Best Destinations | Largemouth Bass Fishing

There are so many great places to go and catch largemouth bass, however, many of the lakes aren’t allows the best fishing vacation destinations. On the map below, we put a list together of some of the better vacation destinations that also have some very good fishing for largemouth bass. In these destinations, you should be able to catch bass and enjoy your time away from work.

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Canada	Iowa	South Carolina

French River, Ontario	Iowa Great Lakes	Lake Lure
Georgian Bay Ontario		Lake Murray
Rideau Lakes Ontario	Kentucky
Thousand Islands		Tennessee
	Cave Run Lake
Alabama	Kentucky Lake	Chattanooga, TN
	Lake Barkley	Dale Hollow Lake
Lake Guntersville	Lake Cumberland	Kentucky Lake
Pickwick Lake & Wilson Lake
	Minnesota	Texas
Arizona	Alexandria Lakes, MN
	Bemidji, MN	Lake Fork
Lake Havasu	Brainerd, MN	Lake Texoma
Lake Powell	Detroit Lakes, MN
	Grand Rapids, MN	Utah
Arkansas	Hackensack, MN
	Lake Pepin	Lake Powell
Beaver Lake	Lake Vermilion
Bull Shoals Lake	Lake Winnibigoshish	Vermont
Norfork Lake	Leech Lake
	Longville, MN	Lake Champlain
California	Marcell, MN
	Mille Lacs Lake	Wisconsin
Big Bear Lake	Otter Tail Country, MN
California Delta	Outing, MN	Birchwood, WI
Clear Lake	Park Rapids, MN	Boulder Junction, WI
Lake Oroville	Whitefish Chain, MN	Cable, WI
Redding, CA		Chippewa Falls, WI
	Michigan	Eagle River, WI
Connecticut		Hayward, WI
	Baraga County, MI	Iron River, WI
Candlewood Lake	Houghton Lake Area	Lac du Flambeau, WI
	Iron Mountain, MI	Lake Pepin
Florida	Iron River, MI	Land O’ Lakes, WI
	Lake Cadillac & Lake Mitchell	Manitowish Waters, WI
Kissimmee, FL	Lake St. Clair	Mercer, WI
Lake County, FL	Manistique Lakes, MI	Minocqua, WI
Lake Okeechobee	Marquette County, MI	Presque Isle, WI
Orlando, FL	Watersmeet, MI	Rhinelander, WI
		St. Germain, WI
Georgia		Three Lakes, WI
	Missouri	Tomahawk, WI
Lake Lanier
	Branson, MO	Virginia
Idaho	Bull Shoals Lake
	Lake of the Ozarks	Smith Mountain Lake
Coeur d’Alene, ID	Table Rock Lake

Illinois	New Hampshire

Lake Shelbyville	Lake Winnipesaukee
Rend Lake
	Oklahoma
Indiana
	Lake Texoma
Patoka Lake

Canada

French River, Ontario

The French River system is home to some incredible fishing. Many anglers come here to target the walleye, bass or huge muskie. You can find pretty much everything in here. To go along with walleye and muskie, you will also find northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch, sturgeon, catfish and sunfish too. Many anglers come here just to fish the French River, but for the anglers who are coming to fish Lake Nipissing, it’s always nice to have the river as an option when you get windy days.

Georgian Bay Ontario

The Georgian Bay area is huge and it is home to some awesome recreational opportunities. Georgian Bay is a bay of Lake Huron and if you take a look at the map, you will see just how big this area is and how diverse the fishery can be depending on where you choose to fish.

Rideau Lakes Ontario

Rideau Lakes is a township located within Leeds and Grenville United Counties in Eastern Ontario, Canada. There are many lakes throughout this chain of lakes and they have been one of the more popular bass fishing destinations up north. It’s an awesome destination with lots of water to fish and plenty of places to accommodate you.

This area is home to some of the best bass fishing you will find anywhere. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are here in huge numbers and it’s one of the few places you can go and target largemouth bass in Ontario. If you saw some of the reports here, you probably wouldn’t believe them, but the bass are here thick. That is accurate. Catching 100 bass in a day here is definitely possible with 2 anglers fishing hard and covering plenty of water. If you want to take it easy, that is fine too. You should still catch plenty of bass.

The northern pike, sunfish and crappie are also here in good numbers. Lake trout, perch and even carp are here too. Walleye are here in limited numbers, but there are some fish in the system.

Thousand Islands

The Thousand Islands are a group of over 1,700 islands that straddle the United States – Canada border in the St. Lawrence River. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario and the islands in the United States are located in the state of New York. This area is a popular vacation destination for fishing, boating and camping.

Anglers have many different species of fish to target such as northern pike, muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye and others. This area is truly an amazing fishery. If you want to catch a lot of fish, you can do that. If you want to catch trophy fish, you can do that too.

Alabama

Lake Guntersville

Lake Guntersville stretches 75 miles from Guntersville Dam to Nickajack Dam. It is Alabama’s largest lake at 69,000 acres. It is a popular lake for recreation such as fishing and boating.

This is a very popular lake on many bass fishing tournament circuits. Lake Guntersville gives anglers a chance to catch good numbers of bass to go along with some very big bass. Even with the very high fishing pressure on this lake, it just continues to produce year after year.

Pickwick Lake & Wilson Lake

Pickwick & Wilson Lakes are very popular for fishing and boating. This area is known as one of the better fishing destinations in the country for multiple species of fish. Whether you come here to enjoy the outdoors, go boating or go fishing, you have a lot of water to explore here.

Pickwick Lake and Wilson Lake offer some tremendous fishing opportunities for a variety of different fish species. This area has definitely gained in popularity over the years due to its excellent fishing throughout the year. Whether you’re looking for numbers, big fish or a variety of fish, it’s all here. It is known for its awesome smallmouth bass fishing, but there is a lot more here than just smallies. It’s one of the better fishing vacation destinations in the south.

Arizona

Lake Havasu

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Lake Powell

The Colorado River impounded behind Glen Canyon Dam near Page, Arizona forms Lake Powell. This lake is over 570 feet deep when filled to capacity. Part of Lake Powell is in Arizona and the bigger portion of the lake is in Utah. Since Lake Powell occupies two states, make sure you know the fishing regulations of the state that you are going to be fishing. Lake Powell is known as a popular houseboating destination.

Lake Powell has good fishing for a variety of species of fish. The striped bass fishery took off here and due to a “keep everything you catch” plan, it has helped this fishery avoid the boom and bust days that were common years ago. It may seem weird that people come in and keep 100 striped bass in a day, but it actually helps this fishery because the spawn is so good here for the striped bass that if left unchecked, they would eat all the shad and the fishery would collapse. Lake Powell is known for its striped bass, but it also has good fishing for so many other species of fish. Target largemouth or smallmouth bass, catfish, walleye and panfish here and you’ll have plenty of action.

Arkansas

Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake is located high in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, which is the birthplace of the White River. The lake features around 487 miles of natural shoreline offering visitors plenty of recreational opportunities. Beaver Lake is a popular vacation destination for boating, fishing, golfing, hiking and just relaxing around the beautiful lake. Beaver Lake has more than 28,000 surface acres of water.

Beaver Lake is an awesome multi-species fishing lakes. Striped bass are king here, but there are a variety of other bass, walleye, many different types of panfish and some awesome trout fishing close by.

Bull Shoals Lake

Bull Shoals Lake is located on the border of Missouri and Arkansas. You can enjoy fishing, boating, hiking or just relaxing around the lake. This region has plenty of places to stay, boat rentals and restaurants so you can plan a trip here, but don’t expect to find bigger towns with tons of stores. This is an uncrowded destination, making it a wonderful place to get away from it all. Just plan accordingly with the things you will need for a week on the lake. Bull Shoals Lake is an awesome multi-species fishing lake. Many different species of bass are available to go along with walleye, catfish, trout and panfish.

Norfork Lake

Norfork Lake is one of the most popular vacation spots in the Ozarks. The lake has some beautiful surroundings to go along with its clear water. With over 550 miles of shoreline and 22,000 surface acres, there is plenty of water here for pleasure boaters and fishermen. Because of the warm climate, you can fish this lake year round. The lake does not freeze over.

Norfork Lake is known as a good striped bass fishing lake, but there is so much more here to offer anglers. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, bream, crappie, walleye and catfish are all here. Many of the species of fish are underfished and there is more water here to fish in a lifetime.

California

Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is a popular 4 seasons vacation destination in California. Located about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, this lake is surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. Whether you come here for fishing & boating in the summer or the skiing in the winter, this is an awesome vacation destination. It is an excellent fishing lake.

California Delta

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Clear Lake

Clear Lake is a very popular boating and fishing destination in California. It’s only a couple of hours from San Francisco, which helps make it such a popular destination. This lake is beautiful and it offers visitors so much to do if you enjoy outdoor recreation. Clear Lake is known as one of the better bass fishing lakes in the entire country. With its excellent weather, anglers can fish Clear Lake year round.

Lake Havasu

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Lake Oroville

Lake Oroville is a large reservoir that was formed by the Oroville Dam across the Feather River. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada about 5 miles northeast of Oroville. The lake is fed by the North Fork, Middle Fork, West Branch and South Forks of the Feather River and it is a popular lake for recreation. The fishing can be very good for a variety of different fish.

Redding, CA

Redding, California is a very popular vacation destination in northern California. With mountains all around, miles of trails for hiking and biking, a river running through it, and national parks nearby and awesome weather, Redding is one of the better outdoor vacation destinations in the country. Cradled by Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen, Redding is considered by many to be the trout fishing capital of California. Shasta Lake also offers some excellent fishing.

Connectiuct

Candlewood Lake

Candlewood Lake is the largest lake in Connecticut and it is bordered by five towns: Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman. The Connecticut Light & Power built a hydroelectric dam and flooded the area, so technically, this lake isn’t a natural beauty, but it is still a beautiful lake and an awesome recreational lake. Visitors enjoy boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking, bird watching and more. There’s a public boat launch here, plus a small beach. This lake is known as a good bass fishing lake with largemouth bass and smallmouth bass available. It’s also a good lake for trout and a variety of panfish.

Florida

Kissimmee, FL

Kissimmee, Florida is located about 20 miles south of Orlando. With its close proximity to Orlando and Disney World, it’s not hard to wonder why so many people come here to visit. While most people come to Kissimmee to stay, they actually end up spending most of their time at the theme parks of Disney World and the other attractions in Orlando.

As far as Kissimmee, there are plenty of lakes to enjoy and some of the best bass fishing in central Florida is right here on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. This chain of lakes consists of 20 lakes that range from 200 acres to 44,000 acres. Some of the top lakes to fish on this chain are Lake Kissimmee, West and East Lake Toho, Lake Hatchineha and Lake Cypress. Bass fishing is excellent on the chain with lots of 3 to 5 pound fish and many over 10 pounds.

Lake County, FL

Lake County Florida is home to many popular lakes. You won’t find all the entertainment that you will find in the amusement park capital of the world just south of here, but Lake County gives people the opportunity to enjoy some warm weather and the outdoors without having to deal with all the craziness that you will find in the Orlando area.

Lake County, Florida offers some of the best bass fishing in all of Florida. With over 1,000 names lakes, you have plenty of options to fish in this county. Some of the most popular areas to fish in Lake County are the Harris Chain of Lakes, Lake George, the Clermont Chain of Lakes, Holly Chain of Lakes and the St. John’s River. Big bass are very common in Lake County with 10 pound bass caught every year and 5 to 7 pound bass being fairly common.

Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee is the second largest freshwater lake in the country. It is arguably the best bass fishing lake as well. The bass thrive in this lake with all of the forage and cover for them. All types of grass are spread throughout this lake, which give the bass plenty of places to hide and rest. The most popular way to fish this lake is with shiners and by flipping jigs or soft plastics around the cover. If you are coming to Florida to catch a 10 pound bass, Lake Okeechobee is one of your best bets. There are numerous bass over 10 pounds as well as tons of bass in the 2 to 5 pound range. If you are going for a trophy bass, try the biggest shiners you can buy. Big bass love shiners on Lake Okeechobee.

Orlando, FL

Orlando, the home of Walt Disney World, is arguably the best family vacation destination in the entire world. Because of Walt Disney World and the other area attractions, most people are quite busy on their trip to Orlando. Don’t forget to schedule some fishing time when you come down here.

There are a number of good fishing lakes nearby and Walt Disney World also offers some guided fishing excursions. Largemouth bass average 2 to 3 pounds in most area lakes with many fish in the 5 to 7 pound range and some over 10 pounds.

Many Orlando visitors like to head over to the beach for a day or two. If you are looking to get into some saltwater fishing, we have visitor guides for those destinations as well. The closest beach towns on the Atlantic side are Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and the Space Coast towns of Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Titusville and Melbourne. From downtown Orlando, it will take an hour to an hour and a half to get to these areas. You have some options of surf fishing along the beaches, fishing the Indian river or booking a fishing guide or charter for some excellent inshore or offshore fishing.

Georgia

Lake Lanier

Lake Lanier is a popular reservoir located in the northern part of Georgia. This lake is very popular for boating and fishing with millions of visitors that come here every year. You will find plenty of hotels to go along with a couple of resorts along the lake. Marinas are plentiful to help with your boating needs and there are plenty of places to fish in the lake.

Lake Lanier is known for its excellent bass fishery. From largemouth bass to spotted bass and even striped bass, you have a lot of options here. Depending on what lures you choose to fish with, you may end up catching all 3 species of fish on any given day here. The bass fishing is what most people come here for, however, you can also catch some catfish, walleye, bluegill and panfish. The panfish fishery can fluctuate from year to year depending on the spawns, but the catfish are pretty consistent for the anglers who choose to fish for them. Walleye can be spotty here, but there are some walleye in the lake and some anglers do target them.

Idaho

Coeur d’Alene, ID

Coeur d’Alene is a popular tourist destination and it is the largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho. This area has so much to offer with the dining, shopping, nightlife, skiing and outdoor recreation. There is even a casino in the area if you enjoy gambling. Lake Coeur d’Alene is very popular among boaters and fishermen. There are marinas available as well as fishing guide services to take care of your needs.

Coeur d’Alene is one of the better fishing destinations out west. You have the options of fishing for so many different species of fish, fishing for numbers or targeting trophy-sized fish. It’s a special lake with so many different fish to catch.

Illinois

Lake Shelbyville

Lake Shelbyville is one of the most popular lakes in Illinois. It has 11,000 acres of water with an average depth of 16 feet and a maximum depth of 67 feet. There are 250 miles of shoreline with many creek arms that provide excellent cover for a variety of fish.

This lake is known for producing trophy largemouth bass. Lake Shelbyville is a popular lake for bass fishing tournaments and many bass are caught in the 4 to 7 pound range every year. There are also plenty of other fish to catch such as crappie, catfish, white bass, walleye, northern pike, muskie and bluegill. Anglers report catches of muskie over 40 inches and catfish over 10 pounds to go along with stringers full of crappie and white bass. Lake Shelbyville is a big lake and it may take some time to learn it, but the fishing can be incredible once you know some of the better spots to fish.

Rend Lake

Rend Lake is a huge lake with 18,900 acres of water and over 20,000 acres of land in Jefferson and Franklin counties. Rend Lake is one of the few lakes in Illinois where you can find some nice resorts to accommodate you. Rend Lake is very popular for boating, fishing, hunting and golfing. Because of the warmer climate in southern Illinois, the fish grow faster in Rend Lake than in the lakes in northern Illinois.

Rend Lake is a good multi-species lake with largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, catfish and bluegill available. Most anglers come here to target largemouth bass and crappie. Some very big bass up to and above 7 pounds are caught here every year.

Indiana

Patoka Lake

Patoka Lake is a very large lake located in southern Indiana. The lake covers 8,800 acres and it is very popular for fishing and boating. This lake is one of the more popular lakes in Indiana to get away for the weekend. There are a variety of fish in Patoka Lake.

In this lake, there are good populations of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass, catfish and white bass. Bass fishing tournaments have grown in popularity here over the last few years. Bass in the 3 to 5 pound range are common and many tournaments will see a big fish that exceeds 5 pounds. Muskie and pike are here too, but in smaller numbers.

Iowa

Iowa Great Lakes

The Iowa Great Lakes are a group of natural glacial lakes in Dickinson County in northwestern Iowa in the United States. The three principal lakes of the group are Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, and East Okoboji Lake. These lakes are extremely popular in this state. Whether you are looking to do some boating, fishing or just relax on the lake, this is a great destination.

The chain of lakes here gives anglers a lot of options. Anglers target game fish such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike and muskie. It’s a very good fishery with trophy fish possible for a number of species of fish.

Kentucky

Cave Run Lake

Cave Run Lake is a beautiful lake that covers 8,270 acres. It is located in the beautiful mountains of eastern Kentucky just south of Morehead and about 60 miles east of Lexington.

Cave Run Lake is known for its muskie fishing, but anglers also can catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, white bass and spotted bass. Whether you come to fish for muskie or other species of fish, it’s a nice lake that a lot of anglers do well on.

Kentucky Lake

Kentucky Lake is one of the world’s largest man-made lakes. The lake covers 2,380 miles of shoreline and 160,000 acres of water. Kentucky Lake is a very popular vacation destination. Whether you’re coming here for a fishing getaway or a family vacation, there is something to do for everyone.

Kentucky Lake is known for its tremendous crappie fishery. Spring and fall are the best times to plan a trip for the crappie fishing. During the spawn, 1 – 1.5 pound crappie are considered common. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also plentiful on Kentucky Lake. There are more largemouth than smallmouth in the lake, but if you target the rocky areas, you can usually find some smallmouth bass. If you time the spawn right in the spring, you can experience some awesome fishing for largemouth bass with 30 to 50 fish days being possible. Get away from the crowds and find the pattern and you will catch more fish. Other species that are available are white bass, sunfish, sauger, catfish and striped bass.

Lake Barkley

Lake Barkley was impounded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1966. The dam impounds the Cumberland River near Grand Rivers, Kentucky, approximately 38 miles up stream from where the Cumberland empties into the Ohio River. One mile above the dam is a canal connecting Lake Barkley with Kentucky Lake, forming one of the greatest freshwater recreational areas in the country.

There are many opportunities for fishing Lake Barkley. There is a very healthy population of crappie, largemouth bass, white bass, catfish, sauger and bluegill. Spring crappie fishing is a favorite for most anglers. The crappie spawn is an excellent time to fish with fish all over the shallows from 4 to 6 feet deep. In some areas, you can find them in as shallow as 1 foot of water or less. Bass fishing is also excellent on this lake. May and June are excellent times for catching trophy bass. Anglers also like to target catfish and white bass.

Lake Cumberland

Lake Cumberland is a large lake located in southern Kentucky. Because of its temperate climate, Lake Cumberland has a very long recreational season that thousands of visitors take advantage of every year. This lake has become a major tourism destination for people that enjoy boating, swimming, fishing and just relaxing by the lake.

Fishing is very popular for a variety of species, however, most people come here for the tremendous striped bass fishery. If you know what you’re doing or you decide to fish with a guide, you have a good chance to catch good numbers of striped bass with some big fish mixed in too.

Michigan

Baraga County, MI

Baraga County, Michigan is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This area is very scenic and you have the option of spending time on Lake Superior or going inland to spend some time on the area lakes. If you want to do some fishing, anglers have so many areas to fish.

Houghton Lake Area

Houghton Lake is a town situated on the southwest shore of Houghton Lake, Michigan’s largest inland lake. Higgins Lake is close by and there are some other smaller lakes located in this area as well. If you’re looking for some inland lakes to fish in Michigan, this is a good area to visit. It’s a nice family vacation destination in a beautiful area of Michigan.

Iron Mountain, MI

Iron Mountain is located in the state’s Upper Peninsula. It was named for the valuable iron ore found in the vicinity. It’s a small city just over the Wisconsin border and this area is popular among people that enjoy the outdoors. Most of the lakes in the area are smaller lakes, so you can usually get out on the water even if the winds pick up. The Menominee River is famous for its excellent smallmouth bass fishing and the river runs through the town.

Iron River, MI

Iron River, Michigan is located just northeast of Eagle River, Wisconsin. The Iron River area doesn’t attract nearly as many people as in Eagle River, Wisconsin, but there are plenty of places to stay in Iron River and there are plenty of lakes that offer good fishing for walleye, northern pike, muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and a variety of panfish.

Lake Cadillac & Lake Mitchell

Cadillac is a popular vacation destination for people that enjoy the outdoors. With Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell here, there’s a lot of outdoor recreation available here. The summers attract a good number of people to the lakes and for the anglers, there is some very good fishing here.

Lake St. Clair

Lake St. Clair is the smallest lake in the Great Lakes system. It is not considered as one of the “Great Lakes,” however, it is part of the Lake Erie basin. Lake St. Clair is shallow, with an average depth of around 10 feet and the maximum depth of 21 feet.

Lake St. Clair offers some excellent fishing. You can catch trophy smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, perch and muskie. This lake is unique in that so many different species are targeted by anglers. There are many anglers that target smallmouth and largemouth bass, while others target the great-tasting walleye, and some anglers go crazy over the muskie in these waters. Local anglers believe that St. Clair is the best smallmouth bass lake in the state.

Manistique Lakes, MI

The Manistique Lakes Area is a popular vacation destination in Michigan. With all the lakes here, there is plenty of outdoor recreation for you and your family here. The six major lakes are: North Manistique Lake at 1,722 acres; Big Manistique Lake at 10,130 acres; South Manistique Lake at 4,001 acres; Milakokia Lake at 1,956 acres; Lake Ann Louise at 311 acres; and Millecoquins Lake at 1,890 acres.

Marquette County, MI

Marquette County is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It’s a good-sized county with tons of recreational opportunities available. Many people enjoy the miles of trails for walking and biking. You have Lake Superior here, many inland lakes and some gorgeous waterfalls here too. It’s a beautiful area and the fishing is very good too.

Marquette County offers some very good fishing opportunities. The better fishing spots may be spread out throughout the county, however, having the option to go fish on Lake Superior one day, Lake Michigamme for a couple days and then you can even bounce around on some of the smaller inland lakes here too. Fish for salmon, trout, pike, muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish.

Watersmeet, MI

Land O’ Lakes & Watersmeet are located about 8.5 miles away from each other. You will find dozens of lakes in this part of Northern Wisconsin and Lower Michigan. There are a variety of accommodations nestled amidst the natural beauty of the lakes and forests here. There are so many lakes to fish to go along with some rivers and streams as well. In this area, the most popular lakes to fish are part of the famous Cisco Chain of Lakes, which are 15 interconnected lakes with over 270 miles of scenic shoreline.

Walleye and muskie are targeted by most anglers in this area, but you can also catch northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and panfish.

Minnesota

Alexandria Lakes, MN

The Alexandria area has a nice blend of lakes, wooded hills and open prairie. Located in west central Minnesota, this area is very scenic with many recreational opportunities for the outdoors enthusiasts. Boating and fishing is very popular in the area.

Walleye and northern pike are abundant in many of the lakes. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, rock bass and other panfish are also caught in most of the lakes. There are numerous lakes here to keep you busy as well as local fishing guides and bait shops to help you have a memorable trip.

Bemidji, MN

The Bemidji area lakes provide many recreational opportunities. With over 400 lakes in a 25 mile radius, there are plenty of options for boaters and fishermen. There are plenty of resorts and lodges as well as other accommodation for you to choose from.

This area is home to some very good fishing for muskie, walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass. For many anglers, walleye and muskie would be primary and the pike and bass fishing would be secondary, however, many anglers enjoy fishing for northern pike and largemouth bass. Bass are under fished by most anglers here and there are a lot of them in the area lakes.

Smallmouth bass aren’t here in big numbers, however, you will find plenty of panfish in the many area lakes. Perch, crappie and bluegill are all available throughout the area lakes.

Brainerd, MN

The Brainerd Lakes Area is located in northern Minnesota. With 465 lakes in the area, this area is loaded with recreational opportunities. There is plenty to do here for every age group. Have fun boating, fishing, hiking, golfing, shopping or dining. Numerous resorts and hotels are located in Brainerd giving you many options for either a family trip or a weekend fishing trip with friends.

The fishing is good on most of the lakes in the area. Most anglers target walleye, northern pike and bass. There are good numbers of fish as well as some trophies in the Brainerd Lakes Area lakes.

Detroit Lakes, MN

25 miles of Detroit Lakes, there is plenty of outdoor recreation for friends and family. The accommodations in Detroit Lakes give you plenty of options with many campgrounds, hotels and motels, resorts and more.

Make sure you bring your fishing rods. With all of the lakes, there are plenty of fishing opportunities for you. Walleye, northern pike and bass are the dominant species in most area lakes. Muskie, trout, perch, crappie and other panfish inhabit these waters as well.

Grand Rapids, MN

Grand Rapids is a small town in Minnesota that is known for its outdoor recreation. The area lakes are popular among fishermen and boaters. Many anglers and families plan trips to the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area every year.

There are so many lakes to fish and a variety of different fish to catch. Most fishermen target walleye and northern pike, but you can also catch muskie, smallmouth bass, perch, rock bass and even largemouth bass. The types of fish depend on the lake you are fishing. There are fishing guides in the area to help you learn the area waters and have a more successful fishing trip.

Hackensack, MN

Hackensack, Minnesota is located just south of Leech Lake. Whether you choose to fish Leech Lake or fish one of the many productive lakes in the Hackensack area, you will have plenty of options with all of the great fishing up here. There are plenty of nice lakes to get out and do some boating without the crowds that you will find in many of the popular tourist destinations in Minnesota. While this area may be away from the crowds, there are several fishing resorts in this area to accommodate you.

Some anglers stay on some of the lakes in the Hackensack area even though they may spend a day or 2 fishing on Leech Lake. The smaller lakes give anglers the ability to fish on windy days, while Leech Lake may be too rough for some boats when the wind picks up. Anglers target muskie, northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and panfish in the area lakes.

Lake Pepin

Lake Pepin is a 24,550 acre lake that is located on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. This is a popular lake for fishing and boating. There are numerous public boat launches, fishing guide services, marinas and plenty of lodging options to accommodate you on your trip here.

Lake Pepin is a very good walleye and sauger fishery. Anglers can catch good numbers of walleye to go along with some big fish too. Pike are caught throughout the lake as well and there are some big pike here too. Fish in the 30 inch range are reported frequently on Lake Pepin.

Bass are under fished here due to the walleye, sauger and northern pike fishing. You can target largemouth bass and smallmouth bass and do fairly well here, but they are definitely a secondary species of fish here. Catfish are common throughout the lake, but they don’t get a lot of interest from most anglers who fish here.

Lake Vermilion

Are you looking for a big lake with a variety of fish? Lake Vermilion is an excellent lake that has 40,000 acres of water, 365 islands and 1200 miles of shoreline. If that wasn’t enough, it stretches 40 miles across the heart of Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region. This lake is a great place for an outdoor getaway. There are plenty of resorts along the lake to take care of your accommodations.

Lake Vermilion is a good lake even though some anglers report the fishing can be tough here. It’s a big lake and there are plenty of fish here. Once you figure out the patterns, you should be able to catch smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, muskie and crappie if you choose to target them. Most anglers come here to fish for walleye and muskie, but the pike fishing and smallmouth bass can be very good as well. This is definitely a trophy fishing lake too as there are many big fish caught every here of smallmouth bass, pike, walleye and muskie.

Largemouth bass and crappie are secondary here. Good bass anglers can definitely have some success here, however, you have to put some work in and know where to target these fish. Perch fishing can be good when they are in the shallows in the spring, but they are much harder to find and catch once they go deeper.

Lake Winnibigoshish

Lake Winnie is one of the best, if not the best, walleye lakes in Minnesota. Visitors love coming to Lake Winnie for the outdoor recreation. Boating, fishing, hunting, swimming, hiking and biking are very popular in this area. There are plenty of resorts around the lake to make your trip a comfortable one.

This lake is known as a great walleye fishery. The perch and pike are here too. Most anglers come here to target walleye and if they use smaller sized baits, they end up catching walleye and perch. When they go with bigger minnow-style baits they tend to do well with walleye and northern pike. It’s a good lake to fish and you can expect to catch all 3 species of fish if you tie on a jig and lively minnow.

While most people come here to fish for walleye, pike and perch, there are some other fish in this lake too. Crappie are here in low numbers. You can find some bluegill, rock bass and other sunfish too if you fish for them. There is a fishable population of largemouth bass here, however, many anglers never fish for them. Target the reeds and you will have a shot to run into some of these fish too.

Leech Lake

Leech Lake is located mainly within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation and completely within the Chippewa National Forest in north central Minnesota. The Lake is one of the most popular tourism destinations in all of Minnesota. There are numerous recreational opportunities here such as fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, hiking, biking and much more. You will find a variety of accommodations here to fit your needs.

The primary species of fish that most anglers come to Leech Lake are walleye, northern pike and muskie. All 3 species are here in good enough numbers for anglers to target them and catch them. There are some trophy-sized fish here too for all 3 species of fish.

This lake has such a diverse fishery. If you’re just looking for action, you can fish with live bait and catch a little bit of everything. For those of you looking to target largemouth bass, there is a solid fishery here and most anglers don’t even think about fishing for bass here. Find the weeds, fish shallow and don’t be shocked when a pike hits your bass lures.

Longville, MN

Longville, Minnesota is located just south of Leech Lake. The Longville area has several good fishing lakes to fish, but this area is often overlooked because of the outstanding fishing on nearby Leech Lake.

This area has a lot of lakes to fish with northern pike, walleye and largemouth bass being the primary species of fish targeted here. There are many other types of fish here and plenty of smaller lakes that are always fishable even on windy days.

This area has some good fishing opportunities for a variety of fish. Walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass get the most attention here among most anglers. You also have the option of heading over to nearby Leech Lake to target a wide variety of fish. For the muskie anglers, Leech Lake may be appealing to you.

Marcell, MN

Marcell, Minnesota is located in northern Minnesota in an area called the Edge of the Wilderness. This area has several resorts and some spectacular fishing on many different lakes. It’s a beautiful area and you won’t find the crowds in this area.

The area lakes can differ quite a bit as far as what the primary species of fish are in the Marcell, Minnesota area. However, if you look at this area as a whole, you can find some very good largemouth bass lakes up here. Northern pike are here as well. Walleye can be hit or miss, but there are enough good lakes up here for anglers to target them and catch enough for a fish fry on a regular basis. Smallmouth bass can be hit or miss on many of the lakes, but Big Turtle Lake makes up for the lakes that don’t have good smallmouth bass populations. This is a very good area for fishing.

You will find panfish in the area lakes and on some lakes the fishing can be very good for panfish. Each year can vary based on the lake and the most recent spawns for the panfishing to be good or just ok. Muskie are here in some of the lakes, but this isn’t considered muskie country by any means. You can find some fish and maybe even catch a fish or two on your trip and there may even be some good sized muskies caught up here, but they are definitely secondary compared to other species in the Marcell area.

Mille Lacs Lake

Mille Lacs Lake is Minnesota’s second-largest lake and it covers 132,000 surface acres. Mille Lacs is a great lake for outdoor recreation, but it has been known for its outstanding walleye fishery over the years. There was a walleye collapse and they are hoping to be coming out of that now, however, there are plenty of restrictions on the lake as far as keeping walleye throughout the seasons. This has been a huge debate on the lake. Fortunately, the smallmouth bass fishing is off the charts good right now which is helping make up for the walleye issues.

Mille Lacs Lake has been an awesome walleye lake historically. There have been some issues in recent years and there have been new regulations put in place to try to restore the walleye fishery to its better years. The smallmouth bass fishery has taken off recently with anglers reporting lots of bass being caught with some absolute huge bass here too. Smallmouth bass in the 4 to 6 pound range are possible on any given day and on some days, you may catch several fish in this range with lots of 2 to 3 pound fish too. Pike fishing is good for anglers who go out and target them and some big fish are here too.

This lake has a very diverse fishery. Some anglers do target muskie and largemouth bass, however, most anglers don’t come here for these fish. The panfish are a nice addition for anglers looking to catch some perch, crappie and bluegill.

Otter Tail Country, MN

Towns in Otter Tail Country – Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Perham

Otter Tail Country is home to over 1,000 lakes and streams. This is a great area for enjoying the outdoors whether it be fishing, boating, hiking or just getting outside in this beautiful part of Minnesota.

The lakes in this region offer excellent fishing for a variety of fish such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, muskie and panfish. You have a lot of options and there are so many lakes here that you can usually find a place to get away from the crowds and catch some fish.

Outing, MN

Outing, Minnesota is not a very popular fishing vacation destination, although, it really is a great spot to grab some lodging if you have some time to experience the area. If you had a week here, you could easily fish the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Lake. These lakes all provide some awesome fishing and are with 30 minutes to an hour from Outing, Minnesota. There a few good lakes worth fishing and there are some fishing resorts in the area to accommodate you. It’s a great place to visit if you want to get away from the crowds, but still have good fishing close by. Anglers can target muskie, northern pike, walleye, bass and panfish in the area lakes.

Park Rapids, MN

Park Rapids, Minnesota is just under 30 miles from Walker, Minnesota and the south part of Leech Lake. This area is a popular tourist destination with tons of lakes, numerous resorts and excellent fishing opportunities.

Anglers target muskie, northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and panfish in the area lakes. There are a lot of lakes in this area to fish and so many places to get away from the crowds and enjoying the fishing.

Whitefish Chain, MN

The Whitefish Area of Minnesota features the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, which is a very popular chain of lakes for boating and fishing. There are many resorts here and plenty of places to find a bite to eat. This region is located just north of Brainerd, Minnesota.

This area is known for its fast action largemouth bass fishing and some solid fishing for pike and walleye. You will find some good-sized fish in the Whitefish Chain, but don’t expect to have all the good fishing spots to yourself. This chain of lakes has a lot of people that fish these waters every summer. It’s a very good fishing destination if you’re looking to catch some fish and have some fun around the water.

Missouri

Branson, MO

Branson, Missouri has grown to become one of the most popular vacation destinations in the midwest. There is something to do in Branson for the entire family. There is plenty of entertainment with tons of live shows in the numerous theatres. There is plenty of shopping, restaurants and golf courses. Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo keep boaters and anglers happy. Branson is one of the best family vacation destinations without the fishing. Tie in the fishing and this is an awesome destination for a fishing vacation.

For the fishermen, you have the option of fishing Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo or Bull Shoals Lake. You can catch a variety of fish depending on what lake you decide to fish. Some of the species to catch are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, trout, white bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. If you want to fish for trout, Lake Taneycomo provides fast action with some trophy potential too.

Bull Shoals Lake

Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks is an extremely popular vacation destination in Missouri. It is only about a 3 hour drive from St. Louis, making it a convenient getaway destination for those living in and around the city. The lake is very popular among fishermen and boaters, but there are plenty of other things to do here such as golfing, shopping, dining and just relaxing around the lake.

Bass fishing tournaments are common throughout the summer months. Recreational anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill, rock bass and catfish.

New Hampshire

Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the state of New Hampshire and the 6th largest lake in the United States of lakes that lie within the boundaries of one state. The crystal clear water of this spring-fed lake combined with the wooded shoreline and 3 mountain ranges surrounding the lake make this lake a popular year round vacation destination. Aside from swimming and boating, fishing is the next most popular activity on Lake Winnipesaukee.

You can fish for salmon, rainbow trout, brook trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pickerel, yellow perch, sunfish and whitefish. The lake offers endless opportunities for fishing. From the shallow coves to the maximum depths of around 213 feet, the lake offers many different ways to catch fish. It is well worth spending some time learning this lake. A fishing guide or charter can help shorten the learning curve or just help to put some fish in the boat during your trip here.

New York

Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes are a group of linear-shaped lakes in the west-central part of Upstate New York. With 11 lakes covering 14 different counties, this region is a major tourist destination. People come here for many different reasons. Fishing and boating are very popular on the lakes, but people also come to the area for the events and festivals, to visit the wineries and to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Fishermen have many options with all of the water in this region. Anglers can fish for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout and more. There are several lakes to fish, some bigger than others and some more popular than others.

Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain is a huge lake located mostly within the borders of Vermont and New York, but a portion of the lake is also located across the border into Canada. It is a natural, freshwater lake and it is very popular among boaters and fishermen. Lake Champlain is 100 miles long and 12 miles across at its widest point. The maximum depth is about 400 feet.

The cool waters provide excellent fishing for salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike. There are plenty of businesses located on and around the lake to help you plan an excellent fishing vacation.

Thousand Islands

Fishermen have many different species of fish to target such as northern pike, muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye and others. This area is truly an amazing fishery. If you want to catch a lot of fish, you can do that. If you want to catch trophy fish, you can do that too.

North Carolina

Lake Lure

Lake Lure is a gorgeous lake located in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range of western North Carolina. The lake has been called “one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the world” by National Geographic. With 720 acres of water and approximately 27 miles of shoreline, there is plenty of water to fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, rainbow trout and bluegill.

Lake Lure has a good population of bass. Largemouth bass are more abundant than smallmouth bass, but you can target smallies here too and there are some big fish here too. White bass are here in good numbers. Secondary species of fish include rainbow trout, brown trout and panfish.

Oklahoma

Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States. Located along the Oklahoma – Texas border, this lake covers over 89,000 surface acres. Lake Texoma is extremely popular among anglers and boaters alike. The lake draws around 6 million annual visitors.

For fishermen, Lake Texoma offers some of the best striped bass fishing in the entire country. Natural reproduction maintains a strong year-round striped bass fishery on this lake. Many lakes that have striped bass must rely on stocking efforts, but on Texoma, they naturally reproduce, which allows for some fantastic fishing and liberal regulations. Last we checked, each person is allowed to keep 10 fish with only 2 over 20 inches, but make sure to check the regulations before you head out onto the lake. There are plenty of fishing guides available and this is one of the very few lakes that you can limit out consistently in a couple of hours or less with the right guide.

South Carolina

Charleston, SC

Anglers have access to some good offshore fishing here too. With the jetties here, a lot of anglers choose to stay closer and fish the jetties, but you can go offshore for some very good fishing too. The target species will vary depending on the seasons. Fishing charters will target grouper, snapper, cobia, king mackerel, permit, amberjack, barracuda, bonito, sharks and more.

Lake Lure

Lake Murray

Lake Murray is a large lake covering over 50,000 acres. The lake is a major recreational destination in South Carolina. There are numerous fishing tournaments held throughout the year and there are plenty of places for a recreational fishermen to launch a boat. Fishing guides, boat rentals and marinas can be found here to make your trip more enjoyable. Lake Murray is known for its excellent striped bass fishing to go along with other species such as largemouth bass, crappie and other panfish.

Santee Cooper Lakes

Lake Marion

Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina, covering over 100,000 acres. It is one of the Santee Cooper Lakes and it is known for its excellent catfish fishery. The crappie fishing is also very good, but this lake really stands out for its catfish. Fish in the 10 to 20 pound range are common and there are many fishing guides that can take you out for some incredible fishing. Striped bass, largemouth bass and bluegill round out a good fishery.

Lake Moultrie

Lake Moultrie is the third largest lake in South Carolina and it covers over 60,000 acres. There is plenty of public access on the lake and it is very popular among fishermen. Lake Moultrie is one of the best lakes in the country for catfish. Catfish anglers flock to this lake and channel cats in the 10 to 20 pound range are very common here. There are some other species on the lake as well, but none get the attention that catfish do on Lake Moultrie. Other fish consist of striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill.

Tennessee

Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga is the 4th largest city in Tennessee. This city is located at the transition between the ridge-and-valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. The scenery is beautiful in Chattanooga with mountains and ridges surrounding the city.

Fishing is also very good in this area with the Tennessee River, Chickamauga Lake and Nickajack Lake. Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, huge catfish, striped bass, crappie and bluegill.

Dale Hollow Lake

Dale Hollow Lake is a beautiful lake located on the Kentucky / Tennessee border. The lake is surrounded by beautiful scenery and miles of shoreline. It is a wonderful tourism area with plenty of accommodations, houseboats, warm weather, tons of water and some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the country.

Dale Hollow Lake is home of the world record smallmouth bass that weighed 11 pounds and 15 ounces. Largemouth bass, crappie, muskellunge, walleye, catfish, gar, and trout are also available. The majority of the fishermen come here for the world class smallmouth bass fishery.

Kentucky Lake

Pickwick Lake & Wilson Lake

Texas

Lake Fork

Lake Fork is 27,690 surface acres and it is located in Wood and Rains County of northeast Texas. With 315 miles of shoreline, there is plenty of water to fish. Lake Fork has gained the reputation of being one of the best, if not the best bass lake in the country. There are so many huge bass caught here every year that many of the fishing guides consider 5 pound bass “dinks.” Of the top 20 State Record Largemouth Bass of Texas, the majority of them were caught from Lake Fork. Fishing is also excellent for crappie and catfish, however, most anglers do not even think about fishing for these species. This lake is a remarkable lake, but you may need a fishing guide to get you started. It is a big lake with tons of wood that sits above the surface, but learning the underwater structure is key to landing some of the monster bass that live here.

Lake Texoma

Utah

Lake Powell

Vermont

Lake Champlain

Virginia

Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake is a very large artificial lake that is located southeast of Roanoke, Virginia. With over 20,000 acres of water and more than 500 miles of shoreline, this lake is a water lover’s paradise. Boating and fishing are very popular on the lake.

Fishermen target many species, but many of the anglers come here for the striped bass. It’s known as a good numbers lake for stripers and some big fish are available too. There are several fishing guides available on the lake that can help you find where some of these striped bass call home. You can also catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and a variety of panfish.

Wisconsin

Birchwood, WI

The Birchwood, Wisconsin area is a beautiful lake community. If you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy some time outdoors and on the water, this may be a nice vacation destination for you and your family.

This area has so many different lakes to fish. Long Lake and Lake Chetac get the most attention. They are good lakes known for good walleye fishing and you can also catch northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. Many of the area lakes will have good fishing for walleye, pike, bass and panfish.

Boulder Junction, WI

Boulder Junction is known for its muskie fishing with its 50 plus “Class A” muskie lakes, but it is just as popular for its outdoor appeal. Thousands of people love spending their vacations in Boulder Junction because of the quiet waterways, crystal clear lakes, numerous trails and other outdoor recreation that the Northwoods of Wisconsin offers.

Walleye & muskie are abundant in this area and they are the species of fish that get targeted the most in this area. Anglers have so many lakes to fish and many of the area lakes will give anglers a good chance to catch walleye and muskie. Smallmouth bass are here also in good numbers and some very big fish are caught here every year.

Cable, WI

Cable, Wisconsin is a small town just north of Hayward, Wisconsin. If you enjoy the outdoors, you will find plenty to do here. The trail system attracts many people here that enjoy hiking, biking, running, snowmobiling, atving and cross country skiing. The lakes are popular during the open water seasons.

The fishing is very good here with Lake Owen and Namakagon Lake drawing the most interest from anglers. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, pike and muskie are all possible here in the area lakes.

Chippewa Falls, WI

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin is located in the northwest part of Wisconsin about 90 miles east of St. Paul, Minnesota. It’s small town atmosphere, beautiful scenery and numerous lakes in Chippewa County make the Chippewa Falls area a great place for a vacation. Chippewa County has hundreds of lakes and numerous trout streams. The county has 21,037 acres of lakes and streams and over 310 miles of rivers and streams.

The fishing in the Chippewa Falls area is very good. Whether you are targeting a trophy muskie, bass, northern pike, trout or panfish, it’s all here in the Chippewa Falls area lakes and streams.

Eagle River, WI

Eagle River, Wisconsin is one of the top places to visit in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Eagle River is very scenic with lots of wildlife. Numerous fishing lakes combined with miles of trout streams keep visitors coming back every year. You also have plenty of accommodations, restaurants and shops to make it a very convenient vacation.

The Eagle River Chain of Lakes is known for its abundant walleye and muskie populations. The lakes that surround this town are known for their bass, walleye and muskie fishing with some pike available too. You can fish the chain and at times, fish with the crowds or you can get away from it all very easily by driving 15 minutes out of town to fish one of the several lakes in the area.

Hayward, WI

Hayward is located in northwestern Wisconsin. Its small hometown atmosphere and unique setting make it a great vacation destination for people that enjoy the outdoors. The recreational opportunities are endless with over 55,000 acres of lakes. Fishing, boating and just enjoying the outdoors is popular in this area.

Fishing is good for muskie, northern pike, walleye, bass, crappie, perch and other panfish. Hayward is home to the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, where world record catches are registered. We have a large fishing section to help you learn more about the fishing here.

Iron River, WI

The Iron River area is a popular vacation destination. People come here to enjoy the beautiful lakes and streams that provide excellent fishing and other recreational activities. The 96 area lakes provide excellent fishing for northern pike, muskie, bass, walleye, and panfish. The top 12 lakes that anglers target are Deep Lake, Delta Lake, Eagle Lake, Half Moon, Iron Lake, Iron River Flowage, Lake Wanoka, Long Lake, Peterson Lake, Pike Chain of Lakes, Pine Lake, and Ruth Lake.

You can find excellent fishing in the other lakes and you might just stumble upon an area that nobody knows about. That is what’s great about the Iron River area. There are so many places to fish. With Lake Superior only 17 miles north of Iron River, you have the option of fishing the lake and its tributaries. The area rivers provide some excellent fishing during the spawning runs. Brule River offers an excellent steelhead run through the month of April and Flag River also heats up for steelhead around the second week of April.

Lac du Flambeau, WI

Lac du Flambeau is a small town located near Minocqua, which is one of the more popular vacation destinations in Wisconsin. You won’t find the crowds in Lac du Flambeau like you will in Minocqua, so you have less crowds on the lakes, but all the amenities a close car ride away. There are plenty of lakes here with so many outdoor recreational opportunities here.

The Lac du Flambeau chain of lakes gets most of the attention in this area. The fishing can be very good for a variety of different fish. Most anglers come here to fish for walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie, northern pike and panfish. The largemouth bass fishing is pretty good too depending on the lake you are fishing.

Lake Pepin

Land O’ Lakes, WI

Walleye and muskie are targeted by most anglers in this area, but you can also catch northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and panfish.

Manitowish Waters, WI

Manitowish Waters is located northwest of Minocqua and close to the border of Wisconsin and the upper peninsula in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Manitowish Waters is a lovely area with pristine lakes and plenty of scenery. The Manitowish Waters chain of lakes includes ten lakes with over 4,200 acres of connected waters to enjoy. Boating, fishing and swimming are very popular on the chain.

The chain provides some excellent fishing forwalleye, muskie and northern pike. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and other panfish are also caught in the chain.

Mercer, WI

Mercer is home to several smaller lakes and a huge lake called the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. In the smaller lakes in the area, anglers target bass, walleye, panfish, pike and even muskie in some of the lakes. The Turtle Flambeau Flowage is what stands out in this area though. The Flowage consists of nine lakes, three rivers and several creeks. The flowage offers some beautiful surroundings and plenty of water for the outdoor enthusiasts. Boating and fishing are very popular on the flowage. Water skiing and jet skiing are permitted in some areas, but very limited, which makes it nice for the fisherman looking to find some peaceful surroundings.

The flowage gets the most attention here and it should. The fishing is very good for smallmouth bass, walleye and muskie. Some very big crappie are caught here too and you will definitely run into some northern pike here as well. Don’t expect to find too many big pike in these waters though.

Minocqua, WI

Minocqua is one of the most popular areas to visit in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. This area has one of the largest concentration of freshwater lakes in the country. There are numerous types of lodging, plenty of restaurants and some excellent outdoor opportunities.

The fishing in Minocqua is known for its muskie fishing, although, it has some pretty good fishing for walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish also. Northern pike are also available in many of the lakes.

Presque Isle, WI

Presque Isle is a quiet town that has been nicknamed “The Last Wilderness.” Located in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, there is plenty to do here for those of you that like being on the water. This area has many lakes, streams, pristine forests and plenty of wildlife to help you get away from the daily grind.

The fishing is excellent in Presque Isle. The lakes don’t get nearly as much fishing pressure up here as some of the other areas in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Muskie, walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, perch and other panfish are available.

Rhinelander, WI

Rhinelander, Wisconsin is a great place to get away from it all. Located in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, you will enjoy outdoor activities in the vast forests and numerous lakes. Rhinelander sits on Boom Lake, which is one of the 1,100 lakes in Oneida County.

The Wisconsin River and Pelican River surround Rhinelander which help to give this area a well-rounded fishery. Muskie and walleye are abundant in the area lakes. Most anglers in this area will target walleye or muskie. If you like fishing for Muskie, this area is home to the Hodag Musky Challenge and it is one of the most prestigious catch and release musky tournaments in the Midwest. Some very nice fish are caught here every year. You can also catch northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, perch and other panfish in the area lakes. Bass are here, but usually under fished by most anglers.

St. Germain, WI

St. Germain, Wisconsin is one of the more popular areas to visit in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. There is so much to do here for the outdoorsman with the area lakes and pristine wilderness.

The St. Germain area offers some excellent fishing. Most people spend their time on Big St. Germain Lake and Little St. Germain Lake. You can catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, muskie, crappie, bluegill and perch. The spring is best for fishing as you can target many species in shallower water. In the summer, the fishing is still good and the weather is warm enough for a variety of outdoor activities. This is the perfect time for a family vacation. If you have some time off in the fall, plan a muskie fishing trip. The fishing is excellent in the fall for walleye and muskie, but most anglers come up here in the fall to land a trophy muskie.

Three Lakes, WI

Three Lakes, Wisconsin is a small community located just south of Eagle River in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. The town is nestled in the midst of the Nicolet National Forest which offers some excellent scenery. For the water enthusiasts, the Three Lakes Chain of Lakes consists of 28 lakes.

Fishing is very good on the chain for muskie and walleye. You can also catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, crappie, perch and other panfish.

Tomahawk, WI

The Tomahawk, Wisconsin area is home to a variety of waters that are popular for fishing and boating. It’s a small town with beautiful scenery and some awesome lakes.

Anglers can fish numerous lakes, flowages and rivers in this area. Anglers come here to catch walleye, muskie, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, trout and panfish. There are plenty of places to get some action and some big fish waters are here too.