If you want to bass fish, the United States is the place to be. But, while U.S. is home to tons of bass fishing opportunities, not all of the locations are created equal.

Best lakes for bass fishing in the U.S.

So, where are the best bass fishing lakes located?

Let’s take a look at 7 of the best lakes for bass fishing. And, while catching that 10+ pounder is not guaranteed, fishing at one or more of these lakes could certainly increase your chances.

Lake Okeechobee

Located in Okeechobee, Florida, Lake Okeechobee is one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. Although Florida is known for many great fishing opportunities, this lake is the king of them all.

This is a very popular destination in the winter months, as temperatures are steady and bass are still feeding.

Whether you hire a guide or have your own boat, you can spend days exploring this large system of lakes while hunting down double-digit bass.

With big worms and natural swim jigs, you can seek out some insane bites.

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Lake Fork

Along with Florida, Texas is also known to have really big bass. The shining star of fishing in Texas is Lake Fork. Lake Fork is a huge body of water that can hold double-digit bass that you only dream about.

Other than in the summer, any other time of year is great for targeting bass. Especially in the spring, you can take advantage of pre-spawn and spawning months to really focus on the big bites.

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The Largemouth bass record weight is over 18 pounds, and bass in the 8-12 pound range are found every year. In fact, that Lake Fork record is also the Texas state record, so big bass are truly born and bred here.

East Texas is known to have incredible fishing, and no trip is complete without trying your luck on Lake Fork.

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Lake St. Clair

Although the southern states are best known for big largemouth, smallmouth fishing is super fun as well. Finding big smallmouth can be tricky anywhere in the states, but Lake St. Clair is the epicenter for making it happen.

This is a lake near the St. Lawrence River, which is a great fishing location in its own right. 4-5 pound smallies are large in any area, but Lake St. Clair has ones that are even larger.

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This lake is located in Michigan and holds many tournaments throughout the year. Whether it be on a boat in the summer or through the ice in the winter, there are fishing opportunities to be had on Lake St. Clair.

Plus, the lake does border part of Detroit. So, you will not be fishing in the middle of nowhere. Being in a city can provide a different element in terms of things to do and see.

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Mille Lacs

Staying up north, there is Mille Lacs. This is the unofficial smallmouth capital of the United States as they come in droves and in great sizes.

Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and Mille Lacs is a very large one. It is also one of the most popular lakes in the entire state.

Catching more than one 4-6 pound smallmouth every day is absolutely achievable, which is crazy in comparison to other lakes. Plus, the walleye fishing is insane here. So, year-round fishing is done in the open water or through the ice for a number of species.

Mille Lacs can be a location where you spend many days fishing all different spots. Due to the size and smallmouth fishing opportunities, you can fall in love with the area.

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Sam Rayburn

Also known as Big Sam, Sam Rayburn is one of Texas’s most famous lakes. With a storied history and legacy for giant bass, this is a bucket list location. It is known for a high density of double-digit largemouth, so putting yourself in a good position to hook up with one can happen here.

Plus, Sam Rayburn is a gorgeous lake with beautiful surroundings. The Angelina National Forest surrounds much of the lake, so the picturesque nature of fishing here adds a really cool element.

Those big Texas rigs and swimbaits can get you hooked up with a trophy in no time.

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Lake Guntersville

Located in Northern Alabama, Lake Guntersville is a largemouth haven. As the largest lake in the entire state, thousands flock to this lake every year to try their luck at catching a big one.

One unique aspect of Lake Guntersville is the number of bass species in the lake. Although the largemouth are the biggest, you can find spotted, smallmouth, white, and striped bass here. So, if you want to challenge yourself to catch them all, it can absolutely be done here.

Due to the accessibility and great fishing, it is a top notch bass fishing lake that is worth the trip.

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Lake Erie

​​Although the Great Lakes are not necessarily known for fabulous bass fishing, Lake Erie is one of the best for it. Many anglers go as far to say that Lake Erie is the best Great Lake for fishing overall.

If a body of water is categorized as a “Great Lake,” you know it is going to be quite large. So, having a pretty big boat is the best way to navigate these waters safely while fishing.

If you do not have a larger boat, you can hire a charter, or you could bank fish in some different spots. One of the best is at Presque Isle State Park. Presque Isle Bay is one of the best harbors on the lake, and fishing here is tremendous.

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Closing Thoughts On Best Bass Fishing Lakes

Those are the best bass fishing lakes in the United States! If you want to form a bucket list of the best, you cannot go without these. Each offers a host of unique aspects and you can really get some great experiences simply out of fishing in the right spot.

Good luck, and happy fishing!

One of the most visual and fun ways to catch bass is with a topwater lure.

When you can actually see a monster largemouth fly through the water column and breach the surface, your adrenaline will be pumping to the max.

So, let’s take a look at some of the best topwater lures for bass as well as some tips and tricks for increasing hookups.

Best Topwater Lures for Bass | The Rundown

In this section, we will mention some top-tier topwater lure brands, but the main point is to cover the types of topwater lures, not necessarily specific models.

You can click any of the links below to jump straight to that particular topwater lure.

• Hollow Body Frog
• Popper
• Buzzbait
• Spook
• Jitterbug
• Popping Frog
• Floating Minnow

1. Hollow-Body Frog

“Frogging” is one of the most popular topwater strategies, as big bass love to munch on frogs. This is especially true in areas with algae, lily pads, and other things on the surface. Because the hooks are tucked into the backside of the lure body, you will not snag everything you hit on the surface.

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We specifically denote the hollow-body variation because it is the most common and easy to use. There are other types of topwater frogs, but this one tends to be the most versatile.

Companies like Scum Frog and Booyah do a great job of crafting hollow-body frogs. Once you can learn to walk the frog, the bites will come in full force.

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2. Popper Lure

Especially for smallmouth, poppers are great topwater lures that provide more extreme action. Rather than being subtle with your action, poppers are made to throw water forward and cause a disturbance on the surface.

These are hard-bodied lures that feature two treble hooks on the bottom. The cupped mouth allows for the popping of water. With this build, it is perfect in open, clear water as it will not work correctly if it comes in contact with items on the surface.

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3. Buzzbait

Buzzbaits are basically spinnerbaits with a propelling tool. So, instead of diving down into the water column, they stay on the water’s surface and provide a sort of bubbling effect.

This gurgling and spinning is super enticing to bass and can be used in a variety of situations.

Use the same colors as you would with a spinnerbait, as white and chartreuse and black and blues can get the job done.

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4. Spook

Although spooks are usually used in saltwater, bass spooks provide awesome action to seek out the larger fish. Spook lures are long, tube-like lures that are walked on the surface.

Spooks provide serious, big action that will weed out the smaller bites and focus on the trophies.

Spooks can be quite expensive, and there is really no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on the high-end stuff. Keep it simple with the classic colors, and spend your time perfecting the action.

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5. Jitterbug

A lure that is somewhat similar to a popper is the Jitterbug.

The classic Jitterbug is made by Arbogast, and has a bit of a different action from it’s cousin, the popper.

The Jitterbug features a couple-cupped front lip. This gives the Jitterbug a back-and-forth motion, so it can be used with a steady cadence.

Jitterbugs are also a bit smaller and chunkier than poppers, so they are good about imitating bugs that are warbling on the surface. Black and green is a really popular color for the Jitterbug, so keep that in mind.

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6. Popping frog

Obviously, the first item on our list was the hollow-body frog, but a popping frog deserves its own section.

Popping frogs have cupped mouths to provide that popping action on the surface. This lure has its own section because the action and use is completely different.

A popping frog is best in open water and near edges rather than in the muck.  This type of action is super enticing and will add some spice when a regular frog isn’t getting it done.

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7. Floating Minnow

Finally, we have the floating minnow. A floating minnow looks exactly like a jerkbait, but you do not have it dive down into the water column, but rather work it on the surface.

The bill is there to shift the lure side to side and provide a swimming action. With the hard body and two treble hooks, hookups are strong and easy.

The key to a good floating minnow is a colorway that looks as natural as possible. When you pair a good color with the right action, you are in a great place for success.

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Topwater Bass Fishing Tips

Now that we’ve covered 7 of the best topwater lures for bass, let’s cover some tips that will help you get more topwater blowups!

Find a cadence

With many topwater lures, you need some sort of consistency. With a frog, you want to “walk” it back and forth on the surface. This gives your lure a super realistic action that bass love to munch on.

With lures like the buzzbait, this is much easier, as you just need to reel it in at a steady pace.

Either way, find what your bass wants to bite and keep it consistent once you have some success.

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Mix up the colors

Believe it or not, the colors of your topwater lure do matter when it comes to fishing for bass.

It might seem useless to put thought into the color because the bass are below and you might be thinking they can’t tell the differnece. That is not the case.

You need to put some thought into the colors of your lures and mix them up if something is not working. If a certain frog has an unappealing shade when the bite is slow, mix things up and it might get the job done.

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Find structure

Similar to any bass fishing strategy, structure matters.

When there is structure under the surface, there are likely bass chilling there. Just because you are working a topwater lure doesn’t mean that structure doesn’t matter.

So, when you can find structured areas, you’ll likely find bass willing to come to the surface and strike your lure. Working across points and over structure will increase your bites tremendously.

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Final Thoughts On Topwater Lures For Bass

If you are new to the topwater game, it can be so much fun. You’ll see, when a huge bass rams through the surface and bites your lure, the feeling is like no other.

Use these lure recommendations and tips to give you a good starting point for topwater fishing. Good luck, and put a hook N1!

Bass fishing has exploded in popularity, which has been a boon for the fishing gear industry.

The days of dropping a cane pole down and hoping for a bite are long over. Now, technology has never been better to help you get hooked up with a trophy bass.

So, let’s break down the best types of fishing reels when targeting bass. Each one of these reel types has its pros and cons, and we’ll cover those as well.

So without further adieu, here are the best fishing reels for bass! (You can click the links below to go straight to that type of reel:

• Baitcaster
• Spinning Reel
• Push-Button Reel
• Fly Fishing Reel

#1 – Baitcasting reel

The best and most popular bass fishing reel in the game is the baitcaster. In the grand scheme of fishing, baitcasters are fairly new to the game. Although there are similar designs dating back to the late 1800s, the modern baitcaster that was developed from the likes of Shimano was in the 1970s.

Over time, these reels got lighter, better, and eventually became the best reel for bass fishing for a number of reasons.

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Baitcaster Pros

• Performance: The first reason baitcasters are the best reel for bass fishing is the performance. Especially with artificial lures that have some weight to them, no reel can provide the accuracy and torque that a baitcaster does. You can zip lures in smaller spaces a lot easier than with any other setup. This is because you have full control over the spool.
• Drag: Baitcasters are very good at being able to lock down the drag and get really high quality hook sets. Modern drag systems are designed to give you leverage over the fish. With bass fishing specifically, you want a tight drag so you can keep the fish tight through the hookset and fight. Other reels do not have the high drag capability that baitcasters do. Having this type of strength will increase the quality of your hookups.
• Feel in the hand: Over time, baitcasting reels have gotten smaller, lighter, and easier to fit in the hand. They are specifically designed to be ergonomic and not take a toll on your hands. This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s the little things that can make a difference in a long day of fishing.

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Baitcaster Cons

• Price: Generally, baitcasters are going to be more expensive than spinning reels or push button reels. If you look at the purchase as an investment and can afford it, no problem. But, for the beginning angler, these prices can sometimes be intimidating.
• Harder to learn: One of the most frustrating aspects of starting with a baitcaster is mastering the cast. Unlike with two of the other options, you cannot just pick up a baitcaster and shoot the lure out there. You will be in a world of trouble. Mastering the cast with a baitcaster is something that takes a long time and has a serious learning curve. If you have someone to help you through the process, you are in good shape. But, if you are going into it cold, this will be tough.
• Struggles with lighter presentations: Baitcasters are made to throw lures with weight. However, bass anglers love to implement weightless presentations into their strategy. Weightless rigs have amazing action, and baitcasting rigs struggle to provide that action as well as the other options. So, when it comes to casting lighter lures with baitcasters, they are not always the best option.

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#2 – Spinning reel

Although baitcasters have stolen the show in the modern bass fishing scene, spinning reels have been at the top for a long time. This is because of the versatility and simplicity of use that cannot be found in other fishing reel types.

For a lot of beginners, the spinning reel is entrance to the sport of fishing. Here are the pros and cons of a spinning reel!

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The Pros of Spinning Reels

• Ease of use: First and foremost, spinning reels are super easy to use. When a first-timer wants to get into fishing, it is typically either with one of these or a push button reel. This is because there is little-to-no learning curve required. Once you know how to use a spinning reel, you are set for life, no matter the brand or model.
• Price: Spinning reels are also very affordable. Fishing can be a pricey hobby, so having a budget option that can still perform is key.
• Simplicity: This goes along with ease of use, but the simplicity of a spinning reel is a big attribute. When you buy a spinning reel, the technology is catered to common knowledge, for the most part. Without a ton of knobs and alternative aspects, you should be set to go fairly easily.

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The Cons of Spinning Reels

• Not great for heavy lures: Spinning reels do best with light weights. So, as the opposite of the baitcaster, this is where you want to throw the weightless and very light rigs.
• Does not have the best casting performance: Generally, the accuracy and casting performance is not up to the par set by baitcasters. So, if you are flipping docks or need to get lures into tight spots, this may not be the one to go with.

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#3 – Push button reel:

The most basic bass fishing reel on the market is the push button.

This section will be short, as they are mainly just meant for kids and entry level anglers who have yet to work up to the other kinds.

The Pros of Push Button Reels

• Super easy to use: These are called push button reels as they literally just have a push button and you have to do nothing else. This is why they are so easy to use. You simply hold the button and let go as you cast.
• Great for kids and smaller bass: Because of the ease of use, it is really good for beginners and fishing for smaller bass. Once someone gets into fishing and learns about the other reals, these will probably be left behind.

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The Cons of Push Button Reels

• Do not work that well comparatively: The performance of the push button reel compared to the others on this list is at the bottom. They do not cast super well and are super bulky in the hand.
• Does not handle big fish well: Push button reels do not have the best drag system. So, if you hook into a large bass, you may struggle getting it in successfully.

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#4 – Fly fishing Reel

The fishing reel that is the most “different” on this list of reels for bass fishing is the fly fishing reel. Fly fishing is a whole different animal that requires an entirely different skill set. So, let’s jump into the pros and cons.

The Pros

• Unique way to fish: Because fly fishing is so different, you can see this as an opportunity for a new challenge. This puts you in a unique spot when it comes to targeting bass.
• Gives you different perspectives: Fly fishing can be done in just about any body of water, but flowing streams and picturesque rivers are best. Buying a fly reel can be a good way to get out there.

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The Cons

• Requires different knowledge: Because fly fishing requires a totally different technique and knowledge set and a lot of practice, it will be harder to acclimate to bass fishing with your fly reel as fast as you could with some other reels.
• Can be expensive: Fly fishing is an expensive hobby to get into. Especially because the lures are different, you have to go all in, and the reel is a part of it.
• Travel: If you are going to be travelling with your fly fishing gear, you’ll need to get some special gear.

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Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of types of bass fishing reels on the market. So, weigh your options and see what will work best for you and we hope you Put A Hook N1!