Clear-water lakes: 15 of the clearest lakes we cover

1. Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake covers 13,200 acres of water. It lies about 39 miles southwest of Shady Cove. Trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. It goes down to about 1949 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and among the clearest lakes in the world. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help. Visibility runs to about 120 ft.

Crater Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Whiskeytown Lake, California

Whiskeytown Lake is a reservoir of 3,460 acres of water. The lake is about 2 miles southeast of Shasta. It holds trout, kokanee salmon, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 264 ft. Whiskeytown Lake is known for its clear water, with underwater visibility commonly around 30 feet. Visibility runs to about 30 ft.

Whiskeytown Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Lake Tuscaloosa is a reservoir of some 5,880 acres. You will find it about 2.5 miles southeast of Holt. The fish here are largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and crappie. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Tuscaloosa is the primary drinking-water supply for the city of Tuscaloosa. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help. Visibility runs to about 20 ft.

Lake Tuscaloosa today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Trout Lake, Wisconsin

Trout Lake covers 3,970 acres of water. It lies near Lac du Flambeau. Expect lake trout, walleye, northern pike and muskie. The deepest water is around 117 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Trout Lake is one of the primary research lakes of the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research site, one of the longest-running lake studies in the world. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off. Visibility runs to about 16 ft.

Trout Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Crystal Lake, Michigan

At 9,850 acres, Crystal Lake is a good-sized lake. It lies next to Beulah. Smallmouth bass, lake trout, trout and northern pike are the draw. At about 165 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Crystal Lake in Benzie County is Michigan's ninth-largest inland lake and is noted for its deep, clear water and steep drop-offs near shore. Visibility runs to about 8 ft.

Crystal Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Skilak Lake, Alaska

Skilak Lake is a natural lake of about 24,400 acres. The lake is about 8.9 miles west of Funny River. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout, lake trout and northern pike. At about 632 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Skilak Lake is a glacially fed lake within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge known for its exceptional clarity. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Skilak Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Torch Lake, Michigan

Torch Lake spreads over 18,800 acres. It lies about 1.8 miles south of Rapid City. Expect smallmouth bass, walleye, lake trout and trout. At about 285 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Torch Lake is Michigan's deepest inland lake and is famous for its turquoise, Caribbean-like clear water.

Torch Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Ray Roberts Lake, Texas

At some 25,600 acres, Ray Roberts Lake is a big lake. It lies within an easy drive of Denton (about 10 miles). It is the Elm Fork Trinity River behind Ray Roberts Dam. Expect largemouth bass, white bass, catfish and crappie. At about 106 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Ray Roberts Lake, impounded in 1987 on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River north of Denton, is jointly managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and TPWD.

Ray Roberts Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Phelps, North Carolina

Lake Phelps covers about 15,600 acres. The lake is about 48 miles west of Greenville. The fish here are largemouth bass, catfish and yellow perch. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. One of the oldest natural lakes in the eastern US, with ancient dugout canoes preserved in its very clean sediment. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Lake Phelps today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Smith Lake, Alabama

Smith Lake covers 21,200 acres of water. It lies near Double Springs. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and bluegill are the draw. It goes down to about 264 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Smith Lake is the deepest lake in Alabama and is known for its clear water. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Smith Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Lake Keowee, South Carolina

Lake Keowee covers some 18,500 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Greenville (about 26 miles). Keowee Dam holds it on the Keowee River. Expect largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and crappie. The deepest water is around 150 ft. Cools the Oconee Nuclear Station and is known for clean, clear water.

Lake Keowee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas

At 15,600 acres, Possum Kingdom Lake is a big lake. You will find it about 9.7 miles southeast of Palo Pinto. Morris Sheppard Dam holds it on the Brazos River. The fish here are largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass and catfish. At about 145 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Possum Kingdom Lake fills a canyon the Brazos River cut through the Palo Pinto Mountains, making it one of the deeper, clearer reservoirs in Texas. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Possum Kingdom Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

13. Elk Lake, Michigan

Elk Lake covers some 7,730 acres. You will find it next to Elk Rapids. It holds lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and muskie. It goes down to about 192 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Elk Lake is an oligotrophic, deep glacial lake connected to Torch Lake and Lake Skegemog through the Elk River chain of lakes. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Elk Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

14. Canandaigua Lake, New York

Canandaigua Lake spreads over some 10,800 acres. It lies next to Canandaigua. Trout, lake trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are the draw. It goes down to about 276 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Canandaigua Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

15. Higgins Lake, Michigan

Higgins Lake is a natural lake of 9,600 acres. The lake is near Roscommon. Expect lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and northern pike. At about 135 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work.

Higgins Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Fishing clear water

Fish in clear water see a long way, and they see you too. Long casts, light line, natural colours and a quiet approach earn more bites; dawn, dusk and a ripple on the water are the best hours.