Best Shallow Water Fishing in the Country

[fishnflip]

Hey all just wanted to get overtones idea of some of the best shallow water fishing lakes in the country. (Lakes that fish shallow year long) 

Or lakes that are really good for going down the bank.

 

Id like to start it off with The Mississippi River around LaCrosse WI.

 

I'm trying to plan a trip for next year and I love shallow water and bank fishing so just looking to get some ideas. WI is home for me so the Mississippi river isn't really considered a trip for me. Would love to get to another state for a weekend of fishing.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

If I could go anywhere tomorrow to fish shallow for Largeheads, it would be Toledo Bend.

 

If I'm paying to go fish somewhere far away, I'm going to the place that gives me the best shot at a DD fish, and Toledo Bend does exactly that year-round.   You can also catch them deeper there as well, place has it all.     

 

 

[einscodek]

Lake Okeechobee on boat

[LrgmouthShad]

I think Greg Hackney said this of Santee Cooper

[Susky River Rat]

I see you say shallow fishing lakes the say about the Mississippi River. So, I am going to throw my two cents in and add the Susquehanna river.

[gim]

1 hour ago, fishnflip said:

Id like to start it off with The Mississippi River around LaCrosse WI.

There is soooooo much backwater shallow areas to fish there it’s endless. There are also smallmouth out in the main river current too. Really nice area of the Midwest along the river there.

[TnRiver46]

I’d say best youll find is canoeing with ol crickety 

[greentrout]

 

[Scott804]

Out of places I have been? Santee Cooper. All day.

 

That place is magical. Largemouth disneyland

[Catt]

1,200 miles of shoreline ?

 

 

Ole Tom (WRB) loves to tout his hero Dee Thomas & his dramatic win on Bull Shoals but that wasn't his first tournament. His first tournament was the week before on Toledo Bend where he failed to make the top 50 & the next year he failed to make the top 100. Dee said of Toledo Bend, "I was awestruck, that lake has such a target rich enviroment that I tried flipping them all."

 

This past spring over 125 double digits were caught on the Big Pond.

[Zcoker]

Best shallow water fishing in the country is hands down the Florida everglades, 4000 square miles of it. It’s the epitome of shallow water fishing if there is one. There’s literally thousands of miles of shallow water fishing that has some of the best fishing that I’ve ever experienced. There’s never a day with the word “skunk” in it. You can be in one spot and have a zillion different fishing opportunities. It’s almost overwhelming. There’s no such thing as the word “boring”. Always a new world around every single corner!! 

 

 

 

[Bankc]

Best shallow water bass fishing?  That's gotta be South Florida, right?  South Florida is to shallow water bass fishing what Hershey, Pennsylvania is to milk chocolate and Hollywood, California is to movies.

[casts_by_fly]

3 minutes ago, Bankc said:

South Florida is to shallow water bass fishing what Hershey, Pennsylvania is to milk chocolate and Hollywood, California is to movies.

 

By that you mean a place really known for it but not actually that good at it with far better options available?   

 

I'm speaking strictly of the chocolate and the movies.  I can't speak to the bass in florida much.

[Captain Phil]

The Everglades and Lake Okeechobee.  Nothing better!

[Pat Brown]

Gonna be very hard to beat Florida.

[GaryH]

Okeechobee, Kissimmee chain and a ton of small no name lakes in Florida.

[WRB]

The OP said “fishing from the bank” leaves out a lot potential areas. He also wants “shallow water” so what is shallow water.....less then 3’?

Tom

[fishnflip]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

The OP said “fishing from the bank” leaves out a lot potential areas. He also wants “shallow water” so what is shallow water.....less then 3’?

Tom

No not fishing from the bank. Fishing Going down the bank in a boat.

[crypt]

Florida. pick a spot any spot.

[WRB]

Big difference!

Every lake has shallow water next to the bank with the exception of a shore ledge bluff.

I take it you like to fish in water less then 8’ deep with lots of cover for Largemouth bass and Smallmouth.

A weekend trip near LaCross WI. Lake Mille Lacs comes to mind, shallow large lake in MN. 

Vacation trip I would suggest hiring a guide for any top bass lake south of you.

Clear Lake California fits a vacation destination, shallow big lake with world class bass fishing.

Tom

[flyfisher]

10 hours ago, Zcoker said:

Best shallow water fishing in the country is hands down the Florida everglades, 4000 square miles of it. It’s the epitome of shallow water fishing if there is one. There’s literally thousands of miles of shallow water fishing that has some of the best fishing that I’ve ever experienced. There’s never a day with the word “skunk” in it. You can be in one spot and have a zillion different fishing opportunities. It’s almost overwhelming. There’s no such thing as the word “boring”. Always a new world around every single corner!! 

 

 

 

Definitely a place I want to go fish one day...

[Mike L]

Big O

Headwaters

Everglades 

Stick Marsh / Farm 13

Toho

 

Blue Cypress

Lake Kissimmee 

Rodman Res

StJohns River

Istopoka

 

1st 5 in that order

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike