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If you are looking for an enjoyable pastime, you have probably thought about fishing. There are different types of fish you can catch, and you might even be able to catch your dinner when you go out! There are a lot of people who enjoy bass fishing, and the best state for bass fishing is likely Michigan. Michigan is widely considered to be the best state for fishing in general, and bass fishing is no different. Michigan provides you with access to not only the Great Lakes but also a wide variety of lakes and rivers that are inland. Many of them are filled with bass, so you should not have a lot of trouble catching some when you go out.
Even though there is some debate regarding the second-best state for bass fishing, a lot of people enjoyed bass fishing in Alabama. In particular, Alabama is a great place to go bass fishing if you enjoy participating in tournaments. One of the best lakes to go bass fishing in Alabama is called Lake Guntersville. Because of the popularity of this lake, and the number of professional tournaments that take place on this lake every year, people flock to Alabama regularly to take advantage of the opportunities. Within just a few hours, you can catch large bass, smallmouth bass, and numerous other types of bass as well.
Texas is one of the largest states in the country, so it should come as no surprise that there are great places to go bass fishing in Texas. There are lots of rivers, lakes, and streams in the state that are perfect for people who love to go bass fishing. If you are looking for a 10 lb bass, you may be able to find one in Texas. If you are looking for a great place to start, you may want to swing by Galveston Bay. This is the largest estuary in Texas, and one of the largest in the United States. Therefore, it could be a great place for you to catch a large bass. You may also want to consider checking out Lake Ray Hubbard and the Lake Fork Reservoir.
Florida is another exceptional place to go bass fishing, and it hosts a wide variety of competitions throughout the year. The best place to go bass fishing in Florida is called Lake Okeechobee, and it is regularly listed as one of the best bass fishing locations by various magazines. There are plenty of other places where you may want to go bass fishing in Florida as well. For example, you may want to check out the Rodman Reservoir, which was developed by the US Army. You may also want to swing by Lake Kissimmee, which is approximately 40 miles south of Orlando. Consider going bass fishing in Florida if you are looking for something a bit different.
State | # of Paid Fishing License Holders | # of Pro Anglers | Best Lake | Lake Surface Area (acres) | Lake Surface Area (mi²) | Best Time to Fish |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas | 2,099,153 | 37 | Lake Fork Reservoir | 27,264 | 42.6 | Spring and fall |
California | 1,757,685 | 13 | Clear Lake | 43,785 | 68.4 | Year-round |
Florida | 1,743,139 | 25 | Lake Okeechobee | 467,200 | 730 | Year-round |
Minnesota | 1,525,029 | 7 | Lake Mille Lacs | 132,516 | 207 | Spring and fall |
North Carolina | 1,487,575 | 15 | Lake Norman | 32,510 | 50.8 | Spring and fall |
Wisconsin | 1,434,816 | 5 | Lake Winnebago | 137,700 | 215.2 | Spring and fall |
Michigan | 1,190,933 | 10 | Lake St. Clair | 275,200 | 430 | Spring and fall |
Pennsylvania | 1,146,972 | 4 | Lake Erie (borders multiple states) | 6,342,400 | 9910 | Spring and fall |
Georgia | 1,083,120 | 15 | Lake Lanier | 38,000 | 59.4 | Spring and fall |
Colorado | 1,048,260 | 0 | Blue Mesa Reservoir | 9,180 | 14.3 | Spring and fall |
Tennessee | 923,447 | 28 | Chickamauga Lake | 36,240 | 56.6 | Spring and fall |
New York | 911,677 | 1 | Lake Erie (borders multiple states) | 6,342,400 | 9910 | Spring |
Ohio | 909,854 | 4 | Lake Erie (borders multiple states) | 6,342,400 | 9910 | Spring and fall |
Washington | 789,966 | 2 | Potholes Reservoir | 27,800 | 43.4 | Spring and summer |
Louisiana | 775,308 | 24 | Toledo Bend Reservoir | 185,000 | 289 | Year-round |
Oklahoma | 761,573 | 17 | Lake Texoma | 89,000 | 139 | Spring and summer |
Illinois | 701,088 | 5 | Lake Shelbyville | 11,100 | 17.3 | Spring and fall |
Oregon | 650,307 | 3 | Tenmile Lakes | 1,626 | 2.5 | Spring and fall |
Alabama | 623,287 | 47 | Guntersville Lake | 69,000 | 107.8 | Year-round |
Indiana | 607,365 | 28 | Lake Monroe | 10,750 | 16.8 | Spring and fall |
Utah | 604,287 | 0 | Lake Powell | 161,930 | 253 | Spring and fall |
South Carolina | 603,247 | 13 | Lake Murray | 50,000 | 78.1 | Spring and summer |
Virginia | 595,755 | 8 | Smith Mountain Lake | 20,600 | 32.2 | Spring and fall |
Kentucky | 593,612 | 10 | Kentucky Lake | 160,309 | 250 | Spring and fall |
Idaho | 563,531 | 3 | Dworshak Reservoir | 20,000 | 31.3 | Spring and fall |
Arkansas | 543,860 | 19 | Millwood Lake | 29,200 | 45.6 | Year-round |
Arizona | 515,539 | 6 | Lake Havasu | 19,520 | 30.5 | Spring and fall |
Missouri | 476,389 | 2 | Table Rock Lake | 43,100 | 67.3 | Spring and fall |
Montana | 456,764 | 0 | Fort Peck Reservoir | 245,000 | 382.8 | Spring and fall |
Iowa | 401,686 | 0 | Big Creek Lake | 814 | 1.3 | Spring and fall |
Maine | 328,989 | 0 | Sebago Lake | 28,800 | 45 | Spring and fall |
Mississippi | 325,350 | 7 | Pickwick Lake (borders AL and TN) | 43,100 | 67.3 | Spring |
Maryland | 322,170 | 1 | Deep Creek Lake | 3,900 | 6.1 | Spring and fall |
Kansas | 318,632 | 3 | La Cygne Reservoir | 2,600 | 4.1 | Year-round |
West Virginia | 290,967 | 1 | Stonewall Jackson Lake | 2,650 | 4.1 | Spring and fall |
Alaska | 283,646 | 0 | Kenai River | 1,286,400 | 2010 | May-July |
Massachusetts | 281,707 | 0 | Quabbin Reservoir | 24,960 | 39 | Spring and fall |
Wyoming | 268,606 | 0 | Flaming Gorge Reservoir | 42,020 | 65.7 | Spring and summer |
Nebraska | 266,741 | 0 | Merritt Reservoir | 2,900 | 4.5 | Spring and fall |
New Mexico | 250,954 | 0 | Elephant Butte Reservoir | 36,500 | 57 | Spring and fall |
South Dakota | 247,186 | 0 | Lake Oahe | 370,000 | 578.1 | Spring and summer |
North Dakota | 226,654 | 0 | Devils Lake | 160,000 | 250 | Spring and summer |
New Jersey | 193,618 | 4 | Lake Hopatcong | 2,560 | 4 | Spring and fall |
New Hampshire | 191,034 | 0 | Lake Winnipesaukee | 46,080 | 72 | Spring and fall |
Nevada | 183,839 | 0 | Lake Mead | 158,080 | 247 | Spring and fall |
Connecticut | 169,484 | 2 | Candlewood Lake | 5,376 | 8.4 | Spring and fall |
Vermont | 124,898 | 0 | Lake Champlain | 278,400 | 435 | Spring and fall |
Delaware | 92,120 | 1 | Lums Pond State Park | 200 | 0.3 | Year-round |
Rhode Island | 68,406 | 0 | Worden Pond | 1,043 | 1.6 | Spring and fall |
District of Columbia | 7,814 | |||||
Hawaii | 4,386 | 0 | Wahiawa Reservoir (Lake Wilson) | 400 | 0.6 | Year-round |
The state with the most bass fishing license holders is Texas with 2,099,153 paid licenses.