Best bass lakes in the South: 12 lakes to fish
The best bass lakes in the South: Kentucky Lake, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Okeechobee and more, with where to start and how the fish move through the year.
Largemouth on the grassy flats, smallmouth on the rock: the South has lakes for both. Here are 12 lakes where bass are on record, with where to start on each.
The lakes
| Lake | State | Also holds |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Lake | Kentucky | crappie, catfish |
| Lake Pontchartrain | Louisiana | catfish, white bass |
| Lake Okeechobee | Florida | crappie, bluegill, catfish |
| Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) | Georgia | striped bass, crappie, catfish |
| Lake Guntersville | Alabama | crappie, catfish, bluegill |
| Lake Cumberland | Kentucky | striped bass, walleye, crappie |
| Lake Amistad | Texas | striped bass, catfish |
| Sam Rayburn Reservoir | Texas | crappie, catfish, white bass |
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | Texas | crappie, catfish, bluegill |
| Lake Barkley | Kentucky | crappie, catfish, white bass |
| Lake Hartwell | South Carolina | striped bass, crappie |
| Lake Texoma | Oklahoma | striped bass, catfish, crappie |
1. Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
Kentucky Lake spreads over 160,000 acres of water. Expect largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and catfish. The deepest water is around 75 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start.
Kentucky Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
2. Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana
Lake Pontchartrain covers some 403,000 acres. It holds largemouth bass, catfish and white bass. The deepest water is around 65 ft. Its bed shows a wind-blown bank and an upper arm worth a first look.
Lake Pontchartrain today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
3. Lake Okeechobee, Florida
At some 467,000 acres, Lake Okeechobee is a huge piece of water. Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are the draw. At about 12 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows a sheltered cove and an upper arm worth a first look.
Lake Okeechobee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
4. Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill), Georgia
At 71,100 acres, Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) is a huge piece of water. The fish here are largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. At about 180 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.
Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
5. Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Guntersville covers 69,000 acres of water. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. It goes down to about 60 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.
Lake Guntersville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
6. Lake Cumberland, Kentucky
Lake Cumberland spreads over some 65,500 acres. Expect smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye and crappie. The deepest water is around 197 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.
Lake Cumberland today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
7. Lake Amistad, Texas
Lake Amistad covers 64,900 acres of water. Expect largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass and catfish. It goes down to about 217 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.
Lake Amistad today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
8. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas
Sam Rayburn Reservoir spreads over 114,000 acres of water. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 80 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
9. Toledo Bend Reservoir, Texas
Toledo Bend Reservoir spreads over 186,000 acres. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill are the draw. It goes down to about 110 ft. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.
Toledo Bend Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
10. Lake Barkley, Kentucky
At some 57,900 acres, Lake Barkley is a huge piece of water. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.
Lake Barkley today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
11. Lake Hartwell, South Carolina
Lake Hartwell covers some 56,000 acres. The fish here are spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass and crappie. The deepest water is around 185 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.
Lake Hartwell today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
12. Lake Texoma, Oklahoma
Lake Texoma covers 89,000 acres. Largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish and crappie are the draw. Its bed shows two sheltered coves and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.
Lake Texoma today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
Bass through the year in the South
The water temperature on the day matters more than the calendar: each lake page on LakeScope shows today's surface temperature and how the fish should react to it.
- Spring: Prime time. Spawning in shallow coves and pockets.
- Summer: Hot water. Best at dawn, then they drop to deeper, cooler water.
- Fall: Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
- Winter: Cooling down. Try slow baits on points and deeper channel edges.
Questions
What is the best bass lake in the South?
Kentucky Lake in Kentucky is our first pick; Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Okeechobee are close behind.
When is the best time to fish for bass?
Prime time. Spawning in shallow coves and pockets. Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
Your lake every morning
Water temperature, level, wind and bite times on your phone.
