Bass Fishing Lakes In America

To find the best bass fishing lakes in America, you’ll need to make your way across most of the lower 48 states. Spread from the southern state of Texas to upper New England, America’s great bass fishing lakes offer a wide variety of fishing methods, opportunities, and surroundings for prospective anglers. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, you could tour like the pros and make an effort to get some time on the water at each one. But for most bass anglers, a fighting monster bass from just one of these legendary American fishing lakes will be enough.

1. Lake Champlain, Vermont. Located in northern New England, this American fishing lake is known for its massive size. It’s a natural body of water, formed by natural drainage from the ancient Adirondack Mountains. It holds over 81 species of fish – the most notable of which, for these purposes, is its population of impressively sized Largemouth Bass. The key to a bass fisherman’s success on Lake Champlain is access to a boat, and a mastery of slower, cold water presentations.
2. Lake Fork, Texas. For southern bass fishermen, Lake Fork is the cream of the crop when it comes to trophy fishing. In fact the state of Texas created the reservoir specifically as a premiere fishing and recreational body of water. Though the lake is subject to heavy fishing pressure, anglers still consistently pull largemouth as big as nine pounds in the active Spring and Fall months. For success on Lake Fork, try fishing the many small coves and inlets that are formed by the area’s hilly landscape. The bass tend to congregate in these sections, holding close to cover but aggressive to take natural looking plastic worms and crankbaits.
3. Lake Okeechobee, Florida. From above, Lake Okeechobee looks like a big hole punched straight through the center of Florida. Home to the almost mythical Florida Strain Largemouth Bass, this American lake is known for its shallow water and expansive hydrilla beds. The most exciting time to fish Lake Okechobee for bass is definitely Spring, as sight fishing methods for bedding bass are the dominant tactic. The most widely used baits for bass fishing on this lake are minnow mimickers, including spinnerbait, buzzbait, and spoons.
4. Table Rock Lake, Missouri. Tucked into the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Table Rock Lake is something of a hidden gem for Midwestern bass fishermen. Table Rock is often overshadowed by its more popular neighbor to the north (Ozark Lake), but experienced anglers agree that lower fishing pressure here equates to higher quality bass fishing overall. In addition to Largemouth bass, this mid-American lake also holds large populations of Kentucky (or Spotted) Bass and White Bass.