Summer Bass Fishing Vacation Suggestions

[Matt Bacola]

I’m looking for suggestions on where to go fishing this summer. I live in Pittsburgh, PA and would prefer to stay within about a 600 ish mile range. I would also prefer someplace that would be float-tube friendly or have easy access to rental boats. The last few years I have been going to a private lake in Tennessee. Overall it’s been pretty good, however it was really tough this past July. The locals said the fishing is pretty tough there in the summer and while I was there the water temps were in the mid 80’s. Being from up north, I’m not really familiar with the concept of the fishing getting tough in the summer. Here in Pittsburgh the fishing seems to be best when the water is at its warmest. This will be a family trip so I’m limited to go when my wife (school teacher) and kids are out on summer break – so Mid-June through late August. Are there some lakes down south that are better than others in the summer? Maybe I should head north to somewhere like Michigan and chase smallmouth or even largemouth. I really like the opportunity to go south and chase some bigger largemouth than we have up here, but it was frustrating fishing I disagree off for 5+ days last summer and then catching a significantly larger bass in nearby ohio the day after I got home than anything I caught in Tennessee. I’d welcome any suggestions, tips, etc.

[Bird]

A place I go every year for a week and not far from Pittsburgh....Stonewall resort in WV.

Excellent cabins, lodge and RV campground. 

 

It's a beautiful place but don't expect an Okeechobee experience. Lol

[TnRiver46]

Shallow river smallmouth would more fun in July in TN. I imagine a private pond would be almost boiling by that point. If I was in your location, I would head to lake Erie that time of year! 

[detroit1]

Good luck if you come up to fish Michigan. Ajay has given all the fish sore mouths.  

[12poundbass]

24 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Good luck if you come up to fish Michigan. Ajay has given all the fish sore mouths.  

I’ve yet to find a Lake Menderchuck in Michigan so he must be fishing in another state and saying it’s Michigan. Plus there aren’t any good fishing in Michigan. 

[A-Jay]

27 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Good luck if you come up to fish Michigan. Ajay has given all the fish sore mouths.  

@detroit1 You may have me confused with that other guy ~ 

A-Jay

 

[detroit1]

Yeah..there is no lake menderchunk. Believe me, I have scoured the maps also. I also know it's not Otsego lk. either. He actually uses smallmouth "wraps" and covers his Lk. commedero ( or wherever Raul takes him ) giant largmouths.  

[Boomstick]

Have you ever looked at Vermont State parks? You can rent a leanto for the price of a campsite at most state parks, and they have some very good fishing too! I particularly like Vermont state parks because they're quiet and the shoreline isn't overdeveloped. I'll throw out some of my favorites.

 

#1) Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore - the clearest water I have ever seen and the only cover is docks, so this is pretty tough fishing, but if you're after big bass, this is the lake I would go to. I believe the current state record for a largemouth bass was caught here. Another perk for Branbury State Park is right across the street is the Moosalamoo National Recreational Area in the green mountains and they have many great hiking trails, one to silver lake, a man made reservoir with no bass, but I have seen pictures of some large trout that people have caught there. They also have the Sugar Hill Reservoir which feeds Silver Lake which you can drive to and has some shore access (stained water if I remember right). I have seen pictures of views from the top of Rattlesnake Cliffs trail overlooking Lake Dunmore and they are absolutely stunning as well -- I didn't get to hike it because I got a nasty blister on my heel when I walked the Silver Lake trail, but I would strongly recommend that. You can see it from the swimming area in the lake. There is also a fire trail off of the Silver Lake trail, but I did not pack a flashlight and it was getting dark so I had to go straight back to camp.

 

#2) Emerald Lake - small 20 acre lake in southern Vermont. One half is shallow, and one half has a fairly deep spot. The fishing can be tough at times, but also rewarding. No largemouths, which is a shame with all the lily pads on one side, but they have some good sized Northern Pike and smallies. I caught a 23.5" smallie, a fat hog there once! You can rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and a rowboat there and it's generally very quiet and the sites are generally in shade as well. Definitely a lake you could use a float tube with rather easily as it's fairly small.

 

#3) Lake St. Catherine - larger lake in southwest Vermont, with 4 rowboats to rent so you'll always get one (plus the regular assortment of other boats). Mostly very clear water, the southern portion has a lot of lily pads, the north has a few spots of lily pads and lots of milfoil. Last year was tough fishing there, but two years ago I was killing it on crankbaits and spinnerbaits, caught two fish on the same hook on a crankbait, landed a pike that was well over 30" and right after lost a fish that I'm pretty sure was a bass and was no doubt the largest fish I ever hooked. It's not that far of a drive to Lake Bomoseen, Glen Lake,  Half Moon Pond or even Emerald Lake from here as well should you want to explore other lakes.

 

#4) Button Bay on Lake Champlain - no boat rentals, but I camped 4 or 5 nights there last year. There is a point you can walk to and as the sun goes down, smallies will hit topwater, spinnerbaits and crankbaits pretty aggressively. My last night there I was catching 3lb+ smallies just about every cast, which was a cooler day after a long heatwave. This 10 year old girl next to me was having the same luck on a senko on a red hook, lost her senko and they were hammering her hook! Probably not the best option for your requirements, but I have to mention this one...

 

#5) Bomoseen State Park on Lake Bomoseen - you can get some leantos on the water where you could fish from your site! Big lake, once known for its largemouth population but sadly many have been removed from the lake but they still have good smallies. You can drive or hike to Glen lake as well, which I have been told is a good lake to catch bass on from the shore and might be good for a float tube as well.

 

#6) Half Moon pond. They rent boats here as well, and it's generally quiet. I didn't fish when I went there, but they do not have the greatest beach or shore access but this would be a very good place to use a float tube on, and you can hike to Glen Lake and all the way to Lake Bomoseen as well on the trails, and you can easily drive to Bomoseen State park and rent a boat there for the day too.

 

There are some others that may be worth checking out too, Grand Isle on Lake Champlain (the leantos on the water book out near instantly each year), Ricker Pond, Crystal Lake and Camp Plymouth on Echo Lake (Ludlow's Echo Lake, not the one in Charleston which is a lake I want to fish badly along with the nearby Lake Seymour) are all on my to do list. This year I am thinking of trying Brighton State Park which is between two lakes and near Lake Seymour and the other Echo Lake in Vermont, which have been on my to do list for a while now

 

Anyway, there's something to think about. I just gave myself major cabin fever thinking about all of those places -- and I think I'm going to book another trip to Branbury State Park this year -- I gotta hike the Rattlesnake Cliffs trail and catch el mondo!

[TnRiver46]

@Boomstick, those places sound awesome! 

[Koz]

While this may not appeal to you, it might be an option. In May or June, go to Hilton Head Island, SC and stay at one of the resorts in Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes, or just about anywhere. While your family hits the beach all day you can hop from lagoon to lagoon and do some bank fishing. In Palmetto Dunes you can use canoes and kayaks in their 12 miles of connected waterways, but some of that water is brackish and may not be conducive to bass fishing.

 

Depending upon where you want to fish it might be best to bike rather than drive and park. Check Google Maps and you'll see hundreds of lagoons to choose from excluding the ones surrounded entirely by a golf course.

 

What can you expect? Lots of 3, 4, and 5 pound bass. You may even run into some 7-10 pounders as well. The best time to head there is before July. About then things can get really hot during the day. The fish are still biting, but the heat can be killer. The heat in the mornings of July and August are bearable, but the humidity is high. Early evening is usually bearable, but as it gets dark you can't see the alligators.

 

And if for some reason the bass fishing isn't good, you can always get on a charted boat for some ocean fishing if you like that sort of thing.

[Boomstick]

9 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

@Boomstick, those places sound awesome! 

I would highly recommend any of them if you get the chance. Might be a good trip in the middle of the summer as it's a bit cooler here so the bass bite is much more active.