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Texas
2,099,153
California
1,757,685
Florida
1,743,139
Minnesota
1,525,029
North Carolina
1,487,575
Wisconsin
1,434,816
Michigan
1,190,933
Pennsylvania
1,146,972
Georgia
1,083,120
Colorado
1,048,260
Tennessee
923,447
New York
911,677
Ohio
909,854
Washington
789,966
Louisiana
775,308
Oklahoma
761,573
Illinois
701,088
Oregon
650,307
Alabama
623,287
Indiana
607,365
Utah
604,287
South Carolina
603,247
Virginia
595,755
Kentucky
593,612
Idaho
563,531
Arkansas
543,860
Arizona
515,539
Missouri
476,389
Montana
456,764
Iowa
401,686
Maine
328,989
Mississippi
325,350
Maryland
322,170
Kansas
318,632
West Virginia
290,967
Alaska
283,646
Massachusetts
281,707
Wyoming
268,606
Nebraska
266,741
New Mexico
250,954
South Dakota
247,186
North Dakota
226,654
New Jersey
193,618
New Hampshire
191,034
Nevada
183,839
Connecticut
169,484
Vermont
124,898
Delaware
92,120
Rhode Island
68,406
District of Columbia
7,814
Hawaii
4,386

Bass Fishing by State 2024

Bass Fishing by State 2024

Bass Fishing by State 2024

  • Hawaii requires a fishing license for freshwater fishing, but not for marine fishing.

51 states

State
# of Paid Fishing License Holders
# of Pro Anglers
Best Lake
Lake Surface Area (acres)
Lake Surface Area (mi²)
Best Time to Fish
Texas2,099,15337Lake Fork Reservoir27,26442.6Spring and fall
California1,757,68513Clear Lake43,78568.4Year-round
Florida1,743,13925Lake Okeechobee467,200730Year-round
Minnesota1,525,0297Lake Mille Lacs132,516207Spring and fall
North Carolina1,487,57515Lake Norman32,51050.8Spring and fall
Wisconsin1,434,8165Lake Winnebago137,700215.2Spring and fall
Michigan1,190,93310Lake St. Clair275,200430Spring and fall
Pennsylvania1,146,9724Lake Erie (borders multiple states)6,342,4009910Spring and fall
Georgia1,083,12015Lake Lanier38,00059.4Spring and fall
Colorado1,048,2600Blue Mesa Reservoir9,18014.3Spring and fall
Tennessee923,44728Chickamauga Lake36,24056.6Spring and fall
New York911,6771Lake Erie (borders multiple states)6,342,4009910Spring
Ohio909,8544Lake Erie (borders multiple states)6,342,4009910Spring and fall
Washington789,9662Potholes Reservoir27,80043.4Spring and summer
Louisiana775,30824Toledo Bend Reservoir185,000289Year-round
Oklahoma761,57317Lake Texoma89,000139Spring and summer
Illinois701,0885Lake Shelbyville11,10017.3Spring and fall
Oregon650,3073Tenmile Lakes1,6262.5Spring and fall
Alabama623,28747Guntersville Lake69,000107.8Year-round
Indiana607,36528Lake Monroe10,75016.8Spring and fall
Utah604,2870Lake Powell161,930253Spring and fall
South Carolina603,24713Lake Murray50,00078.1Spring and summer
Virginia595,7558Smith Mountain Lake20,60032.2Spring and fall
Kentucky593,61210Kentucky Lake160,309250Spring and fall
Idaho563,5313Dworshak Reservoir20,00031.3Spring and fall
Arkansas543,86019Millwood Lake29,20045.6Year-round
Arizona515,5396Lake Havasu19,52030.5Spring and fall
Missouri476,3892Table Rock Lake43,10067.3Spring and fall
Montana456,7640Fort Peck Reservoir245,000382.8Spring and fall
Iowa401,6860Big Creek Lake8141.3Spring and fall
Maine328,9890Sebago Lake28,80045Spring and fall
Mississippi325,3507Pickwick Lake (borders AL and TN)43,10067.3Spring
Maryland322,1701Deep Creek Lake3,9006.1Spring and fall
Kansas318,6323La Cygne Reservoir2,6004.1Year-round
West Virginia290,9671Stonewall Jackson Lake2,6504.1Spring and fall
Alaska283,6460Kenai River1,286,4002010May-July
Massachusetts281,7070Quabbin Reservoir24,96039Spring and fall
Wyoming268,6060Flaming Gorge Reservoir42,02065.7Spring and summer
Nebraska266,7410Merritt Reservoir2,9004.5Spring and fall
New Mexico250,9540Elephant Butte Reservoir36,50057Spring and fall
South Dakota247,1860Lake Oahe370,000578.1Spring and summer
North Dakota226,6540Devils Lake160,000250Spring and summer
New Jersey193,6184Lake Hopatcong2,5604Spring and fall
New Hampshire191,0340Lake Winnipesaukee46,08072Spring and fall
Nevada183,8390Lake Mead158,080247Spring and fall
Connecticut169,4842Candlewood Lake5,3768.4Spring and fall
Vermont124,8980Lake Champlain278,400435Spring and fall
Delaware92,1201Lums Pond State Park2000.3Year-round
Rhode Island68,4060Worden Pond1,0431.6Spring and fall
District of Columbia7,814
Hawaii4,3860Wahiawa Reservoir (Lake Wilson)4000.6Year-round

Which state does the most bass fishing?

The state with the most bass fishing license holders is Texas with 2,099,153 paid licenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources