A favorite hobby of Americans is fishing, an activity that can provide many benefits. First, fishing can be a wonderfully relaxing activity, as it is just you, your rod, and the open water. Fishing can also instill patience and delayed gratification, as not everybody can wait for a fish to bite their line. Finally, spending a day fishing with someone personally close to you can be a great bonding experience. So if these benefits sound good to you and you’re looking to get involved in fishing, where should you start? What places in the U.S are the best to fish? Let’s take a look at the best states in the U.S for fishing.
Florida
You can’t make a list of best fishing states without including Florida, an iconic fishing location. Florida is known for its bass fishing, as the state hosts dozens of bass fishing contents every year. Lake Okeechobee is one of the largest lakes in the entire country and is frequently lauded as one of the best fishing spots in the Sunshine State. Although Florida’s bass fishing is its primary draw, there are other fish available in the state. Not to mention, the beautiful Florida weather that you get to experience while fishing. If you’re listing the top fishing states in the country, you absolutely can’t leave off Florida.
Michigan
When it comes to the best fishing states, Michigan has got to be in the conversation. Michigan is flanked by three Great Lakes: Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Eerie. These lakes are massive and are great for fishing, especially if you’re looking for bass. However, even when you don’t factor in the Great Lakes, Michigan is still a quality fishing state. There are many rivers and lakes scattered across the state, bodies of water that have lots of fish in them. While you may be drawn to fishing in the Great Lakes, these smaller bodies of water can be a great option as well. If you’re a fishing enthusiast, then Michigan definitely needs to be on your list of states to visit.
Tennessee
Fishing is an extremely popular activity in the South, especially in more rural communities. However, you can expect to find anglers in Tennessee whether you live in a rural townhouse or are looking for Memphis houses for sale. Classic locations like Douglas Lake, Cumberland River, and Reelfoot Lake can ensure that you have your fishing fix regardless of what type of fishing you’re looking for. Since Tennessee is landlocked and not located in the Great Lakes region, you might expect it to lag behind when it comes to fishing spots. However, that is definitely not the case, and the state is more than worthy of a dedicated fishing visit.
New York
New York may not be one of the first states that comes to mind when thinking of the best U.S fishing states, but the Empire State is actually a high-quality fishing destination. The Finger Lakes are a group of long finger-like lakes in upstate New York which have lots of great fish in them. Fishing is very common at these lakes, and many anglers have talked about how great of a fishing destination they are. In addition, New York borders a Great Lake. Although the state might not have multiple Great Lakes in its proximity like Michigan does, one can still access Lake Ontario from New York. Lake Ontario offers some great lake fishing, further boosting the quality of the state’s fishing scene. Although it may be underrated, you should still strongly consider New York when it comes to planning potential fishing trips.
Christina Gould says
This is great to know. I wasn’t aware that these states were necessarily fishing states. Thanks for posting!
Helen says
My husband will let you know it is not our state. He moved here from Florida and misses how he use to fish.
Wesley R. Nelson says
Ohhh sounds great, i love Michigan for fishing. GREAT POST, i enjoyed reading
liam says
Thanks a lot for the list and for the useful guide 🙂
Zoe Campos says
I love the part where you mentioned that fishing can instill patience in the person who’s doing it. My husband and I noticed that our son is developing an impatient behavior and we would like to address it without actually scolding him. Maybe we should look for fishing packages here in Manitoba and see if we can try them as a family.
Motahar Hossain says
Dear Stefanie, I read this article on fishing at different states. Personally I am a Marine Science student. So, I have an academic and personal interest on fish and fishing. This article has enriched my knowledge about this. Can anyone tell me about the ways of fishing in river? Thanks in advance.
jason says
quite helpful article, my son loves to fish and now i’ve known much places to take him for fishing. keep up the good work