Favorite water you've fished. 2024

N Florida Mike reply :

If you could only fish and/or live on one water body you've already fished , where would it be and why ? Doesn't count if you've never fished it.

I Know it's hard to pinpoint just one , so let's do one or two.

An example would be the water body you would choose to retire on if you could.

scaleface reply :

Theres a small lake of 6000 acres in northern Missouri called Thomas hill reservoir . I have simply had better luck on that lake than any other lake .

Bluebasser86 reply :

As much as I love bass fishing, I couldn't go without having a wide variety of species available to me because I'm still very much multispecies guy. Of the places that I've actually fished that I think I could fish forever and never get bored, I'd have to go with Beaver Lake and Table Rock a close 1 and 2 and I'm not really sure which is which.

Catt reply :

Uhh! That's a hard one!

Toledo Bend Reservoir!

Why? The bass fishing capital of the world!

190,000 surface acres with 1,200 miles of shoreline!

Ya can fish any type of structure, in any type of cover, with any technique & catch!

A-Jay reply :

Easiest Question Ever~

A-Jay

Jar11591 reply :

On 1/27/2018 at 9:22 PM, A-Jay said:

Easiest Question Ever~

A-Jay

Before I read your response, my thought was “what an easy question” for anyone who has made the trip.

A-Jay reply :

On 1/27/2018 at 11:29 PM, Jar11591 said:

Before I read your response, my thought was “what an easy question” for anyone who has made the trip.

I'm with ya ~ while that place is 'one of a kind' (for green bass), I could have just as easily noted one of the semi-insane brown bass factories I get to frequent at this local - nothing wrong with flying under the radar though.

A-Jay

slonezp reply :

Sturgeon Bay or KY Lake. Sturgeon Bay because of the trophy potential, not only with bass but walleye, perch, musky, pike, salmon, and brown trout. The scenery is beautiful. There is something very humbling about fishing a body of water that you cannot see the opposite shoreline, and has the potential swallow you up in an instant. The downside is the winters and, having to pick and choose your windows of opportunity to fish based on the wind. KY Lake because of consistency. I have fished a myriad of lakes in the south/southeast, some multiple times, and KY Lake has never disappointed me.

J._Bricker reply :

On 1/27/2018 at 8:31 PM, N Florida Mike said:

If you could only fish and/or live on one water body you've already fished , where would it be and why ? Doesn't count if you've never fished it.

I Know it's hard to pinpoint just one , so let's do one or two.

An example would be the water body you would choose to retire on if you could.

I’m already there Mike, I get fish the Delta all year long! Lake Okeechobee is my other pick cause it’s the only other place that fits the criteria.

Troy85 reply :

Toledo Bend

geo g reply :

By far the Everglades Conservation areas, once the water drops. You could easily catch over 100 bass in a four hour trip, with a bunch of 4's and 5's in the mix. It can get crazy once the dry season returns, its not there yet but it is coming. They need to stop pumping water south from Okeechobee, and go back to a normal water cycle.

lo n slo reply :

scatter my ashes on Lake Davidson

riverbasser reply :

Good topic although I haven't traveled enough to have a good answer. As of now I would have to say lake Seminole

2tall79 reply :

Most of the lakes I fish locally are like fishing in a cereal bowl. Several years ago I made the 6 hour drive to the Snake River in the South Eastern portion of our state and loved it. Not only is it a world class smallmouth fishery but for the first time I was fishing ledges, current breaks, eddies, submerged foundations, creek channels, inside and outside bends. In other words I was fishing structure that I read about here daily.

crypt reply :

Okeechobee........... 2nd. place Stick Marsh....

because that's where the fish are

MassYak85 reply :

Oh man, there's plenty of tiny lakes around here that I love fishing but of all the places I've ever gotten a line wet if I was forced to stick with one I'd have to go St. Lawrence River.

Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :

Do I have to pick since I already live there?

Bankbeater reply :

First two that popped into my head were Table Rock and Lake of the Ozarks.

Scott F reply :

Topics that start out..If you could only pick one..... kinda bug me because, there is no real world reason why you would be forced to fish only one lake. Forgive me, but I'm going to answer this my way. The most beautiful lake I've ever fished would be Lake Vermilion, MN. Having a home there would be nice, but the best fishing there only happens for a few weeks out of the year, and the winters there are literally the worst in the lower 48 states, so there is no way I'd retire and spend the rest of my life there.

My favorite fishing comes from the Menominee River on the border of Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Absolutely great, world class, fishing for smallies in shallow water from ice out to around mid October. The summers are so mild you barely need air conditioning so It's a great place to have a summer home. But like Minnesota, the winters pretty much suck. I'd have to be a snow bird, spending winters in Florida and summers on the Menominee. I've never fished in Florida in the winter so I have no idea where I'd fish and stay in Southern Florida.

MichaelCopeland reply :

I'd have to say Toledo Bend Reservoir. Although I've only fished there once in my life and it was at a pretty dangerous time with lake force winds it was the greatest experience I've had on any body of water. The scenery is beautiful and the bass were biting. Hoping to get back there very soon. ????

Oregon Native reply :

OMG.....used to think the California Delta was my favorite....I so did love it but it has been a long time now since I have been back. The Columbia River was amazing....Oh my gosh...no people and tons of smallies during the week. But the winter with its waves and cold.....NOT. I want to fish 365 if I can...especially since my body seems to voice it's concerns once in awhile now. I now live in Tennessee and everyday is a new adventure with amazing opportunities. I'd like to stay here and learn a new favorite. Right now...hmmmm.....Watts bar could be one of my favorites...especially if I could live on the water ....and Norris....no not Norris...winters are awesome...summers have a bazillion beer drinking pontoon boats. Think I would take Chick for a second lake.....but still looking. So little time...so many lakes.

BillP reply :

Charleston Lake, Ontario

Good fishing, great scenery and friendly people

Close enough to Brockville, Ontario for shopping and dining

DINK WHISPERER reply :

Big O.... I'm 20 min away.

Chowderhead reply :

Vail Lake — Temecula, California. Fished there only once as a kid with my dad. Loved that place - not sure what it’s status is now. One of the few fishing trips I went on with my dad.

Drew03cmc reply :

Umm, honestly, I would probably choose the middle Gasconade River drainage in Missouri. There's so much quality water within an hour radius of your home base at Devils Elbow (3 miles up the Big Piney from the G'Nade).

Chris at Tech reply :

The Gulf of Mexico

TnRiver46 reply :

Right here. Took this pic today actually. There is not a single house "on" this lake and Most of the land around it belongs to Uncle Sam. I don't think I can live on this lake but we have a family house on the next one downstream! Some guys have all the luck

Angry John reply :

Favorite place I ever fished was black lake in upstate new york. Only spent a week there with my best friend but it was amazing and had ever species you would want from musky to panfish.

Oregon Native reply :

On 1/29/2018 at 10:17 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Right here. Took this pic today actually. There is not a single house "on" this lake and Most of the land around it belongs to Uncle Sam. I don't think I can live on this lake but we have a family house on the next one downstream! Some guys have all the luck

Pretty

Burtonxj reply :

Potomac River

Little bit of everything

TOXIC reply :

I agree, the retirement component skews my answer because if I'm retired, winter will not find me no matter how hard it tries. BUT.....my favorite lake? St Clair in Michigan would have to rank right up there. There's a group of us that have been going for 15 years and that lake never ceases to amaze me. Via the rivers you can get to Huron and Erie if you ever have a need to leave the lake. Had a chance to buy a house on an island a couple of years ago but passed and I am still kicking myself. As soon as winter showed up I would not be in the state, let alone the lake.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 1/29/2018 at 8:42 PM, Oregon Native said:

Pretty

Saw the eagle while driving the truck today, not the boat. I'm guessing I see one 80-90 percent of the times I fish. And I fish a lot

Dwight Hottle reply :

Lake Erie is where I chose to move for retirement. Plenty of diversity when the bass aren't biting. Winters are best spent south in Florida.

bkohlman reply :

I would choose a privately owned lake in central Kansas. I have fished it a few times with a member and it has been solid for producing quality and quantity over the years.

Scarborough817 reply :

if it's something i've already fishing it would be my home lake, it's currently 2+ hours away but i love it with all my heart and one day i will live there anyway

Chefster reply :

Of my small sample size of waters I have fished I would be a tie between Shasta and Trinity lake in California.

Sam reply :

Lake Gaston.

WRB reply :

On 1/28/2018 at 9:59 PM, Chowderhead said:

Vail Lake — Temecula, California. Fished there only once as a kid with my dad. Loved that place - not sure what it’s status is now. One of the few fishing trips I went on with my dad.

Unfortunitly Vail Vail fell on hard times with law suits over ownership issues and now closed.

Tom

Catt reply :

#2 would be Toro Creek below the Toledo Bend levee. The water crystal clear & stays in the 40s.

Aint gonna catch Hawgs but you'll catch 50-60 Kentucky Spots a day.

Chowderhead reply :

On 1/30/2018 at 11:39 AM, WRB said:

Unfortunitly Vail Vail fell on hard times with law suits over ownership issues and now closed.

Tom

That is too bad. I have no idea how it stacked up against other SoCal lakes at the time (late 80’s), but for me, there was something special about that place.

WRB reply :

Having fished all over the world, both fresh and salt water that is a difficult question.

Most places have changed a lot and not the same today as I remember them and most of the people who shared the experiences are no longer around.

Sunrises on remote wilderness fly in lakes with my father in law in his plane stir some wonderful musky and lake trout fishing.

Marlin fishing off remote coast of Baja's Magdelina bay with the sea alive with thousands of birds diving on bait and big tuna and Marlin in a feeding frenzy, the images are etched into my memory.

Catching giant bass at Casitas and Castiac are cherished memories.

catching my PB musky, my wife trying to net it brings a smile.

I live where I planned to retire and sharing life with lovely wife, life is good.

Tom

N Florida Mike reply :

It's hard for me to pick one or two , because I'm in Florida. I'm very content with the small lake I live on . It has consistently produced for 40 + years now. Caught my pb largemouth , catfish , and bream in it . Have had lots of fun experiences through the years here with family and friends.

If not there , I'd like to live or fish on a remote part of the St John's river, where the area around it would never be developed. A part of old Florida that would always stay the same....

DogBone_384 reply :

To date it’s Plymouth, Massachusetts. If there’s a better place to catch SMB & LMB in SE Mass, I’ve not found it.

Of course, I can't stop searching. Isn’t that one of the reasons we fish, to continually seek better waters?

Gundog reply :

On 1/29/2018 at 10:44 AM, Angry John said:

Favorite place I ever fished was black lake in upstate new york. Only spent a week there with my best friend but it was amazing and had ever species you would want from musky to panfish.

100% agree. Spent a week up there and it was amazing. I'm dying to go back.

Mike L reply :

Lake Okeechobee...

Why?

Because it's Lake Okeechobee!

'nuff said

Mike

ThatredneckguyJamie reply :

I used to travel a lot for my current employer and my former...and I always carry a travel rod with me wherever I go. I have fished all over this great land of ours from sea to shining sea, and across the purple mountains majesty. But if I had to pick one body of water to fish for the rest of my life...that is easy, right here at home on the mighty St Johns river. Trophy bass to the south, to tailing bull Reds to the north, it has enough diversity to keep you busy for a lifetime full of fishing.

Spankey reply :

Smallmouth Bass are in my heart. But I like catching other species. Trout and Salmon are favorites of mine.

Have to be Lake Ontario. Winter on it might kill me though.

J Francho reply :

I could fish Port Bay, and the surrounding Lake Ontario area for the rest of my life. In fact, my first 20 years of fishing were spent there, since we had a cottage on the bay. Largemouth, pike, panfish in the bay, smallies, trout, salmon, and perch out in the lake.

Spankey reply :

I think I'm gonna fish up around Oswego before the 4th of July for a few days. Will be a solo trip for a few days. I'll drag my puddle jumper up a chill for a few days.

Late summer I'd like to get the wife, two girls and my son-in-laws back up for some King fishing. We tore the up this past year.

I think about Lake Ontario almost everyday. I got bit by that bug.

Mr. Aquarium reply :

theres 2 places in mind! both ive fished in the past! both are big deep lakes with out big boats, only car top boats. both are hard to get into so i dont fish em enough, when i do it in a yak with no electronics and cant fish em properly, both have GIANT bass. i would love to live on them have a skiff out back with electronics and really learn how to fish these places.

All Day Fishing reply :

On 1/28/2018 at 7:52 AM, 2tall79 said:

Most of the lakes I fish locally are like fishing in a cereal bowl. Several years ago I made the 6 hour drive to the Snake River in the South Eastern portion of our state and loved it. Not only is it a world class smallmouth fishery but for the first time I was fishing ledges, current breaks, eddies, submerged foundations, creek channels, inside and outside bends. In other words I was fishing structure that I read about here daily.

I have to second that! I just moved to Boise Idaho and I freakin live like 40 minutes away from the Snake River! There is a dam 40 minutes away and access to more isolated stretches of the river. Amazing fishery, multiple species.

bagofdonuts reply :

I love the big O down in clewiston, but i think if i fished it everyday i would miss the arkansas river. not gonna catch a ten pounder, but it changes daily(heck hourly) based on the flow. Its like fishing a new body of water every time out. I never get bored of it. never fished the st johns, maybe that would be best of both worlds.

Hawkeye21 reply :

Mississippi River. It has everything except where I live I have to deal with ice.

ThatredneckguyJamie reply :

On 2/2/2018 at 12:48 AM, Hawkeye21 said:

Mississippi River. It has everything except where I live I have to deal with ice.

lol you need to try it down south about a thousand miles

Hawkeye21 reply :

On 2/2/2018 at 1:19 AM, ThatredneckguyJamie said:

lol you need to try it down south about a thousand miles

The fishing is great here though. I can't live in the south, I need my seasons even though winter sucks.

TimberTodd reply :

I would go for either Ten Mile or Tahkenitch lake on the southern Oregon coast.

drscholl14 reply :

It would have to be Mille Lacs here in MN. Trophy smallmouth, walleye, northern pike, and Muskie. Plus I could still get my ice fishing in in the Winter. So many great fishing opportunities in that lake.

uncustered reply :

Buggs or Smith mountain

Or, that really big lake east of Buxton, NC.....

soflabasser reply :

Good subject. I am a multi species fisherman who enjoys to travel to fish so I do not have 1 specific location as my favorite place to fish. I have a lifetime ahead of me so I plan on traveling the world to catch the fish on my bucket list.

ww2farmer reply :

I like it just fine right where I am.

Of the two lake I fish regularly (Silver and Conesus), I think I like Conesus a hair bit better. Maybe because I fish Silver 10x's as much during the course of a season due to how close I am to it. But I also seem to have fewer "bad" days on Conesus.

Loomis13 reply :

I would choose LOTW on the canadian side. I have been to okeechobee LM fishing and it was fun and the water so different than what Im used to, but Im a walleye/crappie guy at heart and this lake has literally endless opportunities. Plus, in the winters I could ice fish. Oh, and the smallmouth fishing can be spectacular too. I could also deer hunt a little bit and Iowa isn't too far away if I would be so lucky to get a tag there.

Captain America reply :

Top secret. Can't talk about it.

Smalls reply :

I lived in this apartment complex for about 2 years. It was my ex’s, moved in with her. There were two ponds on the property.

They defied all rules and reason of an ecosystem.

The only 2 fish in the pond were laregemouth bass, and bluegill. I could not take my kids fishing and expect to fish. I would hook a worm, and before I had a chance to grab my rod- “dad, I caught a fish, get it off”.

When I fished alone, I found there were bass that would grow to sizes they certainly should not in a “puddle” that was not half the size of a football field. I don’t dare utter the weight of my biggest for fear of being labeled a liar.

I still I’ll make the occasional trip, on Saturday and Sundays, when the office is closed. They favor frog type offerings the most.

Columbia Craw reply :

On 2/2/2018 at 7:21 AM, TimberTodd said:

I would go for either Ten Mile or Tahkenitch lake on the southern Oregon coast.

My wife would move to Florence in a second.

I think i'll hang out right here.

Dr. G reply :

Clearlake. I was fortunate enough to take a few trips there when I started bass fishing.

323Walter reply :

On 1/27/2018 at 9:06 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

As much as I love bass fishing, I couldn't go without having a wide variety of species available to me because I'm still very much multispecies guy. Of the places that I've actually fished that I think I could fish forever and never get bored, I'd have to go with Beaver Lake and Table Rock a close 1 and 2 and I'm not really sure which is which.

Agreed x 1000, even more so after catching my first musky in 2017 and first wiper over 20 inches. Both are very violent fish in their own way. I had caught pike before and thought a muskie would be basically the same but I was w-r-o-n-g there. It's a thrilling experience for those who haven't done it. There is no doubt what it is when they strike.

drscholl14 reply :

On 2/8/2018 at 11:15 PM, 323Walter said:

Agreed x 1000, even more so after catching my first musky in 2017 and first wiper over 20 inches. Both are very violent fish in their own way. I had caught pike before and thought a muskie would be basically the same but I was w-r-o-n-g there. It's a thrilling experience for those who haven't done it. There is no doubt what it is when they strike.

Ah the fish of 10,000 casts. Have never caught one when I was specifically fishing for them but they are always following my cranks to the boat when I don't want them. Boy are they fun to watch in the water.

WI_Angler1989 reply :

Well, that changes based on the point of view for me. Best fishery? Surgeon Bay. Most fished waters? Chippewa River right at home. Favorite overall is tough to say because I have so many favorite experiences, memories and days on the water. The fishery may change, but certain days stand out for me.

pondbassin101 reply :

On 2/4/2018 at 12:28 PM, Smalls said:

I lived in this apartment complex for about 2 years. It was my ex’s, moved in with her. There were two ponds on the property.

They defied all rules and reason of an ecosystem.

The only 2 fish in the pond were laregemouth bass, and bluegill. I could not take my kids fishing and expect to fish. I would hook a worm, and before I had a chance to grab my rod- “dad, I caught a fish, get it off”.

When I fished alone, I found there were bass that would grow to sizes they certainly should not in a “puddle” that was not half the size of a football field. I don’t dare utter the weight of my biggest for fear of being labeled a liar.

I still I’ll make the occasional trip, on Saturday and Sundays, when the office is closed. They favor frog type offerings the most.

I've caught 6+ LMB out of a puddle an acre and a half that seemed devoid of all life. You would see the occasional stir from a turtle swimming off, but other than that, no activity. The only fish seem to be redbreast sunfish and LMB. Retention ponds are another thing in itself

bigbill reply :

There’s a spring fed little body of water where if you step out on a rock cropping out six feet above the waters edge you can see big bass all over the place. I tossed a few baits and got no action. When a sunfish hit my rebel bumble bee as I was reeling it in a big bass from the other side of the place headed over to eat it. As I pulled the sunfish out of the water the bass swam by me. This place is hidden in the woods you have to hike there.

this tells me bigger bass eat sunfish. They want a meal not a snack.

funny I meet a dad with his kid at Walmart. The dad was bragging how the kid catches big bass 10lb +. The place is in his neighborhood. I knew where he was talking about. That’s the spot I said above. I told him the main road to get there his jaw dropped.

On 2/8/2018 at 11:15 PM, 323Walter said:

Agreed x 1000, even more so after catching my first musky in 2017 and first wiper over 20 inches. Both are very violent fish in their own way. I had caught pike before and thought a muskie would be basically the same but I was w-r-o-n-g there. It's a thrilling experience for those who haven't done it. There is no doubt what it is when they strike.

I have caught 29”, 30”, 32” big chain pickerel. What a fight. I was warned they will bite us. I caught a 15” pickerel who swallowed my crankbait and tried to bite me while I tried to remove the crankbait.

Czorn reply :

Falcon for sure. If you don't catch 100 bass a day, you ain't trying.

Hoffy reply :

On 1/28/2018 at 9:42 PM, DINK WHISPERER said:

Big O.... I'm 20 min away.

20 min away? I just flipped you off from my work desk in Cincinnati Ohio. I am very jealous. HAHA

Hog Basser reply :

Home Lake is a private lake on family land. 53 acres of bass fishing heaven. It is a 3 hour drive and I would live there if I could, but I take frequent trips and my new job gets me down that way a lot more. I've caught several 5+ pound bass and I know there have been 8 lbers caught there in the past....I'm hoping they've continued to grow. I regularly catch 3+ lbers whenever I go and I've been managing it for bass growth. They are looking very plump this year! Just had the place 3 years now.

shovelmouth83 reply :

Table Rock Lake

EGbassing reply :

On 1/27/2018 at 8:31 PM, N Florida Mike said:

If you could only fish and/or live on one water body you've already fished , where would it be and why ? Doesn't count if you've never fished it.

I Know it's hard to pinpoint just one , so let's do one or two.

An example would be the water body you would choose to retire on if you could.

A golf course pond. My uncle fishes on one and catches about 10 per hour on average.

AggieBassin10 reply :

Bull Shoals but haven't fished a ton of waters

10178

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