Favorite body of water?

[Swamp Girl]

I've fished streams, small rivers, big rivers, wilderness lakes and rivers, farm ponds, swamps, small lakes, reservoirs, and the biggest lakes, such as Superior and Michigan for bass, both largemouth and smallmouth. I haven't fished highland reservoirs or great impoundments, like you find in Texas. My favorite is swamps for largemouth, for swamps reward accurate casting and stealth. My second favorite is wilderness lakes for smallmouth, for the beauty and isolation, as well as the quality of fishing. 

 

What's your favorite kind of water to fish and why?

[Fyrewulf]

5-10 acre ponds without a lot of pressure for LMB. They're big enough for big bass, and small enough to fish thoroughly and without too much thought each trip. No time or money spent trying to find them. They're there if you know how to catch them. Next would be wading streams for SMB. The bites are plentiful. Fishing a lake can be interesting and beautiful sometimes, but I don't enjoy spending more time hunting them than I do fishing for them, or all the preparation that goes into launching for them. I want to show up, fish, and catch. 

[MediumMouthBass]

Ive fished my whole life, only got into bass fishing a few years ago though. Its beaten every other type of fishing ive ever done. Ive fished in many different states, even in the salt (Maine). All types of different bodies of water. The journey so far sadly cost me to break up with my love for fly fishing for trout and panfish, i still do it time to time but nothing has come close to fighting a bass through fields of lily pads, trying to keep them from running into trees or wood, and the excitement and joy they bring, whether big bass or even the 1-2lbers....

 

My absolute favorite is the 20-60 acre ponds or swamps. Often overlooked by most people heading to the bigger lakes, no fish finder or tech needed, easy to memorize the bottom and whats where.

And you can cover most of it quickly if in a rush. The bass in the ones by me are usually 2-4lbers but several have been caught and posted over the last decade either at or above 10lbs. So they can definitely grow big in these smaller waters. Usually they are restricted to trolling motors or paddle only so no jetskis or wake boats either. And after awhile you can read the place like its a book written just for you. But river fishing for smallmouth and walleye comes very close.

[Jig Man]

I only fish highland reservoirs and then only the ones that allow my boat on them.  My favorite one is Stockton Lake which is about 50 miles away.  It is about 25000 acres with several hundred miles of varied shoreline.  It has largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.  It is clear on the north end and murky up the rivers.

 

Our streams are overcrowded with party people in the warm months so I don’t go there anymore.

[Junk Fisherman]

Lake Michigan

 

I like the big water of the Great Lakes because they're beautiful, mysterious, historic, and dangerous.   Plus, they have giant smallmouth bass.  I enjoy fishing Lake Michigan locally, mostly Indiana waters, but I also love Green Bay and Grand Traverse Bay in Wisconsin and Michigan.  

[Pat Brown]

Special places in my heart for Lake Michie - the lake I tossed my first zebco into with my dad.  Probably still at least a couple I tossed in the lake that are down there at the bottom to this day - settled into the ancient silt.  Guaranteed the lake I caught my first fish out of back before I was even forming memories!

 

Lake Huron - where I got bit by the bass bug for the first time chasing smallies in knee deep water on Rocky flats at sunset with my dad and brothers while visiting my mom's family in Michigan during summers up North.

 

Santee Cooper - You have to see this place to believe this place but it's unreal and it's like fishing in Jurassic Park.  Easily the most beautiful and mysterious and even frightening place I've caught largemouth bass.  If you want to know what fishing in the Cretaceous period may have been like - fish Santee Cooper at night in the summer. 😮 

 

Lake Brandt - the lake I taught my son to fish on.  It's the lake that has my heart and has captured my imagination and it has produced the most excitement and motivation and also heartbreak of any lake I've fished.  I'm in awe of the bass that swim and eat and do what bass do in my humble home lake.  I'm deeply grateful for the lessons they have taught me about fishing and about life over the years chasing them.  The largemouth bass in my lake are truly majestic and beautiful creatures.

[Swamp Girl]

10 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Special places in my heart for Lake Michie - the lake I tossed my first zebco into with my dad.  Probably still at least a couple I tossed in the lake that are down there at the bottom to this day - settled into the ancient silt.  Guaranteed the lake I caught my first fish out of back before I was even forming memories!

 

Lake Huron - where I got bit by the bass bug for the first time chasing smallies in knee deep water on Rocky flats at sunset with my dad and brothers while visiting my mom's family in Michigan during summers up North.

 

Santee Cooper - You have to see this place to believe this place but it's unreal and it's like fishing in Jurassic Park.  Easily the most beautiful and mysterious and even frightening place I've caught largemouth bass.  If you want to know what fishing in the Cretaceous period may have been like - fish Santee Cooper at night in the summer. 😮 

 

Lake Brandt - the lake I taught my son to fish on.  It's the lake that has my heart and has captured my imagination and it has produced the most excitement and motivation and also heartbreak of any lake I've fished.  I'm in awe of the bass that swim and eat and do what bass do in my humble home lake.

 

I just Googled "Sanatee Cooper." Pat is right:

 

 

 

3 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

nothing has come close to fighting a bass through fields of lily pads, trying to keep them from running into trees or wood, and the excitement and joy they bring, whether big bass or even the 1-2lbers....

 

You and me, brother. Open water fishing feels like cheating to me now. This is my Heaven:

 

[Pat Brown]

@Swamp Girl - you'd love fishing NC - the Piedmont is just a nice word we made up for THE SWAMP!

[Swamp Girl]

Just now, Pat Brown said:

@Swamp Girl - you'd love fishing NC - the Piedmont is just a nice word we made up for THE SWAMP!

 

Then I would love it. If there's no wood for bass to snag my line or weeds for bass to burrow into, it's too easy-peasy!

[Tennessee Boy]

I’ve tried to answer the question.  I’ve honestly tried to choose.  I just can’t.  I can go up into the hills and fish highland reservoirs like  Dale Hollow or go down to large reservoirs like Guntersville or Kentucky Lake.  We have plenty of rivers and creeks also.   I love the variety.  I can’t choose.  Sorry.  😞 

[TnRiver46]

9 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I’ve tried to answer the question.  I’ve honestly tried to choose.  I just can’t.  I can go up into the hills and fish highland reservoirs like  Dale Hollow or go down to large reservoirs like Guntersville or Kentucky Lake.  We have plenty of rivers and creeks also.   I love the variety.  I can’t choose.  Sorry.  😞 

Same , and I’m a long ways from you 

[A-Jay]

What's your favorite kind of water to fish and why?

 

I've fished a variety of places and techniques over the years.

Chasing the pelagic beasts of the Deep Blue waters of the Atlantic Gulf Stream, the infinite opportunities offered fishing in-shore habitats of most of the East Coast to the many

sweet water lakes, rivers & streams of northern New England where I grew up.

 

But being a prisoner of the moment, my jam for the last 17 years or so has been on deep, clean, lightly pressured in land lakes of northern Michigan. 

Most all of these are multi species experiences.

However, Smallmouth bass are my current quest.

When I get it right,  it's on par with most everything previously mentioned. 

Might even be world class. 

 

Honorable mention has to go to Lake Baccarac in Mexico

where I have experienced a kind of largemouth bass fishing

that I wouldn't have believed was even possible without video proof. 

It's the Disneyland meets Jurassic Park of Green Bass Fishing.

A-Jay

 

[Susky River Rat]

The susky, it’s long wide, powerful and shallow. Endless areas to explore. Some not for the weak hearted or some you just have to be a complete bone head to. It offers just about anything anyone could ever want out of a fishery. Whether from boat, kayak or wading.  (Other than bogs)

[LrgmouthShad]

15 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

What's your favorite kind of water to fish and why?

For largemouth, I like to fish deeper reservoirs with well defined channels because the structure makes more sense to my brain rather than a lake with the bottom contour of a fishbowl. 
 

Honorable mention to river and creek fishing for smallmouth 

[Catt]

Toledo Bend Reservoir the bass fishing capital of the world!

[Spankey]

I’m a river rat at heart. There is just something about those Smallies I love. Sure I wish every time out they were all respectable fish but dink and runt days are common. The river is just like home to me. I find an inter peace when I’m on it. I don’t generally fish in the stretches close to or in the city but I have. The Smallies are there along with some nice largemouths and throw in some stripers also. Stripers caught were not big but I guess the potential for one is good. That tidal water is a real trip to fish and don’t overlook any type of structure you come across. Especially man made stuff. When I was younger I didn’t mind the hassle of putting in down around the city. Don’t have the patience for the traffic these days. Fished a spot a few weeks ago that is just outside of city limits, a stretch that I didn’t fish for about 3 years and done well. Slow current and a lot of different cover along it. I fish the lake quite a bit during the season also. My grandsons love the lake. They both have nice PB’s from there and like fishing for new PB’s. 

[Swamp Girl]

21 minutes ago, Catt said:

Toledo Bend Reservoir the bass fishing capital of the world!

 

I believe it based upon your telling me that it can produce a 35-pound bag in half an hour. I understand that this is not every half hour.

[king fisher]

This.  It is a rocky deep reservoir south of Lake Menderchuck.

 

[Swamp Girl]

@king fisher: You gave us way too much intel. "south of Lake Menderchuck" should make it a breeze to find!

[Catt]

@Swamp Girl Actually its because in the late 70s there was a huge sign on Hwy 87 that read, Welcome to Toledo Bend Reservoir the Bass Fishing Capital of the World. Back then I was fishing 200/250+ days a year...I've read it!

 

What I like is I can fish shallow or deep, there's every kind cover, there's every type of structure, & every technique will produce. 

[TOXIC]

Easy answer…..Whatever body of water I happen to be on at the time…. For me, every body of water I am on is a quest/adventure.  Catching is secondary.  If I ever lose that butterfly feeling in my stomach every time I pull up to a body of water, it will be the day I put all my gear and boat up for sale.  

[MN Fisher]

^ Best answer!

[king fisher]

3 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

@king fisher: You gave us way too much intel. "south of Lake Menderchuck" should make it a breeze to find!

I gave you a picture of the lake, a description of the lake, and which direction to drive.  What more intel do you need?

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Same , and I’m a long ways from you 

It might be easier for you to come up with an answer for your favorite spinnerbait lake.

[Swamp Girl]

31 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I gave you a picture of the lake, a description of the lake, and which direction to drive.  What more intel do you need?

 

Nothing else. I'm actually there right now. Oh, oh, gotta go. DD on the line!

[TnRiver46]

50 minutes ago, king fisher said:

 

It might be easier for you to come up with an answer for your favorite spinnerbait lake.

Actual photo from wed oct 9