20 places YOU SHOULD BE FISHING RIGHT NOW
lake champlain , New York / Vermont / Quebec
The fishing in the north is pretty good everywhere from ice out to ice in , and Lake Champlain is no exception . Spanning more than 100 miles south to north , Champlain has everything an angler could ask for , from milfoil beds and largemouth to smallmouth and boulders .
On the largemouth side of things , Champlain is especially good later in the year ; the fish are fat and frequently set up on hard cover . Plus , the grass beds have had time to mature all over the lake , and when you find a good one , you ’ re in business .
For smallmouth , the fall brings plenty of forward-facing sonar opportunities to target fish chasing alewives , and you can usually find a good deep bite on reefs and boulders . Plus , given the right conditions , an umbrella rig or topwater pattern can be a lot of fun . September and October are generally the heaviest weight times of the year for tournaments , with a 23-pound limit of smallmouth not far-fetched .
September weather is the north is delightful , and if you ’ re willing to risk some iffy weather in October , you can also get some top-notch foliage viewing and good cider donuts while you ’ re smashing smallmouth .
While fisheries further south are suffering it out in late summer and early fall , scenic Lake Champlain is ramping up for some of the best fishing of the year .
PHOTO BY PHOENIX MOORE big stone lake , South Dakota / Minnesota
Big Stone Lake is full of big fish and mostly unknown outside of South Dakota and Minnesota . One look at the results of a September 2021 USA Bassin ’ event on Big Stone gives you a hint about what to expect : Only 12 boats fished the event , but eight had over 20 pounds . This lake is full of healthy largemouth , and September is a great time to catch them .
Fort peck , Montana
This impoundment of the Missouri River is far from just about anywhere , but it ’ s full of giant smallmouth bass . The Montana state record , a 7.84-pounder , came from this reservoir , which sees extraordinarily little fishing pressure compared to most places on this list . It ’ s a remote lake known for strong winds , but the big brown fish and untouched surroundings keep anglers returning for more . September weather brings daily highs in the mid-70s with chilly nights for a taste of some great early fall bass fishing .
potholes reservoir , Washington
This is a favorite fishery for Pacific Northwest bassers and is a flipper ’ s paradise for much of the year , with plenty of brush , grass and countless beaver dams . Located in Washington farmland , Potholes is drawn down for irrigation purposes in the late summer , causing the overall size of the lake to shrink and the bass to condense around offshore humps . This is the perfect time to catch them with deep crankbaits , big worms and finesse tactics . Anglers can expect to catch some quality bass and lots of them .
60 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2023