit for any serious bass angler. What makes the lake so special is its history in bass fishing: it has been a popular destination and tournament venue for many years, and it is also home to fishing royalty, Roland and Scott Martin.
Speaking of the Martins, the Roland Martin Marina and Resort in Clewiston is a great place to stay and be in the center of bass fishing. You’re sure to see plenty of other anglers as you launch, fish, eat, and hang out there during your trip.
Lake Fork, Texas
Like some other lakes on the list, Lake Fork is worth a trip just for the atmosphere around it. It’s all about bass fishing here, and you are likely to see many of the other bass boats at the tackle stores, restaurants, lodges, and more. The community around the lake is built for the angler, plus the lake itself is home to giant bass.
The famed lake is full of timber and can be a little overwhelming to someone coming out of town with their own boat, but thankfully, countless guides would be willing to take you out for a day. It’s a lake that gets tons of fishing pressure, but still kicks out massive bass every year.
Lake Guntersville, Alabama
The entire TVA chain of lakes could make this list, but Guntersville stands out from its neighbors because it continues to pump out bass, no matter how many lures these bass see. It’s a healthy lake with abundant grass and high-quality bass habitat.
There is no wrong time to go to Guntersville, as it fishes well throughout the year, but summer and fall can be great, as it’s one of the best lakes in the country to throw a frog over vegetation. No matter when you make it to Alabama, fishing Lake Guntersville should be a requirement.
Santee Cooper, South Carolina
Made up of two lakes, Marion and Moultrie, Santee Cooper is a cypress forest and holds some very large bass. The two lakes combined make a pretty large fishery, and much of it is very swampy, making it ideal bass habitat, the thing that keeps anglers coming back.
The lakes are also home to professional-level tournaments and have been in the record books for largest winning weights, biggest bass ever weighed in, and more at one time or another. While the lake can be intimidating, the allure of big bass keeps anglers returning for more, and it’s something that every bass angler needs to experience at least once.
St. Lawrence River, New York
If you like smallmouth, the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario belong on your list. The waters are big, and the bronzebacks are just as massive, and you are likely to have solid action from hard-fighting smallmouth any time you visit.
Besides just the fishing, the entire area around the river is full of fun and great sights. The fishery is also known as “Thousand Islands,” and there really are islands everywhere, big and small. Some even have castles built on them, which is something you don’t see very often, especially as you cast for bass.
Sam Rayburn, Texas
“Big Sam” is a massive lake that is full of bass. It’s another lake that can make the list just for its storied history in bass fishing, but it’s also a quality lake where the chance to catch a giant bass is always there. It’s another community that caters to the bass angler, as tackle shops, lodges, and tackle stores are all over the place.
In addition to vast timberlands, vegetation is abundant, and the lake is fertile and healthy, just like its neighbor to the east, Toledo Bend Reservoir. The two lakes are close enough that you can knock off two “bucket list” lakes in one trip, and both places are excellent fisheries that all bass anglers should make a trip to.
Lake Havasu, Arizona
The desert may seem barren to some, but it holds its own beauty, and Lake Havasu (and the entire Colorado River chain of lakes) is breathtaking. The mountains are a unique backdrop as you fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Compared to the other lakes on the chain, Lake Havasu definitely has more action as the entire city revolves around the lake, which makes it a boater’s paradise. Because of this, it can get quite busy at times, but the bass will bite anytime you get there. For something different than the norm, Lake Havasu deserves a spot on this list.
There are many great bass fisheries in America, but these eight legendary places are unique in their own way. Besides the great fishing, each offers more for the angler, and every bass angler should jump at the chance to fish any of them.
