Super User WRB Posted July 2, 2019 Super User Posted July 2, 2019 1. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands) NY 2. Lake Guntersville AL 3. Sam Rayburn TX 4. Clear Lale CA 5. Lake Fork TX 6. Chickamuaga Lake TN 7. New Melones Lake CA 8. Lake St. Claire MI 9. Seante Copper (Marion & Moultre) SC 10. Lake Erie NY Always interesting and with a few surprises. Tom 3 Quote
Big Mike in Fl Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 I believe at least second year in a row a Florida lake hasn’t made it in the top 10... seems used to be lake O, stick marsh, even the Kissimmee chain used to make it in the top 10s. Pretty sad. Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted July 2, 2019 Super User Posted July 2, 2019 I'd love to see the lakes...but the slideshow doesn't function for me. They use to publish the list, where is that? Quote
StretcherJockey Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 18 minutes ago, Big Mike in Fl said: I believe at least second year in a row a Florida lake hasn’t made it in the top 10... seems used to be lake O, stick marsh, even the Kissimmee chain used to make it in the top 10s. Pretty sad. All ebbs and flows of ecosystems if I had to guess. 10-12 years ago some of the Texas lakes were struggling (relative to what they had been and are now) and now they are flourishing. Guntersville is back with a vengeance after a down 3 or so years earlier this decade. Won’t be long until the FL fisheries will be back in business. Quote
Johnbt Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 Top 100 lakes and the first one is a river? Color me confused. 4 4 Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 2, 2019 Author Super User Posted July 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said: I'd love to see the lakes...but the slideshow doesn't function for me. They use to publish the list, where is that? Someone more skilled at copy and paste can add the entire 100 list published in Bassmaster mag June/July 2019. Tom Quote
Johnbt Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 Okay, they managed to put Virginia in the Northeast. The census bureau only includes 9 states in the northeast and Maryland and Virginia aren't included. But anyway, I clicked through the list of the region's best 25 and what do I find in addition to the Potomac River. Jeez, the entire upper Chesapeake Bay. That's no lake either. 2019 List Of Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes RANK FISHERY STATE Top 10 1 St. Lawrence River New York 2 Lake Guntersville Alabama 3 Sam Rayburn Reservoir Texas 4 Clear Lake California 5 Lake Fork Texas 6 Chickamauga Lake Tennessee 7 New Melones Lake California 8 Lake St. Clair Michigan 9 Santee Cooper Lakes South Carolina 10 Lake Erie New York Northeast 1 St. Lawrence River New York 2 Lake St. Clair Michigan 3 Lake Erie New York 4 Lake Erie Ohio 5 Burt/Mullett lakes Michigan 6 Lake Champlain New York/Vermont 7 Bays de Noc Michigan 8 Saginaw Bay Michigan 9 Lake Charlevoix Michigan 10 Grand Traverse Bay Michigan 11 Potomac River West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland 12 Oneida Lake New York 13 Cayuga Lake New York 14 Presque Isle Bay Pennsylvania 15 Upper Chesapeake Bay Maryland 16 Smith Mountain Lake Virginia 17 Webber Pond Maine 18 Green River Lake Kentucky 19 Lake Cumberland Kentucky 20 China Lake Maine 21 Great Pond Maine 22 Candlewood Lake Connecticut 23 Chautauqua Lake New York 24 Lake Winnipesaukee New Hampshire 25 Kentucky Lake Kentucky/Tennessee Western 1 Clear Lake California 2 New Melones Lake California 3 Lake Perris California 4 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta California 5 Diamond Valley Lake California 6 Don Pedro Reservoir California 7 Lake Berryessa California 8 Lake Coeur d’Alene Idaho 9 Shasta Lake California 10 Lake Havasu Arizona/California 11 Roosevelt Lake Arizona 12 Lower Colorado River Arizona/California 13 Alamo Lake Arizona 14 Potholes Reservoir Washington 15 Lake Washington Washington 16 Brownlee Reservoir Idaho/Oregon 17 Sand Hollow Reservoir Utah 18 Elephant Butte Reservoir New Mexico 19 Lake Mohave Nevada/Arizona 20 C.J. Strike Reservoir Idaho 21 Siltcoos Lake Oregon 22 Owyhee Reservoir Oregon 23 Lake Pleasant Arizona 24 Lake Mead Nevada/Arizona 25 Columbia River Oregon/Washington Central 1 Sam Rayburn Reservoir Texas 2 Lake Fork Texas 3 Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin 4 Toledo Bend Texas/Louisiana 5 Mille Lacs Lake Minnesota 6 Lake Falcon Texas 7 Lake Conroe Texas 8 Lake Minnentonka Minnesota 9 Caddo Lake Texas/Louisiana 10 Table Rock Lake Missouri 11 Lake Lyndon B. Johnson Texas 12 Millwood Lake Arkansas 13 Caney Creek Reservoir Louisiana 14 Lake Dardanelle Arkansas 15 Lake Ray Roberts Texas 16 Lake Texoma Texas/Oklahoma 17 Lake Ouachita Arkansas 18 Lake of the Ozarks Missouri 19 Lake O’ the Pines Texas 20 Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees Oklahoma 21 Lake Columbia Arkansas 22 Bull Shoals Lake Arkansas 23 Lake Wanahoo Nebraska 24 La Cygne Reservoir Kansas 25 Newton Lake Illinois Southeast 1 Lake Guntersville Alabama 2 Chickamauga Lake Tennessee 3 Santee Cooper Lakes South Carolina 4 St. Johns River Florida 5 Lake Seminole Florida/Georgia 6 Pickwick Lake Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee 7 Jordan Lake North Carolina 8 Rodman Reservoir Florida 9 Lake Murray South Carolina 10 Falls Lake North Carolina 11 Lake Tohopekaliga Florida 12 Shearon Harris North Carolina 13 Lake Eufalua Alabama 14 Lake Istokpoga Florida 15 Watts Bar Reservoir Tennessee 16 Stick Marsh/Farm 13 Florida 17 Lake Wateree South Carolina 18 Lake Okeechobee Florida 19 Wheeler Lake Alabama 20 Cherokee Lake Tennessee 21 Clarks Hill Lake Georgia/South Carolina 22 Lake Jordan Alabama 23 Fellsmere Reservoir Florida 24 Roanoke River North Carolina 25 Lake Lanier Georgia Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted July 2, 2019 Super User Posted July 2, 2019 That list is a joke. They put the Saint Lawrence River of New York over the Rodman Reservoir, Stick Marsh, Lake Kingsley, Kenyan Lake, Lake Okeechobee, and other well known trophy bass fisheries in Florida? Earlier this year a man caught a 15 pound, 13 ounce largemouth bass out of Orange Lake in Florida and hundreds of 8 pound or better bass get caught every year in Florida. I doubt you will see that type of fishing from the Saint Lawrence River! I bet there are dozens of ponds and lakes in Central/North Florida that has better trophy bass fishing than the Saint Lawrence river has. Florida does not have smallmouth bass but we do have peacock bass which are far more beautiful and pound for pound more powerful fish than a smallmouth bass. The Everglades is well known for +100 bass days (some people have had +200 bass days) so the Saint Lawrence does not compare with numbers of bass caught in 1 day of fishing either. 2 Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted July 2, 2019 Super User Posted July 2, 2019 It's nice to see Minnetonka on the list - gives me hope that I'll catch something good this year. 1 Quote
Chowderhead Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 Michigan is in the Northeast? Learn something new every day... 46 minutes ago, Johnbt said: 23 Lake Wanahoo Nebraska That is only 30ish minutes from me - did not expect to see that (or any Nebraska pond/lake/stream/river/watering hole) on this list. I’ve had better luck fishing the subdivision pond near my house then I ever have at Wanahoo. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 2, 2019 Global Moderator Posted July 2, 2019 Wish they'd stop putting lakes from Kansas on the list. Fishing sucks here, go to Table Rock or Lake of the Ozarks instead. 3 3 Quote
j bab Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 Seems like they roughly throw this list together based on incomplete tournament bag data. It's not a flawless list, but it does the job well enough. 1 Quote
Super User NorcalBassin Posted July 2, 2019 Super User Posted July 2, 2019 Ruh roh! There was a day I thought my home lake didn't get the respect it deserved, and now it's #7 nationally and #2 out west with its neighbor #6 out west. They're both plenty big and out of the way enough that it probably won't affect the pressure on either of them very much, but it is crazy seeing the national attention. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted July 2, 2019 Global Moderator Posted July 2, 2019 8 hours ago, soflabasser said: That list is a joke. They put the Saint Lawrence River of New York over the Rodman Reservoir, Stick Marsh, Lake Kingsley, Kenyan Lake, Lake Okeechobee, and other well known trophy bass fisheries in Florida? Earlier this year a man caught a 15 pound, 13 ounce largemouth bass out of Orange Lake in Florida and hundreds of 8 pound or better bass get caught every year in Florida. I doubt you will see that type of fishing from the Saint Lawrence River! I bet there are dozens of ponds and lakes in Central/North Florida that has better trophy bass fishing than the Saint Lawrence river has. Florida does not have smallmouth bass but we do have peacock bass which are far more beautiful and pound for pound more powerful fish than a smallmouth bass. The Everglades is well known for +100 bass days (some people have had +200 bass days) so the Saint Lawrence does not compare with numbers of bass caught in 1 day of fishing either. Couldn't have said it better. Obviously the criteria they use is limited and flawed. Has been for years. Mike 1 Quote
Jleebesaw Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 9 hours ago, soflabasser said: That list is a joke. They put the Saint Lawrence River of New York over the Rodman Reservoir, Stick Marsh, Lake Kingsley, Kenyan Lake, Lake Okeechobee, and other well known trophy bass fisheries in Florida? Earlier this year a man caught a 15 pound, 13 ounce largemouth bass out of Orange Lake in Florida and hundreds of 8 pound or better bass get caught every year in Florida. I doubt you will see that type of fishing from the Saint Lawrence River! I bet there are dozens of ponds and lakes in Central/North Florida that has better trophy bass fishing than the Saint Lawrence river has. Florida does not have smallmouth bass but we do have peacock bass which are far more beautiful and pound for pound more powerful fish than a smallmouth bass. The Everglades is well known for +100 bass days (some people have had +200 bass days) so the Saint Lawrence does not compare with numbers of bass caught in 1 day of fishing either. The article I read in the email from bassmasters stated that the list was compiled by averaging bag weights in B.A.S.S tourneys. If the fish are so big down there, you boys need to start putting together better bags in your derbies. I know that during the elite tourny on the st lawrence last year, they constantly talked about having more 20lb+ bags every day of the event than any event in elite series history. Maybe that has something to do with it. Quote
Troy85 Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 24 minutes ago, Jleebesaw said: The article I read in the email from bassmasters stated that the list was compiled by averaging bag weights in B.A.S.S tourneys. If the fish are so big down there, you boys need to start putting together better bags in your derbies. I know that during the elite tourny on the st lawrence last year, they constantly talked about having more 20lb+ bags every day of the event than any event in elite series history. Maybe that has something to do with it. Yeah, I think they go by average tourney weights. Its similar fishing the tidal marshes of SE Louisiana as well . You can go out and catch 50+ bass on good days, but the weight just isn't there. You come back with anything over 4lb and chances are you will win big fish(I think the biggest I've ever seen weighed in at a tourney I fished was 5lb). If MLF does a top 100 lakes, the marsh I fish might make the cut. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 2, 2019 Super User Posted July 2, 2019 I've posted a lot of big fish here from #5 on the "Northeast" list. "Northeast" ? - Maybe that explains my funny accent. I always thought those bodies of water were part of the Lake Menderchuck Chain . . . . . . Who Knew ? A-Jay 1 1 Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted July 2, 2019 Super User Posted July 2, 2019 When did they move Kentucky Lake to the Northeast? I was planning to fish there this weekend. Now I don't even know where it is. ? 3 Quote
Fishing_FF Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 3 hours ago, Mike L said: Couldn't have said it better. Obviously the criteria they use is limited and flawed. Has been for years. I’m fine with the flaw, more for us Flocals. ? 1 Quote
813basstard Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 They must’ve been following me around for the last 2 weeks here in the Fla. I heard giggling coming from the hydrilla and had a bass come out the water, look at me and say ‘brah...come on. You should take up karate instead..’ Been that rough. Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted July 2, 2019 Global Moderator Posted July 2, 2019 6 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said: When did they move Kentucky Lake to the Northeast? I was planning to fish there this weekend. Now I don't even know where it is. ? Hahahahaha I saw that too. What in the world ........ 1 Quote
CrankFate Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 I’m going to give Cayuga Lake a try this summer. And a few other lakes in the area. Heck, I might even try and catch a few trouts since my current PB is tied between rainbows and browns at 4 ounces. 1 Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted July 3, 2019 Super User Posted July 3, 2019 13 hours ago, Mike L said: Couldn't have said it better. Obviously the criteria they use is limited and flawed. Has been for years. Mike We are blessed to live in the Fishing Capital of the World and know very well how good the bass fishing is here. It is common for a Florida bass fisherman to have a PB bass of over 8 pounds and there are many with +10 pound PB bass. Same cannot be said for the Saint Lawrence River and other northern waters where bass do not grow as much. That list is extremely flawed and anybody with decent bass fishing knowledge knows this. Maybe next year they will say Nebraska, Indiana or some other below average bass fishing state has better bass fishing than Florida? LOL 1 Quote
Big Mike in Fl Posted July 3, 2019 Posted July 3, 2019 12 hours ago, 813basstard said: They must’ve been following me around for the last 2 weeks here in the Fla. I heard giggling coming from the hydrilla and had a bass come out the water, look at me and say ‘brah...come on. You should take up karate instead..’ Been that rough. I gotta say, when the water temp is at 90* it can be awful hard putting together a successful day. Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted July 3, 2019 Super User Posted July 3, 2019 I can think of a couple lakes in Oklahoma that are better than Grand or Texoma, not sure who compiled this list and where the data came from. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.