bassfishingtoday

I thought I would throw together a list if the Top 10 places I would like to make a trip to or have made a trip for a bass fishing excursion.  I did not rank them, they are all fabulous destinations.

Lake Amistad - Have fished it twice and caught my biggest bass to date from there, 8-3.
  My dad has also caught a 13.2lbs bass from its clear depths.  Awesome lake, might be at a plateau now.

My dad’s 13lbr

Lake Guntersville - Have not been there yet, but I am targeting next spring.  Where else can you toss rattletraps and catch - 6 lbs plus fish on a consistent basis, I have watched to many “Big Mommas” caught on TV not to get there some day.

Lake Champlain- Have not been there, too busy fishing in MN to get there so far.  A perfect blend of green & brown bass, not going to catch any giants, but great numbers of 4 lbs plus fish to be had.  June seems like the perfect month to head there for a smallmouth & bucketmouth combo platter bonanza.

Great Lakes- I did sneak out on Chequamegon Bay (Lake Superior) one afternoon, caught several 3-4 lbs fish in a few hours, just enough to really wet the appetite.  The kicker is that part of the great lakes is not even that great for bass fishing comparatively to Erie, Michigan & Huron.  I would lump St. Clair & the Detroit River into this mix as well.  Too much water to fish them all, you should try one of these at some point.  Probably the best pure Smallmouth waters in the world and on windy days you can harass some largemouth in the boat harbors.  I am fishing a Federation Nation Northern divisional there this August on Lake Michigan, should be awesome.

Santee Cooper- Need to get here still as well.  There have been a lot of huge weights out of this chain.  Seeing & reading about Preston Clark, Zell Rowland, Kelly Jordan and others in/on Bassmasters makes this just too tempting.  Looks like there is everything from great structure fishing to sight fishing available.

Lake Minnetonka- Been there a bunch, probably should fish more, its right in my backyard.  Still in the top 5 of all time for total catch in Bassmasters events.  Takes 5 fish - 20lbs plus bags to win out there on a consistent basis and Largemouth up to 8 lbs are possible.  There is also a nice population of smallmouth, they do not get a lot of pub, but they are nice change of pace.   This lake has every kind of cover you could want, there is truly something for every angler on this chain of interconnected bays & lakes. 

Two 5lb Tonka Bass of Mine from this Summer

Clear Lake, Ca- WEST SIDE!  That’s for Byron Velvick & his swimbaits.  California’s largest natural lake and its full of huge greenies!  Tons of ways to catch them, almost always takes a huge sack to win tournaments out there.   When I see the lake on TV, it looks a lot like lakes that I fish in MN.  Just another place I need to get to.

California Delta - Have not been…   All I have to say is 10# plus bass on frogs, enough said.  Probably the best big fish tidal fishery in the world.

Lake Falcon- Paul Elias & Terry Scroggins showed us what dreams are made of on the final day of last year’s Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Falcon, UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Elias Falcon Giant

Mexico- Guerrero, Mateos, El Salto, Baccarac…..  It does not matter where, they are all tremendous and are probably just a matter or some trout stocking away from kicking out a world record.  If I had only known El Salto was so close to Mazatlan when I was on spring break

Honorable Mentions: Choke Canyon, Lake Fork, Pickwick, Columbia River, Toho, Big O, Lake Allen Henry, San Diego area lakes, Potomac…..

I think its pretty clear, its hard to get down to a Top 10 or even 25.  So many places, so little time.  Good thing I am still young.  This list could easily be my life goal list at the same time.  Do you agree, disagree, got better ideas?  Let me know.

Tight Lines,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com

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