The 7 Best Lakes In America For Sight Fishing:

If there’s one thing consistent about the late spring/early summer period, it’s that the bass in your part of the country will probably be in some phase of the spawn. Even in the extreme south, there are likely still a few stragglers on beds this time of year, and seeing a big female bass locked on a spawning bed is like a drug to many anglers – a test of wills in its purest form.If you like sight fishing and want to take a fishing road trip – here are some of the best destinations in the world. Check one out this year.

1. California Delta – Stockton, CA

OK, so they're not ALL lakes, but you get the point. With literally thousands of acres of shallow canals, drainage ditches, flats, and bays – the California Delta offers bass virtually unlimited amounts of suitable fish spawning habitat. Did we mention it’s also got some giant bass? Although the Delta doesn’t have super clear water, the tides and copious grass beds usually keep it clear enough to spot a giant locked on her nest.

2. Lake Okeechobee – Clewiston, FL

Referred to by some as Florida’s inland sea, sprawling Lake Okeechobee is only 12 feet deep at its deepest point – meaning that no matter where a bass decides to fan out a nest, you stand a good chance of seeing it. During the spawn, 5 bass stringers over 30 pounds are common, and fish over 10 pounds are plucked off beds each year.

3. Toledo Bend – Many, LA

Another southern giant, Toledo Bend Reservoir straddles the Louisiana/Texas border, and provides die-hard sight fishermen a Texas-sized opportunity at the fish of a lifetime. Toledo bend has both numbers and giants, and the water is generally clear enough during the spawn to keep a guy busy setting the hook all day long.

4. Table Rock Lake – Branson, MO

Although not known for producing giants like the previous three, the Ozarks are an absolute blast for the sight fishing aficionado, mostly due to their super clear water and tremendous numbers of bass. Table Rock is the crown jewel of the Ozarks, and when they’re on beds in force, you can expect an almost unlimited opportunity to pole down on bass in the 2-5 pound range. It’s also possible to go for the Ozarks slam – and fool a largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass in the same day.

5. Green Bay – Sturgeon Bay, WI

As fun as bed fishing for largemouth is, at times it can be equally frustrating due to their propensity for refusing even the most well-presented offerings. Smallmouth bass on the other hand are almost suicidal when spawning, which makes targeting giant Great Lakes bronzebacks a must add for any sightfisherman. Sturgeon Bay was recently voted the number one bass lake in the country, and if you want a legitimate shot at a 6 pound bronzeback – it should be tops on your list.

6. Coeur d’Alene – Coeur d’Alene, ID

Better known for trout fishing and potatoes, Idaho also features one of the best “hidden gem” bass fisheries in the country. Coeur d’Alene’s 25 miles of clear mountain water harbor both largemouth and smallmouth up to 7 pounds, and when they’re up shallow doing their business – it can be downright legendary. The scenery ain’t bad either – it’s nestled into the Western Rockies.

7. Wilson Lake – Cullman, AL

Probably the least famous of all the Tennessee River impoundments, Wilson Lake makes this list for precisely that reason – you’re more likely to find a stretch of untapped spawners here than any other place in the system. It’s also got great big largemouth and an excellent smallmouth fishery. If water clarity is decent, you’ll have ample opportunity to get your fill of bed fishing.