America’s Best Freshwater Fishing Destinations

Cold, clear waters with excellent trout, bass, and walleye. The Northeast offers everything from Adirondack wilderness lakes to accessible reservoirs near major cities.

Lake Champlain

Vermont / New York Border
Target Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, lake trout
120 miles long with 587 miles of shoreline. The bass fishing rivals anything in the country. Ticonderoga area for largemouth; rocky points for smallmouth.

VT Fishing Regulations →

Quabbin Reservoir

Central Massachusetts
Target Species: Landlocked salmon, lake trout, smallmouth bass
Massachusetts’ largest lake. Limited access keeps pressure low. Shore fishing at designated areas; boat rentals available. Best salmon fishing April-May and October.

MA Fishing Info →

Candlewood Lake

Western Connecticut
Target Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, perch
Connecticut’s largest lake at 5,420 acres. Excellent bass tournaments held here. Squantz Cove and Danbury Bay for largemouth.

CT Fishing Info →

Delaware River

NY / PA / NJ Border Region
Target Species: Wild brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, American shad
The upper Delaware is one of the best wild trout fisheries in the East. Catch-and-release sections near Hancock, NY produce 20″+ browns regularly. Shad run April-May.

NY DEC Fishing →

Notable Northeast Rivers

  • Housatonic River (CT/MA)Brown trout, rainbow trout • Best: Apr-Jun, Sep-Nov
  • Battenkill River (VT/NY)Wild brown trout • Best: May-June, September
  • Ausable River (NY)Brown & rainbow trout • Best: May-October
  • Penobscot River (ME)Landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass • Best: May-September

Southeast

Largemouth bass heaven. Warm waters, long seasons, and legendary fisheries that have produced state and world records.

Lake Guntersville

Northeast Alabama
Target Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, striped bass
Consistently ranked #1 bass lake in America. 69,000 acres of Tennessee River impoundment. Grass fishing paradise—work the hydrilla edges. 5+ lb bass are common.

AL Fishing Info →

Lake Okeechobee

South-Central Florida
Target Species: Largemouth bass, crappie (speckled perch), bluegill
730 square miles—Florida’s largest lake. The “Big O” is legendary for trophy bass. Fish the Monkey Box and King’s Bar areas. Best December through April.

FL Freshwater Fishing →

Santee Cooper Lakes

South Carolina (Marion & Moultrie)
Target Species: Largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish, crappie
171,000 combined acres. Famous for landlocked stripers and monster catfish. Blue catfish over 100 lbs caught here. Bass fishing excellent in spring.

SC DNR Fishing →

Kentucky Lake

Western Kentucky / Tennessee
Target Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish
160,000 acres on the Tennessee River. The ledge fishing in summer is world-class. Blood River and Jonathan Creek for bass; bridges for crappie.

KY Fishing Info →

Toledo Bend Reservoir

Texas / Louisiana Border
Target Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish
185,000 acres—one of the largest reservoirs in the South. Produced multiple 10+ lb bass. Standing timber and creek channels are key structure.

TX Parks & Wildlife →

Sam Rayburn Reservoir

East Texas
Target Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish
114,500 acres of prime bass water. Texas state record bass came from here. Fish hydrilla and lily pads shallow; ledges and humps deep.

TX Parks & Wildlife →

Notable Southeast Rivers

  • Chattahoochee River (GA)Trout (tailwater), shoal bass • Best: Year-round below dam
  • St. Johns River (FL)Largemouth bass, striped bass • Best: February-April
  • Suwannee River (FL/GA)Largemouth bass, Suwannee bass (endemic) • Best: Spring
  • Apalachicola River (FL)Striped bass, largemouth bass • Best: Spring spawn

Midwest

Walleye and musky country. The Great Lakes region offers incredible diversity—from inland lakes to massive reservoir systems.

Lake Erie

OH / PA / NY / MI
Target Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, steelhead
The “Walleye Capital of the World.” Western basin near Toledo is prime walleye territory. Trolling crankbaits May-June; drifting worm harnesses summer.

OH DNR Fishing →

Mille Lacs Lake

Central Minnesota
Target Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, musky, northern pike
132,000 acres of legendary walleye water. Ice fishing heritage runs deep. Mud flats for walleye; rock reefs for smallmouth. Check current regulations—slot limits apply.

MN DNR Fishing →

Lake St. Clair

Michigan / Ontario Border
Target Species: Smallmouth bass, musky, walleye, yellow perch
Arguably the best smallmouth bass fishery in the world. Clear water sight-fishing over grass beds. 5+ lb smallies caught regularly. Musky fishing excellent fall.

MI DNR Fishing →

Lake of the Woods

Minnesota / Ontario Border
Target Species: Walleye, sauger, northern pike, smallmouth bass, musky
Over 65,000 miles of shoreline with 14,552 islands. Remote wilderness fishing at its finest. Rainy River for spring walleye; main lake structure summer.

MN DNR Fishing →

Green Bay (Lake Michigan)

Northeast Wisconsin
Target Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, musky
One of the most productive walleye fisheries anywhere. Sturgeon Bay area excellent. Spring run up Fox River is legendary—trolling and jigging both produce.

WI DNR Fishing →

Lake Vermilion

Northern Minnesota
Target Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, musky, northern pike
40,000 acres with 365 islands. Classic Canadian Shield lake—rocky structure everywhere. Trophy musky potential. Walleye in 15-25 ft over rock/gravel.

MN DNR Fishing →

Notable Midwest Rivers

  • Mississippi River (MN/WI/IA)Walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, catfish • Pool 4 near Red Wing excellent
  • Maumee River (OH)Walleye (spring run) • Best: March-April (largest walleye run in world)
  • St. Croix River (WI/MN)Smallmouth bass, walleye, musky • Best: May-September
  • Au Sable River (MI)Brown trout, brook trout • Best: May-June (hex hatch), September

Rocky Mountain Region

Blue-ribbon trout streams, alpine lakes, and world-class fly fishing. Elevation means cold water year-round and healthy populations of wild trout.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Utah / Wyoming Border
Target Species: Lake trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, smallmouth bass
91 miles long through red rock canyons. Lake trout over 50 lbs caught here. Fish deep (80-120 ft) in summer; trolling most effective. Green River below dam is world-class trout water.

UT Wildlife Fishing →

Lake Granby

Grand County, Colorado
Target Species: Rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, lake trout
Colorado’s third-largest lake. Excellent ice fishing destination. Trolling for kokanee in summer; jigging for lake trout in winter. State record brown trout came from here.

CO Parks & Wildlife →

Hebgen Lake

Southwest Montana (Near Yellowstone)
Target Species: Brown trout, rainbow trout
Gateway to the Madison River. Gulper fishing for rising browns in summer—unique dry fly opportunity. Trolling and still-fishing produce year-round. Check Yellowstone NP regulations if fishing inside park.

MT FWP Fishing →

Strawberry Reservoir

Central Utah
Target Species: Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon
17,000 acres at 7,600 ft elevation. Utah’s most popular fishery. Trophy cutthroat program produces fish over 10 lbs. Ice fishing January-March excellent.

UT Wildlife Fishing →

Blue-Ribbon Trout Streams

  • Madison River (MT)Brown & rainbow trout • Best: June-October (salmonfly hatch June)
  • Bighorn River (MT)Brown & rainbow trout • 5,000+ fish/mile tailwater • Year-round
  • Green River (UT)Brown, rainbow, cutthroat trout • Below Flaming Gorge • Year-round
  • South Platte River (CO)Brown & rainbow trout • Cheesman Canyon • Best: Spring & Fall
  • Henry’s Fork (ID)Rainbow & brown trout • Railroad Ranch • Best: June-September
  • Snake River (WY)Cutthroat trout • South Fork • Best: July-September

Pacific Northwest

Steelhead, salmon, and wild trout in pristine mountain settings. Rivers dominate here, but lakes offer year-round fishing when rivers are blown out.

Lake Washington

Seattle Metro, Washington
Target Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, coastal cutthroat
Urban fishery in a major city. Bass fishing surprisingly good—work docks and weed edges. Cutthroat fishing near river mouths. Easy access from Seattle.

WA Fish & Wildlife →

Lake Chelan

North-Central Washington
Target Species: Lake trout, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, chinook salmon
50 miles long, 1,500 ft deep—third deepest lake in America. Trolling for lake trout effective year-round. Kokanee run strong June-August.

WA Fish & Wildlife →

Crane Prairie Reservoir

Central Oregon (Cascade Lakes)
Target Species: Rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass
Famous for “Cranebows”—football-shaped rainbows. Shallow, weedy water perfect for fly fishing. Work channels between weed beds. Best May-October.

OR DFW Fishing →

Rufus Woods Lake

North-Central Washington (Columbia River)
Target Species: Triploid rainbow trout, walleye
Trophy trout factory—net-pen raised rainbows average 3-8 lbs, with fish over 20 lbs caught. Trolling with flashers and worms near Chief Joseph Dam. Year-round fishery.

WA Fish & Wildlife →

Notable Northwest Rivers

  • Deschutes River (OR)Steelhead, rainbow trout (redsides) • Best: March-April steelhead, May-Oct trout
  • Yakima River (WA)Rainbow trout, cutthroat • Blue-ribbon catch & release • Best: Spring & Fall
  • Cowlitz River (WA)Steelhead, salmon • Best: December-March steelhead
  • McKenzie River (OR)Rainbow trout, spring chinook • Best: Year-round trout
  • Clearwater River (ID)Steelhead (B-run giants) • Best: October-November

Southwest

Desert reservoirs, high-altitude lakes, and surprisingly good bass fishing. Water levels fluctuate—check conditions before traveling.

Lake Powell

Utah / Arizona Border
Target Species: Striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye
186 miles of red rock canyon reservoir. Striper boils in spring and fall are legendary—schooling fish on surface. Bass fishing excellent in side canyons year-round.

UT Wildlife Fishing →

Lake Mead

Nevada / Arizona Border
Target Species: Striped bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout
Largest reservoir in the US when full. Stripers are the main draw—schooling action in spring/fall. Las Vegas Bay and Overton Arm for bass. Water levels vary significantly.

NV Wildlife Fishing →

Roosevelt Lake

Central Arizona
Target Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish
Arizona’s largest lake. Excellent bass fishing—state record largemouth came from here (16 lbs 7 oz). Best fishing March-May before summer heat. Fish early morning.

AZ Game & Fish →

Elephant Butte Lake

South-Central New Mexico
Target Species: Largemouth bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish, walleye
New Mexico’s largest lake. White bass run in spring is incredible—limits come fast. Bass fishing best in warming spring water. Check water levels.

NM Game & Fish →

Notable Southwest Rivers

  • San Juan River (NM)Rainbow & brown trout • 15,000+ fish/mile tailwater • Year-round
  • Colorado River – Lees Ferry (AZ)Rainbow trout • Below Glen Canyon Dam • Best: Year-round
  • White River (AZ)Apache trout (native), rainbow trout • Best: May-September

Official State Fishing Resources

Always check current regulations before fishing. Licenses, limits, and seasons vary by state and often by specific water body.

Quick Links:
National License Guide |
Fishbrain (Fishing Reports) |
Navionics (Lake Maps)

Disclaimer: Fishing regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with state fish and wildlife agencies before your trip. Water conditions, access, and fishery health can change—check recent reports. This guide is for informational purposes and does not guarantee fishing success or access.

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