As one year comes to an end and another begins, a lot of people are going to be making lists of what they want to accomplish in 2015. While most of these lists will address things that you want to change or do differently, I want to suggest a different spin on New Year’s resolutions: Make a list of bass fisheries you’ve never visited and see how many you can reach in the next 12 months.
Depending on your lifestyle, you might only be able to reach some of the places on your list. Even so, give yourself a starting point, and when you have time to travel, see if you can mark off another great bass fishing destination.
I’m sure everyone’s list will be different based on where you’ve actually fished, but I’ll offer a year’s worth of suggestions. I’ve chosen bass fisheries that I consider ideal for each month, but feel free to mix them up however it works for you.
January
Lake Okeechobee – Florida: I like this one for two reasons — fish are spawning and the weather is nice. You can actually go fish in shorts and flip-flops while a lot of the country is snowed in. This is a great lake for flipping, and you don’t have to carry a lot of tackle. You’re going to be fishing in 5 feet or less, and the potential for catching a 10-pounder is definitely there.
February
Lake Guntersville – Alabama: In February, this lake is in its prime time. The fish are in their prespawn mode, and they’re wadded up. It’s possible to catch a big fish, but for me it’s just a fun lake. You can catch them throwing a One Knocker Spook or a swimbait. Last year’s Bassmaster Classic showed us some nice weights, and I’d expect to catch a lot of fish here all through the month of February.
March
Table Rock – Missouri/Arkansas: March is jerkbait month, and I can’t think of better lake for that. It’s so diverse with lots of spotted bass and smallmouth. It has beautiful surroundings, and it’s a great lake for a variety of Smithwick jerkbaits.
April
Grand Lake – Oklahoma: This is one of Oklahoma’s best lakes, and April is the time when a lot of the fish are prespawn to spawn. From docks to willows, there are a million targets, and the fish will bite everything from jigs to crankbaits.
May
California Delta – California: I haven’t actually been to this fishery, but I’m adding it to my list too because of all the great stories I’ve heard. This is a massive fishery with diverse habitat that offers lots of opportunities: from flipping to frogging to dropshotting. I hear it’s a real big-fish area, so I can’t wait to fish it.
June
Tennessee River –Tennessee/Alabama/Mississippi/Kentucky: You have a lot of options here, but I’d suggest Kentucky Lake or Lake Chickamauga. Those fish get out on the ledges this month, and once you find themyou can catch 20-30 on one spot and sometimes up to 100. June is ledge month and the Tennessee River is the king of the ledges.
Read part 2 here.