Pay lakes for bass

[Swamp Girl]

Does anyone here belong to a pay lakes organization where you have access to multiple pay lakes? Of were you a member in the past? If so, how is/was that experience? 

[InfantryMP]

I fish a series of 5 very large ponds, that are "pay lakes". There is no membership, it is a pay everyday type of approach. 

 

These ponds we can only use trolling motors, but house some very large southern bass. They have ramps and everything. They are man made, but are very well taken care of. 

I caught a 6 just a month or so ago in one of them.

 

I have been to a few others around different areas, and they are no good. Always stocking things like catfish, but are horrible for anything else. I think it really depends on the area, and who is maintaining it. You can tell once you see the ones that are crappy vs a well taken care of pay lake. 

[gim]

There are few lakes here in the west metro that have accesses owned and operated by an entity called Three Rivers Park District.  Its a large park system and using the access requires you to pay either a daily fee or a season pass.  I buy the season pass every year.  A daily pass at any of these access points is 7 bucks, and a season pass is 45, so if I use it at least 7 times, its paid for.  The last three seasons, I've used it 10, 8, and 8 times so its been paid for.

 

The accesses they operate are in pristine condition.  Fully asphalt lots, concrete curbs and ramps, docks, restrooms, etc.  Some of them have limited parking, so the lot can fill up on a busy day.

 

The most recent largemouth state record came from a lake that operates under the district.  A boat ramp pass is required only if you have a boat/trailer.  If you have a canoe or kayak that does not need a trailer, you do not need a pass.

 

I will be renewing my 2023 season pass this month for the upcoming season.

[Swamp Girl]

@gimruis and @InfantryMP, your pay lakes sound great. I caught my first fish at a pay lake. I googled it yesterday, but found no record of the lake. I was hoping to see it still operating or some old photos. My first fish ever was a white bass on a Spin-I-Diddee at that pay lake. I know, I know, not a LMB or SMB, but it was a WB. For a few years, I thought the Spin-I-Diddee was the greatest lure in the world because it caught my first fish.  

[Bankc]

I don't think we have any private pay lakes around here anymore.   We did, many years ago.  There was a Sportsman club that had a few in the state.  But I think they shut down before I moved here.  The lakes they had were all purchased by either private companies (to use the land, not the lake) or local governments.  As such, some are now open to the public (for a small fee) and maintained by the city/county/state, or are no longer open for fishing by pretty much anyone.  One of them is a pretty nice lake with a healthy bass population (still costs around $12 a day to fish with a boat).  But I wouldn't pay country club prices to fish it.  There are good lakes and bad lakes around here, but they're all subject to the same weather and watershed.  So I wouldn't pay country club fees to fish there as there are plenty of other lakes in the area that are just as good.  Plus, I imagine a private pay lake, in order to stay in business and make enough money to keep up with maintenance, would have to be pretty heavily pressured.

 

That being said, I do buy an annual city permit to fish the local lakes near me.  It's about $70 a year for both fishing and boating (they have daily permits too).  Not too bad when most other lakes run about $5-15 a day.  And they're very well maintained.  Just stocked with too much of the wrong fish (catfish and white bass) and very heavily pressured.

 

Really, the only totally free lake I know of (beside state permit fees) is a lake owned by a power plant that uses it for power generation.  It's a pretty good fishing lake.  Especially in the winter.  Pretty much every other lake at least requires a small fee, usually cash in an envelope placed in a drop box.  Though I can't say as though I've ever seen anyone check to see if you actually paid.  

[WIGuide]

As far as I know we don't have any around my area. There are some privately owned lakes, but none that are pay to play that I know of. (unless you count launch fees)

 

There is one pay to play lake I'd love to go to though, but I don't think it will happen unless I win the lottery lol. They manage the waters as trophy fisheries and keep the pressure pretty low. You're permitted up to 3 people in a boat, but the lakes are limited to only 2 boats per day.  
https://camelotbell.com/

[Swamp Girl]

@WIGuide, thanks for the link. That's quite a lake. However, you've got Lakes Michigan and Superior, as well as the Mississippi. Other than the chance at a DD at Camelot, you've got everything you need.

[WIGuide]

9 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

@WIGuide, thanks for the link. That's quite a lake. However, you've got Lakes Michigan and Superior, as well as the Mississippi. Other than the chance at a DD at Camelot, you've got everything you need.

We do have it pretty good up here without a doubt, but man that possibility and the likelihood of hooking into something not just a little bigger, but WAY bigger than what swims in the waters up here is a huge draw.  

[Captain Phil]

Some years ago I was a member of a group of people who paid to fish a private Central Florida rock pit.  This rock pit was where much of the rock used to fill Disney World was mined.  The group was limited to 6 people who paid an annual fee.  The fishing in this pit was amazing with an average bass over 5 pounds each.  Eventually, the owners reopened the mine as rock was more profitable than fish and we lost touch.  It was an amazing experience.  Wish I could find another like that.

[TnRiver46]

I have to pay to fish the public waters 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

46 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I have to pay to fish the public waters 

Lol, and then pay again through various State or even Federal taxes.    

Pay lakes are a big thing down here in the South, or at least in AL, and TX.   

 

There is a really cool pay lake deal in N AL.   You pay $1000 a year and get to fish a number of different managed private lakes.    

 

I'm going to go to some this winter for sure.    

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

@gimruis and @InfantryMP, your pay lakes sound great. I caught my first fish at a pay lake. I googled it yesterday, but found no record of the lake. I was hoping to see it still operating or some old photos. My first fish ever was a white bass on a Spin-I-Diddee at that pay lake. I know, I know, not a LMB or SMB, but it was a WB. For a few years, I thought the Spin-I-Diddee was the greatest lure in the world because it caught my first fish.  

We're fish siblings lol.....my first was a white bank fishing with my dad who was likely dying of boredom.

 

I caught that little sucker, the rest was history.   I was obsessed with lakes, and the fish in them since that moment.  

[Swamp Girl]

13 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

We're fish siblings lol.

 

Heck, yeah, we are! 

 

@TnRiver46, am I allowed to share that I'm published in a particular fishing magazine this month?

[the reel ess]

No, but I would pay for some really good bass fishing if I lived near some pay lakes. The clemson extension manages 3, maybe 4 lakes with the purpose of determining stocking strategies. I understand they implement different rules. Sometimes you have to take a slot, sometimes there's a max size you have to take. By entering into the agreement you're required to take your catch within those parameters. If you catch a limit in that slot you must take them out. 

 

But this place is 45 minutes away and I have good private fishing about 2 miles from my house. Other than that I have 3 other private places I can get into and there is a great wildlife preserve not too far with at least 6 ponds.

[Deleted account]

I fish a couple of golf courses, that are essentially the same thing...  

[TnRiver46]

6 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

I fish a couple of golf courses, that are essentially the same thing...  

those were fun back in the day before everyone got a stick up their butts 

[Tennessee Boy]

We have several pay lakes that are managed by the state wildlife resources agency.  You can pay per visit,  pay an annual fee, or purchase a Sportsman’s license which includes licenses for just about everything for hunting and fishing.  I’ve never been to one of these lakes but I keep saying I’m going to now that I’m retired. ?

[steve carpenter]

Fishing Private Lakes Texas has about 90 lakes scattered throughout the state  Pay an annual membership fee and pay varying amounts depending on the lake. When you reserve you have exclusive access to the water on that day. All are on private property. There are many large bass caught . You can look it up online. I have been a member for several years.

I am also 75 yoa and donot fish turnaments anymore. Strictly recreational  now.

[Jar11591]

There is one privately owned, pay-to-fish lake around me. It’s a decent sized lake, and is managed specifically for fishing. I fisher it once years and caught a decent sized brown trout but that was it. Not enough of a sample size to judge the lake but some of the “managing” techniques are puzzling to me. This is the only lake I’ve ever heard of that stocks bass yearly. By the thousands. I’ve never heard of bass needing to be stocked after the initial introduction, and that coupled with the allowed harvests of 15” and over, instead of a slot doesn’t seem like a recipe for trophy bass. But what do I know ??‍♂️
 

 

57 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

everyone got a stick up their butts 

I believe they call them clubs 

[TnRiver46]

44 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

We have several pay lakes that are managed by the state wildlife resources agency.  You can pay per visit,  pay an annual fee, or purchase a Sportsman’s license which includes licenses for just about everything for hunting and fishing.  I’ve never been to one of these lakes but I keep saying I’m going to now that I’m retired. ?

Those are all on your side of the state, I can’t think of a single one east of Nashville 

[Catt]

 Black Lake Marsh and The Lakes of the Gum Coves in Southwest Louisiana. These marshes produced thousands of double digit bass in an area known for only producing bass in the 3-5 pound range.

 

Some of this area is now world renowned Grosse Savanne Lodge; freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, waterfowl hunting, & alligator hunting.

 

Search YouTube for Zona & Hackney or Zona & KVD at Grosse Savanne.

 

[Pat Brown]

Privately managed lakes?  Not any around that I'm aware of.

 

Here in NC they take money at public lakes for anyone who wants to fish.

 

I just get the annual pass so I can fish when I want to at my local lakes.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Seems there has developed two types of pay lakes in people's definitions. 

 

1.)  State or Gov't owned, charges smaller amounts, usually daily.  Is somewhat managed, but many times pressure is unregulated.  

 

2.)  Private owned lakes specifically managed for trophy Bass, these lakes can charge by the day, weekend, or in some rare cases you can get an annual membership.   High entry fees, very regulated fishing pressure.

 

The second type is what we have down here.   These lakes cost between 300-500 a day to fish, although one has a bank fishing option for a $100 daily.   The one I'm going to go to first is called Triple D Ranch, they have several lakes.  Some have Tiger Bass, some have Gorilla, others have pure FLGM.     

 

These lakes aren't a guarantee in terms of DDs, as I follow them closely.  Triple D Ranch this year has a 11.5 as the biggest fish caught.   Generally speaking though, 100-200fish days are the norm.    I don't know how you can have a lake that produces 200 fish days, and still pumps out DDs, but they produce some.   My guess is they'd produce a bunch more if they went hardcore on culling, but they want a high catch rate for non trophy fisherman, they have corporate events and such at these places.

 

My dream is to create one of these lakes.   They call them Ray Scott lakes down here in Alabama, as Ray Scott kind of started the model, and his pay lakes are still dynamite here.   

[TnRiver46]

I was just talking about having to pay for a fishing license, we don’t have any extra pay things except trout (that I know of) 

[gim]

12 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Seems there has developed two types of pay lakes in people's definitions. 

 

1.)  State or Gov't owned, charges smaller amounts, usually daily.  Is somewhat managed, but many times pressure is unregulated.  

 

2.)  Private owned lakes specifically managed for trophy Bass, these lakes can charge by the day, weekend, or in some rare cases you can get an annual membership.   High entry fees, very regulated fishing pressure.

I thought a similar track based on the responses here.  My personal experience falls with option 1 in your post.  We do not have any fully off-limit private waters managed for trophy bass here; actually I can't think of any lake that is fully privatized and managed for any species of fish.  Many of our over 10,000 lakes are fully or mostly lined with private property, but there is almost always a way to physically get on the lake via a public access point.  The only limiting factor is the access to a body of water, which can be controlled through either a public or private entity and may or may not charge a fee to use the access.  The body of water itself is under regulation of the MN Dept of Natural Resources and anyone that wants to use it can, provided they have the appropriate licensing to fish, recreate, etc.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The only limiting factor is the access to a body of water, which can be controlled through either a public or private entity and may or may not charge a fee to use the access.

Ya - local here is Langdon Lake. You're pretty much restricted to shore fishing along the trail (old railroad tracks) on the north side. Other than that, there is no public access to the lake and you'd have to carry/cart a canoe/kayak in about 1/3-1/2 mile to reach a place you can launch.

 

Not that there's much in there - DNR census shows some pike, but mainly it's panfish and bullhead with the occasional bowfin...no bass found.