Best Fishing State

[Unknownwaters]

I am in my early 20s and soon will be having to make some pretty huge life changing decisions regarding what I want my career in, romance, and all sorts of other stuff (talk about a stressful time). One thing I know very little about is good bass fishing states. I currently live in Georgia and find it to be a great overall fishing state. From walleye in deep mountain reserviors to trophy spots,largemouths, and coastal fishing, the only thing it seems to lack is a productive smallmouth bass fishing lake (spots have all but pushed them out of the state because of illegal stockings of the fish). I never really considered living in another state,but the potential job market might take me to other places. So i was just wondering, what other good fishing states are there?

[MarkH024]

Northern states will present better smallmouth fishing, northern pike, musky. Fish that you generally wont find in south in abudunce if at all. On the flip side, LMB don't get nearly as big up in the north like they do in the south. By North i'm referring to IL, WI, MN, Michigan and alike states. South is Kentucky and below. I guess it boils down to what are you wanting to target mostly? There is good fishing in any state for the most part, it just depends on what you are going for. Minnesota is a great fishing state along with Wisconsin. I have never really fished Michigan but from what I hear it's a wonderful state too. Plus us Midwesterners have all the Great Lakes at our finger tips which presents a huge array of fishing opportunities.

[fishking247]

What type of fishing do you want to do? if you want a good overall state north carolina is boss. coastal stripers, drum, offshore fishing (shark, tuna, etc) then you have some big largemouth, smallmouth and up in the mountains you have great trout fishing.

don't overlook northern fishing for largemouth. i live in southeastern new york (long island) and while we don't get consistent 10-12's if you put your time in you can get quite a few 4-6's. anything above 7 is considered a "trophy" i have heard of a handful of 9's and even a few 10's by me. i have great largemouth fishing here, perch, some walleye and smallies and a few OK trout streams. then you have the atlantic ocean, long island sound, and various bays, harbors and rivers for striped bass, bluefish, porgies, blackfish, sea bass, cod. you also have the sportfishing capital of the world also known as montauk point. More people saltwater fish around here but there is a pretty good freshwater crowd as well.the problem with Long Island, well actually everywhere is more people and more people wishing which means more fishing pressure and the "bucket brigade" keeping every fish from 3"-10lbs

i am in my early 20's as well and while i do love it here, the cost of living is plain ridiculous i can't see myself being here when i am 30

[MarkH024]

i am in my early 20's as well and while i do love it here, the cost of living is plain ridiculous i can't see myself being here when i am 30

Don't move to IL, or Chicago area. It's just as bad unless you want to live in a trailer park or some awful neighborhood. Property tax, Gas, food, electric...its all through the roof here.

[retiredbosn]

I've been fortunate enough to live on or near world class fishing all of my life. The New River in WV for smallies, now I'm within an hour of Santee Cooper, Murray and Clarks Hill Resevoir, all of which are known for one specie or another, Cats in Santee, Stripers in Murray and Clarks Hill, LMB in all three. I think the previous poster is right, you can find good fishing no matter where you end up. Example although I lived on the New River I didn't fish it a lot, being local I knew other places that didn't get the pressure and had great fishin. I knew of a small local lake that routinely produced double digit lmb, and in a state where the record is 12lbs that is saying something. So I had the opportunity to catch some really big lmb in a state better known for smallies and native trout. The move here to SC has thrown off my catch rate, I don't know all the areas, but the challenge is learning and exploring all that is available now. Focus on what is most important to you, career or whatever move there, you will find good fishin where ever that may be. BTW I've lived in GA, SC, NC, VA, WV, PA and have found good fishing in all areas. Up north LMB just aren't as big as they are in Dixie, then again states like TN have good numbers and size of all freshwater bass. Then also the ice and winter up north curtails fishing for that period, I have never ice fished, just don't like the cold enough to go out on the ice drill a hole, put up a shelter and start a fire. I think instead of looking at what areas are best, look at what areas you can fish your strengths.

[SirSnookalot]

Go where the money is.........you can catch fish anyplace.

[BASSclary]

If I had the chance, (and a stable job), I would without a doubt move to the eastern coast of North Carolina. The fishing is plentiful, and your right there to do some salty stuff as well.

I also really like the lifestyle accompanied by certain areas of the state.

[Lund Explorer]

Go where the money is.........you can catch fish anyplace.

Agreed! It's harder to find a place to work/live where the pay is good and the climate is agreeable. Take advantage of what is swimming in your home waters and use your vacations to explore other parts of the country for what they have to offer.

[shimmy]

obviously depends on what you want. In my opinion, if size of bass is not an issue, go to Minnesota. Easiest place in my opinion to catch 5 and 6 pounders and ridiculous amounts of fish, so many unpressured waters, and rated one of the best places to live.

[Sam]

Louisiana.

From the gulf to the marsh through the bayous and then the rivers and lakes, Louisiana has it all.

And then there are others:

Florida - What more can you say about a state that has an excellent fishing pedegriee.

Texas - Big state with some big fish.

California - Outstanding fishing for both salt and freshwater species.

However, from a logistics point of view, you can travel all over Louisiana and touch on Texas and Mississippi and go after many species of fish within a two days drive from Venice up to Shreveport and from Lake Charles to Ruston.

When you add into the formula that the food is great; the women beautiful; cajun country breathtaking; the football outstanding; lots of great hunting; and Mardi Gras in the French Quarter, it just does not get better than that.

Remember....Come to Louisiana as you are. Leave different!!!

[Bassn Blvd]

Go where the money is.........you can catch fish anyplace.

^^^EXACTLY^^^! If the fish are "too" small up north then downsize your tackle. No other state in the country is better than Florida when it comes to saltwater fishing. We don't have walley, pike or freshwater trout, but we havw snook, tarpon, tuna, bonita, cuda, ladyfish, and a thousand other species.

[Captain Obvious]

Texas!!!

Why?

Living reasons.

- The money is here and the cost of living is pretty low.

- People are friendly

- Great sports teams

- Big state means lots of room for everyone you don't live on top of each other

- Women are beautiful and there is a lot of them.

- Great food

- To many more....

Fishing Reasons

- We have the most coast on the gulf.

- Year round fishing, something you don't have up north

- Choose your species, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass (yes we have them), strip bass, white bass, black or white crappies, blue gills, several types of catfish ,gar, and trout (in the gulf).

- Again there are just to many reasons to list

Texas is the best fishing state period.

Capt.O

[Highhawk1948]

X 2 Sirsnookalot!! Very true.

[shootermcbob]

Texas!!!

Why?

Living reasons.

- The money is here and the cost of living is pretty low.

- People are friendly

- Great sports teams

- Big state means lots of room for everyone you don't live on top of each other

- Women are beautiful and there is a lot of them.

- Great food

- To many more....

Fishing Reasons

- We have the most coast on the gulf.

- Year round fishing, something you don't have up north

- Choose your species, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass (yes we have them), strip bass, white bass, black or white crappies, blue gills, several types of catfish ,gar, and trout (in the gulf).

- Again there are just to many reasons to list

Texas is the best fishing state period.

Capt.O

Just ran this past the wife....Texas sounds GREAT to me....she, however, was not impressed the highlighted part above.

[HeavyDluxe]

If you move somewhere with smaller fish, just lighten up your tackle.

[yoyoman]

move to where they have fat paychecks not fat bass unless you can find both. the first being a fat paycheck!

[mr.mallard]

ARKANSAS! its the fishing state. blue ribbon smallmouth streams that arent heavily fished. any type of bass lake you can ask for. world class trout and fly fishing. the mississippi river oxbows are gods country. trophy striper fishing with fish that exceed 40 lbs. trophy walleye fishing with fish that exceed 10 lbs. NO PESKY PIKE OR MUSKY.

[Bair]

While I love California, I would have to agree with Texas. Everything here is expensive and the bass are super pressured and unless you have a special pond in the mountains. You have to pay to go fishing every time you go out, because they are city lakes, on top of a license. Don't get me wrong, the saltwater fishing is awesome and there are big fish everywhere, they are just harder and more expensive to catch. My vote goes to Texas.

[SirSnookalot]

When you move to Florida you learn how to land a 50# fish on 10 lb line, not 10# fish on 50 lb line.

[oober]

Being partial so South Eastern WI, I don't think you can find an area with a more diverse fresh water fishery. Lake Michigan Salmon and trout, travel a few hours south and I believe there is some very good Small mouth on the big lake.

In Racine, Wi on the Root river there is a phenomenal fall Salmon run and steel heads most of the winter. Some of these fish pulled out are running close to 40 pounds.

In the spring on Lake Winnebago you have the Walleye and White bass runs. Just insane fishing if you hit it right.

Northern IL, South WI you have the fox chain which has good fishing for more fresh water species.

Head to central WI and you have Petenwell flowage, Castle rock lake. The lakes together I believe are running 17k acres in size approximately.

Head to northern WI, and you have the largest concentration of freshwater lakes in the world.

And if this isn't enough you have the Mississippi, the grandad of rivers, to catch some great cold water cats.

[Lund Explorer]

Seeing as how we're giving unbiased views of some states, I'll toss Michigan into the fray.

Smallmouth Fishing? Ever heard of Lake St. Clair? Lake Erie? Grand Traverse Bay? Bay De Noc?

Walleye Factory? Saginaw Bay!

The Au Sable & Pere Marquette Rivers? - The holy waters of fly fishing for trout.

The Great Lakes? - World class fishing for King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Lake Trout. In northern Lake Huron and the St. Mary's River - Atlantic & Pink Salmon. Google "Stannard Rock" to see what first class fishing on Lake Superior is all about.

Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Jumbo Perch, and many other species from Detroit to Gogebic County!

Unlike Texas - Few ticks and absolutley no chiggers, fire ants, scorpions, or water moccasins!

You can fish at high noon twelve months out of the year. They make ice shanties with heaters to keep you warm in the winter, but they haven't figured out how to install AC on a bass boat!

The Mitten - Home of the 2 Special "K's" - Kevin VanDam & Kate Upton!

[Northwoods Angler]

Biased to New England. There are so many smaller lakes and ponds all throughout New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine that hold 10# LMB all day, but they are super stingy at what you throw at them given the climate. Water conditions vary so greatly it makes it a task to catch the big one. You will catch 3-5 lbs all day, Besides there is nowhere more beautiful to fish in general. You get sick of fishing for LMB we also have smallies, pike, trout, and if that doesn't work either, head for the coast for the best striper fishing anywhere.

Of course as stated, the cost of living up here is ridiculous, but usually the pay rate goes with it.

[roadwarrior]

Northern states will present better smallmouth fishing, northern pike, musky. Fish that you generally wont find in south in abudunce if at all.

The World Record Smallmouth and #2 were caught at Dale Hollow. Smallmouth in the Mid South tend to be significantly

larger than those in norther waters. In the north, numbers of fish can be HUGE which is certainly an advantage, but most

of the monsters are Rebels!

[Sam Fisher]

Florida

[MarkH024]

The World Record Smallmouth and #2 were caught at Dale Hollow. Smallmouth in the Mid South tend to be significantly

larger than those in norther waters. In the north, numbers of fish can be HUGE which is certainly an advantage, but most

of the monsters are Rebels!

I didn't reference size of fish at all.