America has some of the greatest freshwater fishing on the planet. From the legendary bass fisheries of the South to the trophy walleye lakes of the Midwest and the clear mountain trout waters of the West, there's a world-class fishing lake within driving distance of almost every angler in the country.
We've compiled the 25 best fishing lakes in America — each with a brief overview, top species, what makes it special, and a link to a free depth map so you can study the structure before you go.
🗺️ Browse All Lake Depth Maps
Every lake on this list has a free contour map showing depth, structure, and fish-holding features.
View All Lake Maps →Southern Bass Lakes
1. Lake Guntersville — Alabama
Top Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish · Size: 69,000 acres
Guntersville is the undisputed king of bass fishing. Massive grass beds, endless creek arms, and a world-class largemouth population make it a bucket-list destination. The lake has hosted more Bassmaster events than almost any other water in the country. Spring and fall are prime, but Guntersville produces year-round.
2. Sam Rayburn Reservoir — Texas
Top Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish · Size: 114,500 acres
The largest lake entirely within Texas, Sam Rayburn is a bass fishing factory. The standing timber, hydrilla beds, and deep creek channels produce big largemouth consistently. It's also one of the best crappie lakes in the South.
3. Lake Fork — Texas
Top Species: Largemouth bass · Size: 27,690 acres
Lake Fork has produced more ShareLunker bass (13+ pounds) than any other lake in Texas. The strict slot limit has created a trophy fishery that consistently gives up double-digit largemouth. If catching a personal best bass is your goal, Fork is the place.
4. Kentucky Lake — Kentucky/Tennessee
Top Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish · Size: 160,300 acres
One of the largest man-made lakes in the eastern U.S., Kentucky Lake is famous for its ledge fishing in summer. Bass school up on offshore structure and feed aggressively on shad. The crappie fishing is world-class, and the lake also holds excellent smallmouth populations.
5. Toledo Bend — Louisiana/Texas
Top Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish · Size: 185,000 acres
Toledo Bend is massive and loaded with bass. The flooded timber, standing cypress, and miles of creek arms create perfect habitat. It was ranked the #1 bass lake in America by Bassmaster multiple times. Spring is outstanding, but the fall shad migration produces incredible numbers.
6. Lake Okeechobee — Florida
Top Species: Largemouth bass, crappie (specks), bluegill · Size: 730 square miles
The Big O is Florida's inland sea and one of the top bass fisheries in the world. The shallow, weedy flats produce trophy largemouth, and the sheer volume of fish is staggering. Flipping heavy cover and frogging grass mats is the name of the game.
7. Chickamauga Lake — Tennessee
Top Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie · Size: 36,240 acres
Chickamauga exploded onto the national scene with multiple tournament-winning bags exceeding 30 pounds. The grass fishery has created a largemouth population that rivals any lake in America. It's rapidly becoming the go-to destination for competitive bass anglers.
Midwest & Great Lakes Region
8. Lake Erie — OH/PA/NY/MI
Top Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, steelhead · Size: 9,910 square miles
The Walleye Capital of the World. Lake Erie's western basin produces insane walleye numbers, and the smallmouth fishing in the eastern basin is arguably the best in North America. The spring walleye run and fall perch fishing are legendary.
9. Lake St. Clair — Michigan
Top Species: Smallmouth bass, muskie, walleye, perch · Size: 430 square miles
St. Clair is the premier smallmouth bass fishery in the country. The clear water, expansive grass flats, and healthy smallmouth population produce incredible numbers of 4-6 pound fish. The muskie fishing is also world-class.
10. Mille Lacs Lake — Minnesota
Top Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie · Size: 132,000 acres
Mille Lacs is a walleye legend. The vast mud flats and gravel reefs create perfect walleye habitat, and the smallmouth fishing rivals anything in the Midwest. It's a big-water challenge that rewards anglers who study the depth map and find offshore structure.
11. Lake Monroe — Indiana
Top Species: Largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, catfish · Size: 10,750 acres
Indiana's largest lake is a diverse fishery with flooded timber, deep creek channels, and healthy populations of multiple species. The pre-spawn bass fishing in the upper creek arms is outstanding. See our full Indiana lakes guide →
12. Lake of the Ozarks — Missouri
Top Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, paddlefish · Size: 54,000 acres
With 1,150 miles of shoreline, Lake of the Ozarks has endless fishing opportunities. The deep, clear water and abundant dock structure create a unique fishery. Dock shooting for crappie and flipping docks for bass are signature techniques here.
13. Table Rock Lake — Missouri
Top Species: Largemouth bass, spotted bass, trout, crappie · Size: 43,100 acres
Table Rock's clear water and rocky structure produce excellent spotted bass and quality largemouth. The lake also has a strong rainbow and brown trout fishery below the dam. Deep cranking and finesse techniques shine in the clear water.
Western & Mountain Lakes
14. Lake Powell — Utah/Arizona
Top Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye · Size: 161,000 acres
Lake Powell is a desert masterpiece with red rock canyons, crystal-clear water, and excellent multi-species fishing. The striper fishing can be electric when schools surface on shad, and the smallmouth population is healthy and growing.
15. Lake Havasu — Arizona/California
Top Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, redear sunfish · Size: 19,300 acres
Havasu is a desert bass fishing paradise. The clear water, rocky shoreline, and tule-lined banks produce quality largemouth and smallmouth. It's hosted multiple Bassmaster and FLW events and consistently produces big bags.
16. Clear Lake — California
Top Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill · Size: 43,600 acres
California's largest natural freshwater lake is one of the top bass fisheries in the West. The nutrient-rich water grows bass fast, and double-digit fish are caught regularly. Spring is legendary for big pre-spawn largemouth.
17. Flathead Lake — Montana
Top Species: Lake trout, yellow perch, bull trout, whitefish · Size: 122,400 acres
The largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, Flathead Lake sits in stunning mountain scenery with incredibly clear water. Lake trout fishing is the main draw, with fish over 30 pounds caught regularly by trollers working the depths.
Southeast Reservoirs
18. Lake Lanier — Georgia
Top Species: Spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie · Size: 38,000 acres
Lanier is the spotted bass capital of the Southeast. The deep, clear reservoir produces 5+ pound spots regularly, and the striper fishing is excellent. It's a technical lake that rewards anglers who can fish offshore structure.
19. Santee Cooper (Lakes Marion & Moultrie) — South Carolina
Top Species: Largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, catfish · Size: 171,000 acres combined
The Santee Cooper system is a legendary Southern fishery known for its massive catfish, excellent bass fishing, and trophy stripers. The flooded timber and cypress trees create endless structure. The landlocked striped bass fishery is one of the best in America.
20. Lake Seminole — Georgia/Florida
Top Species: Largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, crappie · Size: 37,500 acres
Seminole's grass-filled flats and flooded timber produce trophy largemouth, especially in spring. The lake sits at the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers, creating current-rich areas that concentrate fish. It's been called the best bass lake in Georgia.
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
21. Lake Champlain — Vermont/New York
Top Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, lake trout · Size: 271,000 acres
Champlain is a multi-species paradise with world-class smallmouth and largemouth fishing. The diverse structure — from weedy bays to rocky shoals to deep open water — supports an incredible variety of fish. Multiple Bassmaster Elite events have been held here.
22. Oneida Lake — New York
Top Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, largemouth bass · Size: 51,000 acres
Oneida is the walleye fishing capital of New York and one of the best multi-species lakes in the Northeast. The shallow, fertile water grows fish fast, and the walleye population is incredibly healthy thanks to excellent management.
Natural Lakes & Northern Gems
23. Lake of the Woods — Minnesota
Top Species: Walleye, sauger, northern pike, muskie, smallmouth bass · Size: 950,000 acres
With thousands of islands and endless structure, Lake of the Woods is a walleye angler's dream. The sheer size and fish numbers are staggering. Summer trolling and jigging produce limits routinely, and the ice fishing is world-class.
24. Dale Hollow Lake — Tennessee/Kentucky
Top Species: Smallmouth bass, walleye, trout, muskie · Size: 27,700 acres
Dale Hollow holds the world record smallmouth bass (11 lbs 15 oz) and remains one of the top smallmouth fisheries in the country. The crystal-clear water and rocky bluffs create ideal smallmouth habitat. It also offers excellent trout fishing below the dam.
25. Pickwick Lake — Alabama/Tennessee/Mississippi
Top Species: Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, sauger · Size: 47,500 acres
Pickwick is a Tennessee River impoundment famous for its smallmouth bass fishery. The current-swept shoals, rocky structure, and deep ledges create a diverse fishery. Summer ledge fishing for bass is world-class, and the spring smallmouth action on the shoals is electric.
🗺️ Explore All 25 Lake Depth Maps
Study contour lines, find structure, and plan your next trip with free depth maps for every lake on this list.
Browse All Lake Maps →How to Use These Maps
Every lake on this list has a free depth map available on Fishn Buddy. Before your trip, spend time reading the contour lines and identifying key structure — points, drop-offs, creek channels, and humps. Match those features to the season and species you're targeting, and you'll arrive at the lake with a plan instead of a prayer.
If you're heading out this spring, don't miss our guide on using lake maps to find pre-spawn bass — the timing couldn't be better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fishing lake in America?
Lake Guntersville in Alabama is widely considered the best bass fishing lake in America due to its massive grass beds, consistent big fish production, and year-round fishing quality. For walleye, Lake Erie is the clear champion. The "best" depends on your target species and what you value in a fishing experience.
Where can I find free lake depth maps?
Fishn Buddy offers free depth maps for popular fishing lakes across the country. State DNR and fish & wildlife websites also publish bathymetric maps for many public waters. The Army Corps of Engineers provides survey data for most federal reservoirs.
How do depth maps help me catch more fish?
Depth maps reveal the underwater structure — points, drop-offs, channels, humps — where fish live and feed. By studying a map before your trip, you can identify high-percentage spots and fish efficiently instead of randomly casting. Read our complete guide to lake depth maps →
What is the best time of year to fish these lakes?
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are generally the best seasons across most of these lakes. Bass are in pre-spawn or fall feeding mode, walleye are active, and crappie are accessible. Summer and winter fishing can be excellent too with the right techniques. Check our bass timing guide for species-specific advice.