Best Fishing State

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I'd like to think I live in that state...

No, we don't have smallmouth, or walleye, etc etc. Killer Largemouth fishing all year long throughout the state.. Killer Saltwater fishing all year long. Takes an hour and a half to run the boat to the Bahamas on a bad weather day. Lobster season jut started. Fish are feeding aggressively everywhere. Options, options, options. Couldn't be happier. My deep freezer is very, very full right now. Fresh Lobster on the grill for dinner tonight!

Oh, and real Cuban Coffee. Yessir!

[Jj0816]

Go where the most job oppurtunitys are, not where the best fishing is. Their is usually somewhere nearby which you can fish.

[5dollarsplash]

I'd agree with those who say find the fat paycheck. After that though to give a good recommendation, I'd need to know how you feel about saber-tooth spotted bass(Muskie). If you enjoy toothy buggers like pike and muskie, and maybe hunting whitetail, I'd recommend my fair state of Wisconsin. If your just after fat bass, stay south, as our winters don't let them get to the sizes you see down there.

[ww2farmer]

Well being a New Yorker, I will say NY. Not only do we have tons of great bass waters like Erie, Champlain, Oneida, 1000 Island's, Black Lake, Ontario, The Finger Lakes, and many many small bass factorys that you have never heard of, but, with the exception on NYC, the state is pretty quite and peacefull. Our "big" cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse are small and freindly, great fishing is never more than 20 mins away from just about anywhere, and if you get tired of bass fishing, we have world class fishing in many of the same waters for just about every fish that swims in North America

[beast]

You can find quality fishing pretty much anywhere you go, you just have to look around. It really depends on what style of fishing you like. I have fished in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Colorado and they all have great fishing. I currently fish Michigan and Northern Indiana which has a wide variety of fishing. There is great fishing around here for many species including largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, pike, musky, steelhead, trout, and panfish. There are many small natural lakes around here and also some rivers and creeks, but the main attraction here is Lake Michigan.

[tomustang]

ARKANSAS! its the fishing state.

Umm, sure..

[Fishing Rhino]

Figuratively speaking, I prefer to fish in the state of grace, which means under divine influence. Or, at least seeming to be guided by divine influence. Those days are rare, but when you have one, it's tough to beat that fishing anywhere else.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Louisiana

LMB fishing is just ridiculous. I have already had numerous days of over 100 fish this year including one day of 300+ by myself. I have had a 5 fish bag that weighed in just short of 35lbs. There is a body of water every 20 minutes and they are all full of bass! Look at where the Elite series is going...Red River, LA Delta, Toledo Bend. I would argue that Toledo Bend is the best bass fishing lake in America.

You can also drive down to Venice or Grand Isle and catch a 100 fish limit of Specs and 20 redfish on any given day. Oh, and go a little further into the gulf and catch Dolphin fish and Tuna.

And if noodling is your thing, come on! I know quite a few places that you can get your hands on a GIANT catfish lol.

[SirSnookalot]

Agreed about LA., excellent fishing state.

[Bassn Blvd]

Agreed about LA., excellent fishing state.

But dont they do VooDoo in La? Fishing can be hard enough at times. I don't need a VooDoo curse ontop of it.

[RobertBG]

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!

I've lived a lot of places and MI is my favorite.I spent summers growing up a big blue lake near muskegon and in time my family will be moving back because I cant think of a better place to raise my child.

All in all MI has more fishing then I can do in a lifetime and the cost of living is great for what you get.............The downside is finding a job that pays,but they can be had

[Lund Explorer]

I've lived a lot of places and MI is my favorite.I spent summers growing up a big blue lake near muskegon and in time my family will be moving back because I cant think of a better place to raise my child.

All in all MI has more fishing then I can do in a lifetime and the cost of living is great for what you get.............The downside is finding a job that pays,but they can be had

I'm not sure what these guys are paying, but they were on the news last night. Still here and growing!

http://muskegon.wzzm13.com/news/news/72458-made-michigan-motiv-bowling

[Fishing Rhino]

OK, I'll toss Massachusetts into the fray. Smallmouth and largemouth bass, panfish, walleye pickerel, northern pike, striped bass, bluefish, fluke, codfish, tuna, including bluefin, swordfish, halibut, quahogs, steamer clams, bay and sea scallops, white perch in fresh and salt water, scup, mackerel, bonita, mahi mahi (dolphin, not to be confused with the porpoise), marlin, and the list goes on, and on, heck, I'll throw lobster and several species of crabs into the mix as well.

[dale.m]

All around its gotta be NC. We have everything from mountain fly fishing, costal deep sea fishing, and everything in between! I personally love living right in the piedmont area because its only a 2 hour drive to the mountains and a 3 hour drive to the coast! Plus...the bass fishing in the piedmont is amazing!

[Unknownwaters]

wow I never realized how great the fishing could be in other parts of the country. Guess I just assumed all the good fishing was in the south because of the warmer climate. Definitely not my top priority as far as places I could potentially live, but it makes me feel better knowing that I could find great fishing just about anywhere I go. Thanks for the advice

[shootermcbob]

This probably doesnt matter to you now, but I know that as I get older, that southern warmer climate looks more and more appealing. Just something to keep in mind.

[Bassn Blvd]

This probably doesnt matter to you now, but I know that as I get older, that southern warmer climate looks more and more appealing. Just something to keep in mind.

NO! Florida sux, STAY OUT! Fishing is horrible and we have Zombies.

[NoBassPro]

What I would like to know is what fishing opportunities are in eastern Montana or Nebraska. Because, honestly, I have seen more water in the desert areas of our country than I remember seeing in those two places.

[grimlin]

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

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

Whoa there's smallmouths in Texas?

[new2BC4bass]

This probably doesnt matter to you now, but I know that as I get older, that southern warmer climate looks more and more appealing. Just something to keep in mind.

X2!!!!! Getting so I can't stand the cold.

Also to those who say all places have good fishing if you look hard enough, maybe you could tell me where the good fishing is in my area....besides the Delaware River. I grew up fishing lakes, not moving water. Plus I would need a fairly specialized boat for the Delaware since I know no one with private access to the river. Public access point (singular) near me sucks for fishing. Nearest lake is 30 minutes away and heavily pressured any place you can get to it from shore. Although I now have a 12'6" Porta-Bote, I don't as yet have a motor for it so it isn't like I am going to head too far down the lake since I am no longer a spring chicken.

I've reached the point of deciding it is time to start researching fishing opportunities in the 45 minute to hour or more driving range. The drive will be worth it to me if I can actually catch a few fish....be they LMB, SMB, perch, pickerel, crappies, catfish, etc. I enjoy casting, but catching a fish now and then can't be asking too much!

There are suppose to be a few decent trout streams in the area. Something I never did when living further north. The streams I know of after a stocking look like Black Friday. My one trip to Pulaski, NY for steelhead was enough for me to know I can't stand that type of fishing.

Look for the big money is good advice unless you would like to do more than live to work. Almost 28 years ago I took a good paying job in NJ when the plant I worked at in Southern NY closed its doors. Problem is the 70% increase in pay wasn't enough to compensate for the 300% more in housing costs which I wasn't aware of at the time I took the job. True, my fault for not checking into it first. I also had to give up hunting along with fishing. Couldn't get permission to hunt. Quit fishing after 2 years of trying since it was so bad. Isn't any better now, but at least now I know of a couple more lakes to fish at. Fishing still sucks, tho.

Wish when I lost my job I could have had the time (and means) to research living areas. I don't need big money to be happy. All I need is enough to pay bills and have some left over for enjoying the pleasures of life such as hunting and fishing and the occasional vacation. I would be much happier than I am now. I think you would be too. Make enough money to live in reasonable comfort as long as it allows you to also participate in other activities you enjoy. Then take the time to do those activities. Hopefully with a loved one with similar interests. It is more rewarding that way.