The Best Bass Fishing Lakes in New York
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are very popular gamefish in New York, and for good reason. New York ranks as one of the top states when it comes to producing trophy smallmouth bass. While nearly every body of water in New York seems to produce a giant bass every now and then, the lakes listed below are known for consistently kicking out trophy bass, which is why they're listed as the best bass lakes in New York.
- Thousand Islands is along the New York-Canadian border and is known for quality smallmouth and largemouth bass despite heavy fishing pressure. 100+ fish days are not uncommon, but anglers flock to this lake because the opportunity to catch a trophy smallmouth bass is very high at Thousand Islands.
- Lake Erie has long been known as one of the top trophy smallmouth bass lakes in the nation. Despite heavy pressure from recreational and tournament anglers alike, it continues to produce giant smallmouth bass year after year. Bass anglers know they stand a good chance of catching a true trophy at Erie, making it a bucket list item for many serious bass anglers.
- Lake Champlain is a large reservoir that shares the borders of Canada and Vermont with New York. For decades, Champlain has routinely produced giant largemouth and smallmouth bass and has become a favorite destination for avid bass enthusiasts. It's highly regarded as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country.
- Oneida Lake, located Northeast of Syracuse, boasts a healthy population of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The above-average sizes offer the very real opportunity to catch trophy bass. Several bass tournaments are held on this lake due to its consistent numbers and sizes of bass.
- Cayuga Lake is located in Central New York with an abundance of big largemouth and smallmouth bass. It offers plenty of shoreline fishing opportunities. The sheer number of big bass make this a popular destination for tournament bass anglers.
- Chautauqua Lake is a large reservoir offering healthy populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass. The shallow, weedy areas and docks offer exceptional cover and habitat, which is why it continues to produce year after year. The amazing fishing opportunities throughout the lake make it a top pick for bass anglers.
New York Fishing Licensing Information
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