Best State To Fish

[rangerboy]

talking to my wife about where would be a good place to live outside of ca. I told he I don't mind all the bs. because within a hour I have clear lake, berryessa, delta, folsom and lake oraville. all great bass lakes. but every place she wouldn't mind living im a jerk because the fishing sucks. ok br. what would be the best state to live in for bass fishing. florida, texas , Alabama? im sure you would have to move south.

[iabass8]

it depends what species of bass you want to fish for (largemouth/spots/smallmouth). i'd love to be able to fish year round down south but I would miss the heck out of the fantastic small mouth and walleye fishing up north. of the three you mentioned,i've only fished texas put would still probably choose texas. the food is just too good.

[moguy1973]

According to Bassmaster's top 100 bass lakes (2013), Texas has the most lakes on the list at 11.  Florida is next with 8.  

[rangerboy]

seen falcon lake on tv a few times. looks awesome

[moguy1973]

http://www.bassmaster.com/news/100-best-bass-lakes-2013

[J Francho]

The best two states I've fished, in terms of variety of water and species would be NY and VA.

[SwampLife]

Florida! Huge large mouths.. .. Go off shore catch some marlins, tuna, sail fish etc.... Besides fishing they have some nice beaches! Thats where we go for vacation but I would like to spend a whole summer there.. BUT you can't keep me out of Louisiana long!! To much fun stuff to do here

[Snakehead Whisperer]

The best two states I've fished, in terms of variety of water and species would be NY and VA.

x2

 

Can't speak for NY, but the mid-Atlantic has some world class fishing. Virginia and Maryland have a great balance of northern and southern species with a mild climate that produces pretty large fish (especially smallmouth bass, state records both over 8lbs.) Within an hour of my home in DC I can hit the upper Potomac for smallies, walleye, muskie, etc. Within 5 minutes of home I can be on the tidal Potomac for largemouth bass, stripers, gar, giant catfish, monster crappie and snakeheads. If I head east I can fish the Chesapeake bay for stripers, black sea bass, speckled trout, bluefish, etc. BTW, I am from the bay area originally and California fishing is hard to beat, but this area gives northern CA a run for it's money. 

 

Other areas that I would rate high would be.

 

-Tennessee

-Minnesota or any of the northern states(though it's really cold up there.)

-Oregon (specifically the Columbia River.)

-Maryland/Pennsylvania

-Florida

-Kentucky

[Basseditor]

If its strictly bass fishing, Texas is hard to beat. But it's getting crowded.

A good thing is the option of Texas power plant lakes in winter.

I've fished in many states. In Texas, so many lakes can produce a 10 pounder on any cast. But you're not likely to catch ones pushing 20# like CA.

[tjc76]

tough decision.  all depends on what you want to fish for most.  As J Francho and Snakehead Whisperer said, NY and VA.  NY has so much incredible water, it has to rank up there.  Erie for monster smallmouth.  Ontario for monster browns.  Oneida for walleyes.  Lake Champlain for any and every species imagineable.  St Lawrence River smallmouth and Muskies.  Salmon river.  Montauk for stripers.  The list goes on and on. 

 

I haven't done much fishing in Va except for smallmouth, but the New and James River are world class smallmouth fisheries.  The James is also renowned for Muskies.  Chesapeake Bay is the largest striped bass estuary in the world. 

 

Pennsylvania gets a vote in my book as well, with many fine smallmouth rivers.  Also some fine muskie fisheries. 

 

Florida goes without saying.  Huge largemouth, and peacock bass.  When you get bored of targeting them, you can fish for tarpon, permit, bonefish, snook, cobia, grouper, snapper, bluefish, flounder, tuna, redfish, speckled trout, you get the picture.  Too bad they don't have any smallmouth.  that is a dealbreaker for me.  LOL  I'll just live there November to May, then go back to my beloved smallies.

[AK-Jax86]

FL is the ultimate freshwater fish state! Lake Okechobee was created by god as a bass heaven

[MarkH024]

Not a state, but Eagle Lake, Ontario, Canada is one of my favorite places.  Huge trophy musky, big pike, big lakers, big walleye and plentiful, great smallies, perch, rock bass...it has it all. 

 

The times I've been up there, I have seen maybe 1 or 2 other boats on the water. 60,000 acres and something like 4,000 miles of shoreline. It is a magical place. There are so many great places in Canada though.

 

I myself have not been able to get down south and do serious bass fishing. I have a bucket list going so i'll be getting there some day. 

[roadwarrior]

If it's just about largemouth bass, Florida and Texas have the edge. Potential for the next World Record?

That's still California. For a shot at the next World Record Smallmouth and an abundance of 6-8 lb bass,

both brown and green, the Mid South is the ticket. The reservoirs of the Tennessee River are producing

size and numbers. Pickwick has been on fire for several years, but Guntersville is the long time leader.

 

In addition to world class bass fishing, the region boasts gigantic striper, catfish and is a short drive to

the White River in Arkansas for monster rainbow and brown trout. The best trophy crappie fishing in the

world is just south of Memphis in northern Mississippi. 

 

 

 

[derekxec]

florida when you get tired of catching bass there is 2154211234512 other fish you could catch....and once you go snook fishing and catch a nice 30 lber you probably wont do much bass fishing anymore lol

 

if you do move to florida and decide on south florida let me know ill fill you in on bunch of spots to fish

[MCS]

I would pick Florida for most variety, bass, snook, redfish, trout then you have offshore. If you live in say South Florida or near the Southern St. Johns River you get some great places to fish both fresh and salt. Texas if it was just largemouth and Tenn. for an overall combo of Large/small and other freshwater species.

Honorable mention to Lousiana because they have some great freshwater and inshore fishing in that state.

[Nice_Bass]

Well...its not going to be Illinois.

somewhere in SW TN would be the best as you can fish several states that all have the majority of record sport fish to their name- AR, TN, KY, MS, MO

[Snakehead Whisperer]

But you're not likely to catch ones pushing 20# like CA.

Texas is great. I have friends in Conroe, and it's always a great time out there. There's also some incredible river fishing in Texas. Oklahoma also has some great fishing opportunities. 

 

The OP said he's within an hour of Berryessa which has some really huge LMB, but the largest I've heard of caught there is just shy of 17lb. I do remember folks catching spotted bass up to 8lbs. in that lake and others in the area (Shasta is a good place for huge spots.) Another fun freshwater fish to target on the West Coast is the squawfish, although many view them as trash fish because they compete with salmon, eat salmon roe, and aren't very good eating. However they fight good, get pretty big and will hit bass lures. 

[FrogFreak]

What about the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota. If you're truly trying to get away from the crowds, this place is awesome. We may not have 10 pound fish but our 5 pounders think they're 10 pounds. The only downside is the winter but if you like ice fishing, you're set.

[RoachDad]

The best two states I've fished, in terms of variety of water and species would be NY and VA.

uh, yeah that leaves alot of states you probably haven't fished.  Both of those are good states, but Florida is the place to be.

[RoachDad]

talking to my wife about where would be a good place to live outside of ca. I told he I don't mind all the bs. because within a hour I have clear lake, berryessa, delta, folsom and lake oraville. all great bass lakes. but every place she wouldn't mind living im a jerk because the fishing sucks. ok br. what would be the best state to live in for bass fishing. florida, texas , Alabama? im sure you would have to move south.

Florida and you knew that before you posted!  ha 

[Basswhippa]

Ya'll quit lying to a CA fellow and tell the truth.  Kansas, Idaho, Nebraska, the Dakotas are where it's at!

[bryantbrdfrd]

I would definitely choose Texas, with Louisiana in 2nd and Oklahoma/Tennessee for 3rd/4th. I'm from Texas and absolutely love the bass fishing there. I was in Louisiana for 8+ years and the bass fishing was really good there too. In fact, that's about all that state is good for lol. Now, I live in Oklahoma and to my surprise it's really good here. Unfortunitely I can't speak for California or Florida because I haven't fished there. I've read a lot that says how great they are but I don't personally know.

[chubaka]

St.Clair in Mi

[Snakehead Whisperer]

What about the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota. If you're truly trying to get away from the crowds, this place is awesome. We may not have 10 pound fish but our 5 pounders think they're 10 pounds. The only downside is the winter but if you like ice fishing, you're set.

Mentioned Minnesota in my first post on page 1.

 

Ya'll quit lying to a CA fellow and tell the truth.  Kansas, Idaho, Nebraska, the Dakotas are where it's at!

The Dakotas are definitely awesome. Some of the best walleye fishing in the world. Never fished the other 3. Also worth mentioning are Wyoming and Montana if you're into trout.

I've fished all over the place, and I've never encountered a state (or country) that didn't have something substantial to offer. The only thing I can think of is that Germany and Switzerland have banned systematic catch and release (you can only release fish that are below the legal size and must keep all legal fish until you limit out.) That is a buzzkill.

[J Francho]

uh, yeah that leaves alot of states you probably haven't fished.  Both of those are good states, but Florida is the place to be.

 

I've fished Florida several times.  Not the best, in my opinion.