Our Favorite Place to Fish in Each State in 2021

Fifty states. 3,074 fish species. Ranking 7th in the world in terms of diversity of fish, the United States is an unlimited resource of fishcapades. Covering around 45 percent of the world’s total freshwater resources and bordered by three major oceans, America offers a vast menu of opportunities for all methods of fishing. Whatever state you’re from, numerous fish are waiting from depths for you to reel in whatever state you're from.

Check out what fish you can target in your area and neighboring states using our 2021 guide below.

1. Alabama - Lake Guntersville

Alabama’s largest lake is home to many types of bass all year-round; it was considered the nation’s second-best bass lake in 2019.

2. Alaska - Kobuk River

This river is best known for the sheepshead; it is also home to vast populations of northern pike, salmon, Arctic char, and Arctic grayling.

3. Arizona - Lake Havasu

Among the top bass lakes in the West, Lake Havasu is popular for various types of striped, largemouth, and smallmouth bass.

4. Arkansas - Millwood Lake

If you want to explore different bass species, this lake is a good choice with its 82.5 percent success rate during bass fishing tournaments.

5. California - Lake Berryessa

If you want to haul some rainbow trout, brown trout, lunker bass, bream, crappie, and catfish, then bring your baits to this lake. Enjoy reeling in your big catch!

6. Colorado - McPhee Reservoir

This area supports species that thrive in both warm and cold temperatures; it is best to fish from here from late spring to early summer.

7. Connecticut - Bantam Lake

This lake is rich with calico bass, largemouth bass, white perch, and yellow perch.

8. Delaware - Beck’s Pond

This is a good hub for bluegill, perch, crappie, and largemouth bass.

9. Florida - Florida Keys

This ultimate fishing haven is home to tarpon, snook, swordfish, sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin, and redfish. It’s a must-visit paradise.

10. Georgia - Lake Allatoona

Expect to find an impressive number of bass species here. Here ya go, bass master!

11. Hawaii - Kona

If you love deep-sea fishing, then this sportfishing capital of Hawaii is a must-visit. Imagine being able to catch ono and mahi mahi.

12. Idaho - CJ Striker Reservoir

This is popular with anglers due to its rich resource of catfish, salmon, trout, and largemouth bass.

13. Illinois - Lake Michigan

This is heaven for anglers! You can find brown trout, walleye, smelt, salmon, and whitefish, among others here.

14. Indiana - Lake Monroe

Offering various fish like crappie, walleye, bass, catfish, and carp, this lake is a must-see. 

15. Iowa - Lake Rathbun

Considered as Iowa’s “Crappie Capital”, this lake is ideal for beginners who want to target striped and white bass.

16. Kansas - Chase State Fishing Lake

This is best for catching a wide range of species, including channel catfish, largemouth bass, sauger, and bluegill.

17. Kentucky - Kentucky Lake

Definitely, among anglers’ favorites, you can find lots of perch, bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass here.

18. Louisiana - Lake Pontchartrain Basin

This is famous for speckled trout.

19. Maine - Deep Creek Lake

This 3,800-acre lake is home to trout, bass, and crappie.

20. Maryland - Chesapeake Bay

You can find over 70% of the striped bass population here. Other local fish like croaker, flounder, speckled trout, drum, and bluefish can also be targeted from here.

21. Massachusetts - Martha’s Vineyard

This iconic seaside destination has many fishing charters which primarily target bonito and false albacore.

22. Michigan - Lake St, Clair

This lake is best for targeting gamefish like smallmouth bass, crappie, perch, and walleye.

23. Minnesota - Lake of the Woods

This place is branded as the “Walleye Capital of the World”.

24. Mississippi - Mississippi Sound

Famous all-year-round for sheepshead, tripletail, redfish, and black drums, this place is a fishing treat!

25. Missouri - Lake of the Ozarks

You can target bluegill, paddlefish, channel catfish, and crappie here.

26. Montana - Bighorn River

If you are a fly fishing enthusiast, this river is perfect for you. The most abundant fishes here are rainbow and brown trout.

27. Nebraska - Johnson Lake

This is famous for its abundant walleye population.

28. Nevada - Lake Tahoe

Comprising 122,000 acres, this is a hotspot for trout.

29. New Hampshire - Crystal Lake

This is perfect for targeting rainbow smelt, sunfish, and yellow perch.

30. New Jersey - Raritan River

Considered the longest in the state, this is a hotspot for trout fishing.

31. New Mexico - Upper Rio Grande

It is best to fish here during the early summer months.

32. New York - Thousand Islands

This place is friendly even to beginners; you can catch large muskies here as well as northern pike, walleye, salmon, and bass.

33. North Carolina - Outer Banks

This versatile place is good for pier fishing, brackish fishing, inshore fishing, and fly fishing. You can reel in sea bass, trout, flounder, and more off its waters.

34. North Dakota - Lake Oahe

This place offers lots of white bass, crappie, catfish, and walleye.

35. Ohio - Ohio River

This is considered one of the top fishing spots in the US, offering catfish, bass, sauger, and walleye.

36. Oklahoma - Deep Fork River

This is popular for chasing catfish by kayak.

37. Oregon - Columbia River

Being the largest river in the Pacific Northwest, it offers lots of salmon,  catfish, trout, and walleye.

38. Pennsylvania - Susquehanna River

This is home to most of the smallmouth bass on the East Coast.

39. Rhode Island - The Wood River

This is a good choice for onshore, canoe, or kayak fishing.

40. South Carolina - Myrtle Beach

This fishing hub offers mackerel, sharks, flounder, redfish, and black drum.

41. South Dakota - Angostura

This hotspot is ideal for recreational fishing.

42. Tennessee - Reelfoot Lake

The largest natural lake in this state is home to crappie, bluegill, and freshwater catfish.

43. Texas - Galveston Bay

The biggest estuary in Texas, this bay is teeming with sheepshead, flounder, spotted seatrout, and red drum.

44. Utah - Colorado River

Thriving with catfish, bass, and sunfish, this is a must-visit fishing spot.

45. Vermont - Shelburne Bay

Offering rainbow trout, panfish, and bass, this bay is a must-see in the spring and fall.

46. Virginia - Chesapeake Bay

This scenic spot is known for bluefish, trout, and speckled sea trout.

47. Washington - Pugent Sound

This inlet is known for steelhead, sockeye salmon, and chinook.

48. West Virginia - Bluestone Lake

Surrounded by the Appalachian mountains, this is a picturesque hub for fishing.

49. Wisconsin - Lake Winnebago

The largest inland lake in Wisconsin is known for its sturgeon-spearing activity, which lasts for 16 days in February.

50. Wyoming - Snake River

This area offers lots of brown trout and cutthroat trout.