Ott DeFoe’s 5 Favorite Lakes

Red-hot Ott DeFoe details his favorite bassin' locales in this list.

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<p>  </p> <p> Since Ott DeFoe has begun fishing with B.A.S.S., he’s earned nearly $360,000 in just 27 tournaments, caught his biggest-ever tournament bass (10-9), and weighed in his heaviest-ever stringer (just shy of 30 pounds on Lake Kissimmee). The reason? His shallow-water prowess, knack for catching plus-size fish and great tournament waters. DeFoe has traveled the country chasing our beloved bass, but here he shares the five lakes that make him drool when they appear on a tournament schedule.</p>
 

Since Ott DeFoe has begun fishing with B.A.S.S., he’s earned nearly $360,000 in just 27 tournaments, caught his biggest-ever tournament bass (10-9), and weighed in his heaviest-ever stringer (just shy of 30 pounds on Lake Kissimmee). The reason? His shallow-water prowess, knack for catching plus-size fish and great tournament waters. DeFoe has traveled the country chasing our beloved bass, but here he shares the five lakes that make him drool when they appear on a tournament schedule.

<p>  </p> <p> <strong>5. Lake Okeechobee; Okeechobee, Fla.</strong></p> <p> “Really, I used to hate this lake. In the first pro/am I ever fished in 2004 or 2005, I beat 13 guys out of 200. I didn’t have a clue what was going on down there,” DeFoe confesses. “As I fished it more and more, I got better, but was always in the hundreds. Recently, though, I’ve got it figured out, and it’s such a good lake with so many good fish that I have to mention it here. I love Okeechobee now. I can see what a quality fishery it is.”</p>
 

5. Lake Okeechobee; Okeechobee, Fla.

“Really, I used to hate this lake. In the first pro/am I ever fished in 2004 or 2005, I beat 13 guys out of 200. I didn’t have a clue what was going on down there,” DeFoe confesses. “As I fished it more and more, I got better, but was always in the hundreds. Recently, though, I’ve got it figured out, and it’s such a good lake with so many good fish that I have to mention it here. I love Okeechobee now. I can see what a quality fishery it is.”

<p>  </p> <p> <strong>4. Wheeler Lake; Decatur, Ala.</strong></p> <p> “This is an often overlooked body of water on the Tennessee River system because there’s Pickwick and Wilson below it and Guntersville above it, and it’s not the lake that any of those are. But, I always like fishing it because I always seem to do well there,” he says. “I’ve got places that seem like they always produce, which gives me confidence that I can usually finish in the Top 5 whenever we go there.”</p>
 

4. Wheeler Lake; Decatur, Ala.

“This is an often overlooked body of water on the Tennessee River system because there’s Pickwick and Wilson below it and Guntersville above it, and it’s not the lake that any of those are. But, I always like fishing it because I always seem to do well there,” he says. “I’ve got places that seem like they always produce, which gives me confidence that I can usually finish in the Top 5 whenever we go there.”

<p>  </p> <p> <strong>3. Lake Kissimmee; Kissimmee, Fla.</strong></p> <p> “This lake is incredible,” he says. “During the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open down there in 2011, I caught a 10-9, my biggest tournament fish, and my heaviest stringer, which was just shy of 30 pounds. That was a sight fishing deal, and it was a blast.” He finished 4th in that event. These two were part of his 29-plus-pound bag.</p>
 

3. Lake Kissimmee; Kissimmee, Fla.

“This lake is incredible,” he says. “During the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open down there in 2011, I caught a 10-9, my biggest tournament fish, and my heaviest stringer, which was just shy of 30 pounds. That was a sight fishing deal, and it was a blast.” He finished 4th in that event. These two were part of his 29-plus-pound bag.

<p>  </p> <p> <strong>2. Santee Cooper Lakes; Manning, S.C.</strong></p> <p> “This is where I won my first big tournament, so it holds a special place for me,” he says. “Plus, I’ve caught more 7-pounders there than from any one lake. But, I’ve usually been there when it’s a sight fishing deal, but still, catching 7s off of beds is anyone’s idea of fun.”</p>
 

2. Santee Cooper Lakes; Manning, S.C.

“This is where I won my first big tournament, so it holds a special place for me,” he says. “Plus, I’ve caught more 7-pounders there than from any one lake. But, I’ve usually been there when it’s a sight fishing deal, but still, catching 7s off of beds is anyone’s idea of fun.”

<p>  </p> <p> <strong>1. Douglas Lake; Dandridge, Tenn.</strong></p> <p> “There are several reasons why this is my favorite lake. First, it’s close to me [Knoxville]. Second, you have a shot at catching 20 pounds almost any day of the week. And, on weekdays, you won’t see but 10 boats out there. It’s got a lot of big fish, especially in the last few years. Finally, it’s a lake where you fish deep a lot, and that’s something I’m still learning, and this is one of the best places to learn that, so it’s the perfect lake.”</p>
 

1. Douglas Lake; Dandridge, Tenn.

“There are several reasons why this is my favorite lake. First, it’s close to me [Knoxville]. Second, you have a shot at catching 20 pounds almost any day of the week. And, on weekdays, you won’t see but 10 boats out there. It’s got a lot of big fish, especially in the last few years. Finally, it’s a lake where you fish deep a lot, and that’s something I’m still learning, and this is one of the best places to learn that, so it’s the perfect lake.”