Beyond the Appalachian hills and the expansive Ohio farmlands lies some of the finest mixed-bag bass-fishing territory in the U.S. The northeastern states provide a remarkable range of fishable waters, from small, shallow ponds and flowing streams to immense rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. This region is unique because anglers can catch a sizable largemouth or smallmouth bass on that next cast, a feat that is not possible in many other areas.
When the Northeast comes to mind, most anglers envision the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, or the St. Lawrence River. However, there are numerous other destinations where bass grow large, the scenery is breathtaking, and you can enjoy the peace of a quiet lake. Below are a few exceptional bass fishing spots in the Northeast that you may have overlooked:
Onondaga Lake, New York
When first pulling up to one of the boat ramps on Onondaga Lake, you may notice the beautifully manicured landscape within the heart of one of the busiest cities in the state. The lake wasn’t always like that. From the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC):
“In the 19th century, Onondaga Lake was a popular tourist attraction, with beaches, resorts and amusement parks. Over time, industrial development and a growing population led to increases in sewage and industrial discharges that took their toll on the water quality of Onondaga Lake. Swimming was banned by 1940 and fishing in 1970. Because of pollution control efforts (which began in the 1970s) and more recent cleanup work, the lake is now the cleanest it has been in over 100 years. The lake reopened to fishing in 1986 (with consumption advisories) and over 65 species of fish have been documented in the lake. The ongoing revitalization of Onondaga Lake has exceeded the expectations of many, but there is still work to be done.”
What was once one of the most polluted lakes in the Northeast now boasts not only a vibrant fishery, but arguably one of the best largemouth fisheries we have in New York.
The lake covers 2,944 acres and has a max depth of 63 feet, making it a fairly shallow-water eutrophic lake. It boasts everything you could want in a bass lake: weeds, rock, spawning flats, and all sorts of man-made structure put in by the NYSDEC.
While the lake has both largemouth and smallmouth bass, largemouth are the predominant species. You can find these bass throughout the entire lake any time of year. That said, the fish do move around a lot, so running and gunning to try and stay on biting fish is key. The lake is known to have some really big bass, with many bass pushing the 6-pound mark. Even a few weighing over 7 pounds are reported each year. There are several smaller tournaments held on the lake each year, and it usually takes that magical 20-pound bag for a five-fish limit to even place in the money.
Quabbin Reservoir, Massachusetts
I think everyone who reads this has a manmade reservoir used for drinking water somewhere near their house. Most of the time they are either closed off with no access or no fishing allowed. In the state of Massachusetts, there is a water supply reservoir that allows fishermen access with their own boat to some of the states best smallmouth bass fishing.
The Quabbin Reservoir sits at just under 25,000 acres in size and is the main water supply for the city of Boston. It is also the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. It’s deep, clear water hosts many different fish species, but smallmouth bass are the number-one predator besides lake trout.
The lake has many features that smallmouth love, including steep shorelines, offshore rock reefs, and overhanging trees over deep water. This is a smallmouth fisherman’s paradise and only a short drive from Boston, the Connecticut border, or New Hampshire border.
With fishing a water supply reservoir comes many different rules and regulations. The state of Massachusetts has a complete Quabbin Reservoir Guide link on their DNR web page that lists all the rules and regulations on fishing this reservoir. Regulations like boat size, horsepower restriction, and where you can launch your boat – be sure to read the rules before embarking on this particular reservoir.
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
Nestled within the white mountains of New Hampshire is a lake with picturesque scenery and loads of big bass of both species. That lake is Lake Winnipesaukee. With over 280 miles of shoreline and a max depth of 182 feet, its crystal clear waters hold arguably some of the most beautiful smallmouth and largemouth I’ve ever laid eyes on in the Northeast. The lake also has 264 islands which leaves endless opportunities to find that hidden shoreline loaded with fish.
The lake’s spring fed waters and rocky shorelines make this place a mecca for smallmouth of all shapes and sizes. But don’t be fooled, the many shallow bays and boat docks are loaded with largemouth. Being that this lake is the largest inland lake within the state of New Hampshire, it also holds some of the largest bucketmouths in the state.
So why should this lake be on your radar? If you like catching bass in some of the prettiest scenery in the Northeast, then Lake Winnipesaukee is the place to visit. There aren’t many places where you can catch bass with beautiful mountains and blue skies in the background. Also, if you’re into catching triple-digit numbers of smallmouth in a day, this lake also offers that too.
Lake George, New York
Why even highlight this lake when it’s so close to Lake Champlain? For the reason that it’s so overlooked by many anglers. The amount of people that drive right past Lake George to go to Champlain is astonishing. Anglers are driving past an amazing fishery that at times (in my honest opinion) can fish even better than Champlain.
Sitting at the base of New York’s Adirondack Park, Lake George is one of New York’s most visited lakes for vacationers. Many people flock here during the summer months to spend weeks on end doing tourist things around the lake. It’s more known as a tourist town as opposed to a fisherman’s paradise. But this is a lake you need to have on your radar, as it offers some of the best bass fishing found in the Adirondacks.
Most lakes found within the Adirondack greater area are usually very shallow, tannic and unproductive bodies of water that hold little to no fish at all. Lake George is the exact opposite; it holds some of the clearest water we have in the entire state. It’s a lake where you can see the bottom 30 to 40 feet clear as day. That being said, you would think this lake would be more of a smallmouth fishery, but it’s the exact opposite. There’s loads of largemouth swimming in the depths of this beautiful lake.
What makes this place worth checking out are two things. One being that you can catch bass using a variety of techniques. Pick your favorite and it probably catches fish. From the top of the lake to the bottom in 60 plus feet, you can find a bite. Second is the size of the largemouth in this lake. When there are tournaments, and there’s not many, winning weights still need to be 20 pounds plus. Anywhere else in this part of the state you need half that. Five-pound bass are very common throughout the lake with six-pound fish getting caught more frequently. If you don’t mind fishing through boat traffic and tourists, this lake is definitely one you need to check out.
Final Thoughts
We have some truly incredible fisheries here in the Northeast and many of them often get overlooked. Next time when you’re traveling through, and have a bad weather day from some of the big lakes, give one of these places a shot. I can promise you that there you’ll start to plan your trips around these water bodies rather than the places that get more pressure. Sometimes fishing waters not in the headlines can lead to incredible fishing experiences.
