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Bassmasters Top 100 Lakes 2024


fishing user avatarslonezp reply : 

How many have you fished? I've fished 9 of them. #3,16,21,23,30,34,42,51,69

 

1 Falcon Lake, Texas
2 Lake Okeechobee, Florida
3 Lake Guntersville, Alabama
4 Lake Erie, Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania
5 Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont
6 Lake Amistad, Texas
7 Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
8 San Joaquin Delta, California
9 Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
10 Clear Lake, California
11 Rainy Lake, Minnesota
12 Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee
13 Lake St. Clair, Michigan
14 Oneida Lake, New York
15 Toledo Bend, Texas/Louisiana
16 Kentucky Lake/Barkley Lake, Kentucky/Tennessee
17 Grand Lake, Oklahoma
18 Kezar Lake, Maine
19 Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas
20 Columbia River, Washington/Oregon
21 Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes, Florida
22 Candlewood Lake, Connecticut
23 Santee Cooper lakes, South Carolina
24 Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
25 Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin
26 Lake Fork, Texas
27 Louisiana Delta, Louisiana
28 Lake Ouachita, Arkansas
29 Lake Konawa, Oklahoma
30 Lake Of The Ozarks, Missouri
31 Potomac River, Maryland/Virginia
32 Shasta Lake, California
33 Lake Havasu, Arizona
34 Lake Michigan, Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana/Michigan
35 Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
36 Florida Everglades, Florida
37 Lake Charlevoix, Michigan
38 Lake Mead, Nevada
39 Choke Canyon Lake, Texas
40 Lake Seminole, Georgia/Florida
41 Congamond Lakes, Massachusetts
42 Table Rock Lake, Missouri
43 Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
44 Falls Lake, North Carolina
45 Umpqua River, Oregon
46 Okoboji Lake, Iowa
47 Red River, Louisiana
48 Pueblo Reservoir, Colorado
49 DeGray Lake, Arkansas
50 Trap Pond, Delaware
51 Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas/Missouri
52 Spirit Lake, Iowa
53 St. Lawrence River, New York
54 Squam Lake, New Hampshire
55 High Rock Lake, North Carolina
56 Arbuckle Lake, Oklahoma
57 Lake Tarpon, Florida
58 Apache Lake, Arizona
59 Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona
60 Perry Reservoir, Kansas
61 Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee
62 Lake Wawasee, Indiana
63 Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
64 Lake Conroe, Texas
65 Noxon Rapids, Montana
66 Diamond Valley Lake, California
67 Summit Reservoir, Nebraska
68 Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
69 Rend Lake, Illinois
70 Lake Pleasant, Arizona
71 Lake Audubon, North Dakota
72 Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming
73 Harris Chain Of Lakes, Florida
74 Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine
75 Ute Lake, New Mexico
76 Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania
77 Wilson Reservoir, Kansas
78 Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico
79 Lake Oahe, South Dakota
80 Gull Lake, Minnesota
81 Kerr Reservoir/Buggs Isla, N.C./Virginia
82 Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky
83 Lake Gaston, North Carolina
84 Bullards Bar Reservoir, California
85 Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho
86 Tygart Lake, West Virginia
87 Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Kansas
88 O.H. Ivie, Texas
89 Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania
90 Lake Murray, South Carolina
91 Lake Sammamish, Washington
92 Lake Eufaula, Alabama/Georgia
93 Enid Reservoir, Mississippi
94 Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
95 Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana
96 Manasquan Reservoir, New Jersey
97 Lake Mohave, Nevada
98 Lake Lanier, Georgia
99 Sebago Lake, Maine
100 McPhee Lake, Colorado 4

 


fishing user avatarflyfisher reply : 

I have fished # 78, 81, 76 & 89.

 

None other than the susky in the past few years though.


fishing user avatar00 mod reply : 

I have fished 5 of them, but will add another this coming year!

 

3, 12,16,51,93

 

Jeff


fishing user avatarslainempire reply : 

part of 76 is less than a 10 minute walk from my front door and where i caught the smallie in my avatar!


fishing user avatarWRB reply : 

Bassmaster needs to update this list!

I have fished 25 of these lakes: 7,8,10,11,17,19,20,24,30,32,33,35,38,42,51,53,58,59,66,70,73,89,91,92 and 97.

Tom


fishing user avatarpbrussell reply : 

Perry #60? Uhuh... 


fishing user avatarroadwarrior reply : 

I have fished 12

 

 

 

 

:party-066:


fishing user avatarflyfisher reply : 
  On 12/30/2013 at 12:57 AM, slainempire said:

part of 76 is less than a 10 minute walk from my front door and where i caught the smallie in my avatar!

lucky SOB....lol 


fishing user avatarA-Jay reply : 

Been out on:

 

4 Lake Erie, Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania

43 Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

53 St. Lawrence River, New York

54 Squam Lake, New Hampshire

99 Sebago Lake, Maine

 

A-Jay


fishing user avatarDwight Hottle reply : 

I have fished 2,4,13,21,53, & 98. I'm 15 minutes from 4.


fishing user avatarNorcalBassin reply : 

Two for me (#8 and 10) and the fishing was so good at Hayden when I was up there for a week I never bothered to drive the 10 minutes to get to #9.


fishing user avatarMike L reply : 

Ive fished 2, 21, 36, 64, 73 and a few that should be on the list.

This year I have trips planned for 19 and 26.

Mike


fishing user avatarjessejames556 reply : 

61 Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee

82 Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee


fishing user avatarBigBassBarry reply : 

I have fished 

2 Lake Okeechobee, Florida

17 Grand Lake, Oklahoma

26 Lake Fork, Texas

30 Lake Of The Ozarks, Missouri

 

I would rate the four I have fished 1 fork  2 okeechobee 3 grand 4 lake of the ozarks.  

 

I want to check off a couple more this year.


fishing user avatarBigBassBarry reply : 
  On 12/30/2013 at 1:14 AM, WRB said:

Bassmaster needs to update this list!

I have fished 25 of these lakes: 7,8,10,11,17,19,20,24,30,32,33,35,38,42,51,53,58,59,66,70,73,89,91,92 and 97.

Tom

That is pretty impressive, I hope to have fished that many some day.  


fishing user avatarplumworm reply : 

#2 , #16, #19, #25, #34, #35, #36, #42, and a trip to #3 set for March. Add #17 and #47 from the new list.


fishing user avatarFelix77 reply : 

#5 and #14. Looking to add at least one more next season. :)


fishing user avatarwebertime reply : 

I live on #5, other than that #43.


fishing user avatarChris186 reply : 

I have fished #16, #41, #73, and #74. Honestly, #41, Congamond, im not very impressed with. Im not sure how it made it up so far on the list. All of the others I have fished  put that lake to shame. #74 is a personal favorite.


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 12/30/2013 at 1:23 AM, pbrussell said:

Perry #60? Uhuh...

None of those KS lakes should be on the list. My 2 favorite KS lakes aren't on the list, but they shouldn't be on there either.


fishing user avatarMarkH024 reply : 

16 & 51 for me. I've got some traveling to do.


fishing user avatarJrob78 reply : 

That's an old list.  This is the newest list from 2013

 

  1. Lake St. Clair, Michigan
  2. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas
  3. Clear Lake, California
  4. Lake Guntersville, Alabama
  5. Lake Erie, Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania
  6. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee
  7. Falcon Lake, Texas
  8. Lake Okeechobee, Florida
  9. San Joaquin Delta, California
  10. Toledo Bend Reservoir, Texas/Louisiana
  11. Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
  12. Kentucky Lake/Barkley Lake, Kentucky/Tennessee
  13. Thousand Islands, New York      
  14. Rodman Reservoir/St. Johns River, Florida
  15. Grand Lake ‘O The Cherokees, Oklahoma
  16. Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont
  17. Upper Mississippi River, Wisconsin/Minnesota/Iowa/Illinois
  18. Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas/Missouri
  19. Potomac River, Maryland/Virginia
  20. Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee
  21. Columbia River, Washington/Oregon
  22. Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes, Florida
  23. Lake Amistad, Texas
  24. Lake Oroville, California
  25. Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
  26. Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho
  27. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut
  28. Lake Fork, Texas
  29. Lake Michigan, Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana/Michigan
  30. Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine
  31. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
  32. Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
  33. Shasta Lake, California
  34. Lake Austin, Texas
  35. New River, West Virginia
  36. Rainy Lake, Minnesota
  37. Bullards Bar Reservoir, California
  38. Oneida Lake, New York
  39. Table Rock Lake, Missouri
  40. Lake Charlevoix, Michigan
  41. Lake Eufaula, Alabama/Georgia
  42. Lake of the Arbuckles, Oklahoma
  43. Lake Lanier, Georgia
  44. Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona
  45. Lake Ouachita, Arkansas
  46. Lake Havasu, Arizona
  47. Lake Istokpoga, Florida
  48. Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina
  49. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
  50. Summit Reservoir, Nebraska
  51. Lake Sammamish, Washington
  52. Florida Everglades, Florida
  53. Lake Berryessa, California
  54. Kezar Lake, Maine
  55. Lake Oahe, South Dakota
  56. Douglas Lake, Tennessee
  57. Okoboji Lake, Iowa
  58. Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
  59. Louisiana Delta, Louisiana
  60. Lake Seminole, Georgia/Florida
  61. Apache Lake, Arizona
  62. Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin
  63. Sebago Lake, Maine
  64. Lake Mead, Nevada
  65. Lake Gaston, North Carolina
  66. Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
  67. Spirit Lake, Iowa
  68. Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky
  69. Lake Tarpon, Florida
  70. Lake Konawa, Oklahoma
  71. Rend Lake, Illinois
  72. Lake Conroe, Texas
  73. Falls Lake, North Carolina
  74. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
  75. Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana
  76. Squam Lake, New Hampshire
  77. Lake Anna, Virginia
  78. Lake Murray, South Carolina
  79. Red River, Louisiana
  80. High Rock Lake, North Carolina
  81. Burt Lake, Michigan
  82. Pueblo Reservoir, Colorado
  83. Kerr Reservoir/Buggs Island, North Carolina/Virginia
  84. Perry Reservoir, Kansas
  85. Lake Mohave, Nevada
  86. Wilson Reservoir, Kansas
  87. Lake Audubon, North Dakota
  88. Navajo Lake, New Mexico
  89. Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania
  90. Lake Dunlap, Texas
  91. Lake Norman, North Carolina
  92. Lake Wawasee, Indiana
  93. Manasquan Reservoir, New Jersey
  94. Lay Lake, Alabama
  95. Webster Lake, Massachusetts
  96. DeGray Lake, Arkansas
  97. Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
  98. Cayuga Lake, New York
  99. Fayette County Reservoir, Texas
  100. Logan Martin Lake, Alabama 

fishing user avatarFrog Turds reply : 

of the most recent list;

 
3) Clear Lake, Calfornia but my memory is foggy (was around 24 years ago) if it was Clear Lake or Lake Dixon, kinda think it was Lake Dixon but hell it could be both for that matter lol
 
17) Upper Mississippi River, Wisconsin/Minnesota/Iowa/Illinois
 
21) Columbia River, Washington/Oregon
 
29) Lake Michigan, Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana/Michigan
 
51) Lake Sammamish, Washington
 
53) Lake Berryessa, California
 
74) Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota

fishing user avatarNaplock reply : 

I have fished 4 (two Road Trips in 2005 and '06), 6 (lived nearby), 8 (stationed in Orlando ... twice), 11 (summer road trip while stationed in the great Naval State of Idaho), 12 (went to grade school nearby, though I don't recall them being particularly good in the 70's), 14 (several road trips while stationed in Jax), 25 (Family Vacation ... Sneak end a guided trip), 43 (several road trips while stationed in Jax), 48 (stationed in Charleston), 52 (High School in Ft Lauderdale), and 91 (I live across the street from it).

So all tolled, 11


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 

From list #1: 24

2, 3, 12, 15, 16, 19, 21, 26, 27, 28, 30, 36, 39, 40, 42, 47, 49, 51, 57, 64, 73, 82, 88, 92

LOL Y'all thought I only fished 1lake ;)

List #2: 28


fishing user avatarWRB reply : 

2013 list fished 22; 2, 3, 9, 13, 15, 18, 21, 24, 31, 32, 33, 37, 39, 41, 46, 51, 53, 61, 64, 66, 74, 85.

Tom


fishing user avatarMytoyzfishing reply : 

Woho the second list has my home lake as #25 moving on up from #63. There is a public ramp for #25 4 miles from my house and a private ramp less than a mile. 


fishing user avatarslonezp reply : 

Same 9 only in different order


fishing user avatartatertester reply : 

These lists are very subjective to say the least!......Rating lakes is not an easy task to begin with, and many have their prejudices. There are any number of lakes that could be near the top that are not even on the list. Good conversation tho....A good question might be "which highly rated lakes have you fished that did not live up to their billing?".


fishing user avatarmnbassman23 reply : 

17  & 74 on the 2013 list. 


fishing user avatarrippin-lips reply : 

I fished #2 from last years list. That place is huge,114,000 acres. Went in mid May. Caught a good many fish but nothing big. Should of went with a guide for 1 day.


fishing user avatarSalamander12 reply : 

My friend lives on #8 the san joaqin delta and I have my boat docked in his backyard I fish it almost everyday after work.


fishing user avatarKyakR reply : 

Only 3.....all in Maine: Sebego, Cobbesseecontee, Kezar. But boy, what a bucket list!! Just occurred to me how cool it would be to take a few months off after the Roadtrip and hit all of them that I could on the way to CA to see my son. Ah, the joys of retirement!! :eyebrows:


fishing user avatarNice_Bass reply : 

Glad to see lake of the Ozarks made a push up, although for size and numbers I still think it could be higher.

 

Speaking of higher, whoever put Rend lake on at #69 is on drugs.  Really, really good drugs.  Shallow and dull, average numbers and size for IL.  No chance it should be on there, let alone rated higher than others on those list. 


fishing user avatarslonezp reply : 
  On 12/30/2013 at 12:38 PM, tatertester said:

These lists are very subjective to say the least!......Rating lakes is not an easy task to begin with, and many have their prejudices. There are any number of lakes that could be near the top that are not even on the list. Good conversation tho....A good question might be "which highly rated lakes have you fished that did not live up to their billing?".

That is a good question but also relative. Out of the 9 lakes I listed, 3 of them stand out, but I have put plenty of time on only 2 of those bodies of water, KY Lake and Lake Michigan. Most of the other trips were 1/2-1 week long trips with zero experience on that particular body of water. I have found KY Lake and Guntersville easy to fish, meaning easy to find fish with minimal work. Some fish of quality and some being average. Table Rock, LOZ, and Bull Shoals were more difficult for me. Toho was a dud in Feburary under coldfront conditions. I've been fishing Lake Michigan for close to 40 years and it's still a work in progress. I'm still trying to break the 6lb mark for a smallie. 


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 

Many of these lakes are part of the allure of bass fishing & the reason I took time to visit them.

Catching was Lagniappe ;)


fishing user avatarChance_Taker4 reply : 

4, 13, 16, 82, 94 used to live in TN awhile back now I live in Ohio. 4 is less than 5 minutes from my house.


fishing user avatarHyrule Bass reply : 

Smith Mountain Lake, Potomac River, Gaston and Kerr/Buggs Island


fishing user avatardaiwaguy reply : 

3 from list 2; LOZ, Table Rock and Bull Shoals


fishing user avatarkickbasskid reply : 

I live in central ohio so I have fished 0 but hoping to add 1 or 2 this summer.


fishing user avatarNitrofreak reply : 

3 for me , 31 Potomac , 63 Smith Mountain , 81 Buggs Island


fishing user avatarWayne P. reply : 

From the 2013 list:

 

1, 4, 19, 22, 25, 28, 65, 73, 77, 83


fishing user avatargobig reply : 

I have fished all of the California and Oregon lakes on the list. Not sure the criteria they use but it would help if BASS came out to California more than once every 5 years. At least they moved Clearlake up the list. How many lakes can you catch a 30lb bag and not even cut a check? Oroville in the top 25 over Berryessa, Shasta and Bullards? Really? I do not understand the fascination with Oroville. I can think of several lakes near by that are better than Oroville and not on the list. 


fishing user avatarNEjitterbugger reply : 

I have fished 43 and 54, the two in my New Hampshire...


fishing user avatarBassintheweeds reply : 

7 Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota

18 Kezar Lake, Maine

24 Roosevelt Lake, Arizona

34 Lake Michigan, Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana/Michigan

51 Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas/Missouri

70 Lake Pleasant, Arizona
 

74 Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine

99 Sebago Lake, Maine

 

not too shabby for 18 years. Should be adding kentucky lake, saint lawerence, and the big O on 2014.



 


fishing user avatarww2farmer reply : 

#4, and #21 for me.


fishing user avatarFishinDaddy reply : 

8,20,22,47,52,69.

 

And for the life of me, I can't figure out how #69, Tarpon, made any list, for any reason, ever.


fishing user avatarwnybassman reply : 

4, 5, 14, 21, 43, 53 and 82


fishing user avatarGeorge Welcome reply : 

 

  On 1/1/2014 at 11:44 AM, FishinDaddy said:

8,20,22,47,52,69.

 

And for the life of me, I can't figure out how #69, Tarpon, made any list, for any reason, ever.

 

They were smoking something on that one.


fishing user avatarPete-K reply : 

Sad I had to grow up on Ky/Pickwick lake. Sad sad.


fishing user avatarbonzai22 reply : 

Illinois only has one lake on the list and its 4 hours away from me that sucks buttermilk lol. But ive fished 16, 36, and 90.


fishing user avatarJaheff reply : 

Only 6 for me,

24,33,38,59,66,and 97




10623

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