Brag about your state's bass fishing.

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, throttleplate said:

Grew up on the border of minnesota- north dakota. We always fished minnesota as we were 50 minutes away and the mystique of the land of 10,000 lakes was the draw.

There is a drawback to minnesota and that is they have seasons on bass and minnesotas favorite the walleye. 

Bass catch and release starts on may 1st and walleye season starts may 15th to keep and eat.

 

North Dakota has no season on bass or walleye and i just started fishing the dakota waters this year. Its a farther drive, 70 minutes for my radius of rivers i go to but it is all highway.

I also catch multiple species of fish. I always want to catch smallies but i end up catching walleye, muskie, catfish, bullheads, white bass and panfish all on a smallie lure. I really enjoy this multi type of fishing.

I may not buy a non resident minnesota license next year and just stick to the north dakota waters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would love the mystery of not knowing what's at the end of your line. I catch 80% largemouth, 15% smallmouth, and 5% pumpkinseed/yellow perch/chain pickerel. 

[jitterbug127]

On 10/28/2022 at 1:42 PM, FrnkNsteen said:

Agreed! I live about 60 miles southwest of there and couldn't agree more about the lakes. We do have some old coal mining strip pit lakes thar are electric only we hit when we can.

 

The only thing we can brag about the fishing in our area is that you don't consume a lot of bait,.... Because there isn't much hitting it!! ??

We’re living in a fishing black hole. I don’t even have a spot I like to fish 

[Chris Catignani]

On 10/27/2022 at 2:17 PM, Rockytop said:

I live on the Cumberland Plateau on the border of east and middle Tennessee. I can be on Chickamagua or Guntersville in an hour, Nickajack in 20 minutes, Tims Ford or Center Hill/Rock Island in hour and a half or so, Dale Hollow in about two hours, not to mention the Elk, Caney Fork, Collins, Sequatchie, Hiwassee, and other rivers within a hour or two drive. I am blessed to live where I do and to have grown up hunting, fishing, and trapping in the mountains of Southeast Tennessee and Go Big Orange!

You forgot Woods, Normandy, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick...and a little further out: Percy Priest, Old Hickory, Cheatum, Cordell Hull, Barkley and Kentucky Lake. These are all just in the middle part of Tennessee ( and on N. Alabama line).

[FrnkNsteen]

3 hours ago, jitterbug127 said:

We’re living in a fishing black hole. I don’t even have a spot I like to fish 

I do, but it's in Ontario!! ??

[jitterbug127]

I mainly just beat up the white river between waverly and martinsville and hope got the best. River has been so low i got stuck a bunch last time I went out. 

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Chris Catignani said:

You forgot Woods, Normandy, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick...and a little further out: Percy Priest, Old Hickory, Cheatum, Cordell Hull, Barkley and Kentucky Lake. These are all just in the middle part of Tennessee ( and on N. Alabama line).

And I’ve never fished any of that just being  2-3 hours east. It’s a water world 

[TnRiver46]

I just thought of something maybe worth bragging about for my state. I think TN has something like 285 native fish species so if anyone was trying to cross several off a catch list, this would be a good place to do that 

 

it’s not uncommon to catch 8-9 species of fish in a 2-3 hour trip after work 

[new2BC4bass]

PA native.  I've never fished a lake here that was worth bragging about.  Used to live on the PA/NY border.  Always had good fishing at Lamoka Lake.  We fished for everything back in those days.  Caught a little bit of everything, too.

[Rockytop]

On 10/29/2022 at 7:38 PM, Chris Catignani said:

You forgot Woods, Normandy, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick...and a little further out: Percy Priest, Old Hickory, Cheatum, Cordell Hull, Barkley and Kentucky Lake. These are all just in the middle part of Tennessee ( and on N. Alabama line).

I don't want to make it sound too good. Some people come and won't leave.

[Swamp Girl]

5 minutes ago, Rockytop said:

I don't want to make it sound too good. Some people come and won't leave.

Yeah, I feel the same way about Maine.

[BigAngus752]

Here is a comprehensive list of everything positive that can be said about bass fishing in Illinois:

1.  

[CountryboyinDC]

Nobody else wants to brag about Virginia?  OK, well for all the TN love we heard, there's still been a bigger black bass caught in VA.  I don't feel that our reservoirs are better than average, but we have great rivers.  For smallmouth, you can catch them out of the New,  Maury, Shenandoah, South Holston, non-tidal Rappahannock, James, and Potomac, and many smallee rivers that hold smallmouth that people forget.  The tidal rivers (Rappahanock, James, and Potomac) hold largemouth, although I fare far worse in catching them than the river smallmouth.  

Muskies are now pursued almost as much as smallmouth on the New and Sheandoah in places.  For better or worse, there are northern snakehead in the tidal rivers.  We have stripers, channel and flathead catfish (and I'm sure some others), and several species of panfish.  

Virginia may not be the place I'd pick for bass fishing if that was the most important thing to consider in where to live, but overall it's a great place to live.

P.S. Agree that the best part of DE is the lack of sales tax - people tell me that the beaches are nice, but I just try to pay the hefty tolls are keep trucking.

[Swamp Girl]

38 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

Nobody else wants to brag about Virginia?  OK, well for all the TN love we heard, there's still been a bigger black bass caught in VA.  I don't feel that our reservoirs are better than average, but we have great rivers.  For smallmouth, you can catch them out of the New,  Maury, Shenandoah, South Holston, non-tidal Rappahannock, James, and Potomac, and many smallee rivers that hold smallmouth that people forget.  The tidal rivers (Rappahanock, James, and Potomac) hold largemouth, although I fare far worse in catching them than the river smallmouth.  

Muskies are now pursued almost as much as smallmouth on the New and Sheandoah in places.  For better or worse, there are northern snakehead in the tidal rivers.  We have stripers, channel and flathead catfish (and I'm sure some others), and several species of panfish.  

Virginia may not be the place I'd pick for bass fishing if that was the most important thing to consider in where to live, but overall it's a great place to live.

P.S. Agree that the best part of DE is the lack of sales tax - people tell me that the beaches are nice, but I just try to pay the hefty tolls are keep trucking.

 

You do have great rivers. I walked across VA on the Appalachian Trail and fell in love with it. More than once, I thought Floyd would be a great place to live. 

[CountryboyinDC]

7 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

More than once, I thought Floyd would be a great place to live. 

I haven't been in forever (probably 25 years), but I still think about the bluegrass picking in the old store there.  That part of the world is where my soul resides.

[The Baron]

Ontario is incredible.   I live very close to where the St. Lawrence river flows out of Lake Ontario.  5lb+ smallmouth are common there, and catching a 6lb+ is a very real possibility on any outing.  I'm within an hour drive of many dozens of lakes with great bass populations and light fishing pressure.  Drive a little further and I can fish Lake Simcoe, or keep going and fish Lake St. Clair.  If I want to really burn some gas and go to NW Ontario, the bass are an almost untouched resource and you'll be hard pressed to keep the pike and walleye of your line.  Our largemouth top out at about 6# though, but numbers are good in many lakes.  Great Lakes aside, I can't imagine living in a better place for canoe or kayak bass fishing with so many smaller bodies of water to choose from.

 

Our Provincial record smallmouth is currently 9.8#.  Surprisingly, it was caught on a small lake in central Ontario.  I expect the next will come from Lake O. or the St. Lawrence.   Our Provincial record largemouth is currently 10.43#, also caught on a small lake in central Ontario.  (edit: after research where those records were caught, I may be looking for a cottage rental in the area.  LOL)

[Swamp Girl]

59 minutes ago, The Baron said:

Ontario is incredible.   I live very close to where the St. Lawrence river flows out of Lake Ontario.  5lb+ smallmouth are common there, and catching a 6lb+ is a very real possibility on any outing.  I'm within an hour drive of many dozens of lakes with great bass populations and light fishing pressure.  Drive a little further and I can fish Lake Simcoe, or keep going and fish Lake St. Clair.  If I want to really burn some gas and go to NW Ontario, the bass are an almost untouched resource and you'll be hard pressed to keep the pike and walleye of your line.  Our largemouth top out at about 6# though, but numbers are good in many lakes.  Great Lakes aside, I can't imagine living in a better place for canoe or kayak bass fishing with so many smaller bodies of water to choose from.

 

Our Provincial record smallmouth is currently 9.8#.  Surprisingly, it was caught on a small lake in central Ontario.  I expect the next will come from Lake O. or the St. Lawrence.   Our Provincial record largemouth is currently 10.43#, also caught on a small lake in central Ontario.  (edit: after research where those records were caught, I may be looking for a cottage rental in the area.  LOL)

 

^Heck, yeah! If there's a Heaven, I'll die, go to the light, and find myself in Ontario.^

11 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I haven't been in forever (probably 25 years), but I still think about the bluegrass picking in the old store there.  That part of the world is where my soul resides.

 

From time to time, I Zillow Floyd.Maybe someday, but the clock ticks faster and faster nowadays.

[Kelvin]

Florida takes the freshwater crown by a landslide. 

 

In freshwater peacocks, clownknives and snakeheads exceed bass for sheer excitement and fighting prowess.   The experience of hooking into a juvenile tarpon or snook WHILE fishing for bass in some of the rare brackish ponds and canals-- will definitely change what you though about pond fishing for good. 

 

Even in its native environment and home waters large mouth bass are outclassed and outgunned.  

 

For example the clownknife is an invasive species that took hold and upped the ante.  They fight like few fish can, they swim backwards and go airborne like a tarpon.  Oh and they get bigger than largies at a faster pace. 

 

I'm convinced if bass fishermen ever came here and hooked into the freshwater 'by catch' they would get an eye opening experience making it that much harder to go back to bass.  The widespread appeal of bass is because of its range (found everywhere) and something everyone can relate too.   

 

[Captain Phil]

2 hours ago, Kelvin said:

Even in its native environment and home waters large mouth bass are outclassed and outgunned.  

 

I have lived in Florida all my life.  Our fishing opportunities are endless.  You can catch a 100 pound tarpon on fly.  A sailfish in blue water.  Bonefish on the flats and bass in every pond, lake and backyard canal.  I've done it all.   Every fish has something to offer.   There is something about bass that makes them unique among fish.  Every time I catch one, I feel like I have accomplished something worthwhile.   There are easier fish to catch.  There are harder fighting fish.  When I catch a bass, a lifetime of memories comes back to me.  I caught my first bass when I was about 12.  I caught my last bass last week.  Hopefully, I will catch many more. When and if I do, I will smile.  ☺️

[Swamp Girl]

2 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

I have lived in Florida all my life.  Our fishing opportunities are endless.  You can catch a 100 pound tarpon on fly.  A sailfish in blue water.  Bonefish on the flats and bass in every pond, lake and backyard canal.  I've done it all.   Every fish has something to offer.   There is something about bass that makes them unique among fish.  Every time I catch one, I feel like I have accomplished something worthwhile.   There are easier fish to catch.  There are harder fighting fish.  When I catch a bass, a lifetime of memories comes back to me.  I caught my first bass when I was about 12.  I caught my last bass last week.  Hopefully, I will catch many more. When and if I do, I will smile.  ☺️

 

 

[Carpenater]

On 11/3/2022 at 4:40 PM, new2BC4bass said:

PA native.  I've never fished a lake here that was worth bragging about.  Used to live on the PA/NY border.  Always had good fishing at Lamoka Lake.  We fished for everything back in those days.  Caught a little bit of everything, too.

 I went to camp on Lamoka Lake growing up in NY.

 

Currently live in TN.  Primarily fish Percy Priest and KY Lake.  Next year want to get out to Pickwick, Chickamaugua, Guntersville, and Dale Hollow, with Dale Hollow being first on the list.

[Boomstick]

I do most of my fishing across the Vermont border, so that says what you need to know about my state's bass fishing

[whitwolf]

North Carolina; I am very close to retirement and my have to earlier Than I planned.  

 

I grew up fishing the swamps in Eastern NC and those memories are burned deeply in my soul. I moved to the western part of the state right out of college. The fishing here took some adjustment but has turned out to be great. 

 

There are so many places to Bass fish from West to East and while a DD is a possibility at many fisheries you hear very little about it. There's a diversity in the state from trout to inshore and offshore saltwater species. 

 

I travel to the swamps to fish at least once a month and will be there full time soon. I'm  sure I'll travel to Western NC to fish but the swamp is my home.

[Swamp Girl]

I'm a fellow swamp rat, Mr. Wolf. 

[garroyo130]

[roadwarrior]

No R-Kansas?