KayakDon Loc: Bethel, NY

After a long break I started fishing again 20 years ago, when we built a home on small private lake in the southern Catskills. The fishing - and the catching - from late April thru early November have been great. I can count the skunks on one hand (well, maybe 2), largemouth mostly in the 3-4 lb. range with the occasional 5 pounder, and lots of pickerel, many 20" and over (including a 27" beast). I'm really looking forward to putting the yak back in the water when the ice clears out. That said, I've been thinking about those 10+ pounders I see being caught down south in all those You Tube videos - in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Texas. My idea is to spend maybe two days on one of those great bass lakes with a guide, boat and tackle included in the deal. I've done some looking online, but it would be great to get a more personal recommendation. Anybody done anything like that? Suggestions?

E.pa.al Loc: Martin's Creek

A 10lber is on my bucket list as well,unfortunately our location doesn't favor bass getting that big in the northeast. Best of luck on ur quest & definitely send some pics

PLS Loc: Kingsport, TN

The only time I have had a bass on close to 10 pounds was in Florida fishing with a buddy in the spring. Boated a 6 pounder on Guntersville once and saw one at least half again as big. Have not fished Chickamauga or any Texas lakes, but there are some monsters for sure in all of the states you mentioned. Always wanted to fish that big lake in the middle of Florida. Good luck wherever you go and let us know how you do.

JDFishes Loc: Atlantic County

Chain on the Tennessee some of the best fishing IMO. Chickamagua, Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick. That’s an impressive lineup of lakes and each one known for something different. I have used 2 guides that would cover all these lakes. Pickwick known for SMB but also LMB and Striper. Guntersville also known for giant LMB but very pressured. I think Wheeler is getting to be the premier lake there now. Also can’t go wrong w Headwaters/ Farm 13. Had a good guide there too. Sounds like a good adventure, good luck!

AlabamaCreek Loc: Clanton, AL

Kayak Don,

Welp, My place is real close to the center of the state of Alabama. The BassMasters Classic has been held on several of these River Impoundments nearby, quite a number of times.

I'm a canoe fisherman. I don't own one of those Evinrude Hair boats, anymore.

Instead, from Feb stripers breaking arms from the lower side of the dams to 3 lb crappie found in the underwater pine thickets and BucketMouth Largemouth & Spot hook'n themselves, welp, "Who needs a motor if you don't mind being pulled around these ponds by 1FP (fish power) ?"

The cookin' around here is pretty good. I've fished way more than 100 locations. Kind of like Bow-Hunting for deer ... you gotta pick ur spots. Besides, if it ain't the right spot, we just load up, drive 15-30 min to another spot, sometimes another creek, another lake.

Guntersville's about 2 hr from the house, unless you'd rather be on the Scottsboro side.
Lay Lake is 20 minutes away, one way, Logan Martin about 75 min the same way; while Lake Mitchell about 15 min the other way, 30 min away to the Coosa Co side, only 1 hour if you want to go all the way to Hwy280 and Lake Martin to float all the way back to the Coosa.

I can take U to where the Tallapoosa and the Coosa meet, Ft. Toulouse, else float the Cahaba, also nearby, over flat rock bridges, snakin' between copper-rattl-moccasins, lots of may-fly bushes, plenty of rip rap, many a dams to skirt, sometimes. We catch alot of Red-eye bass in these rivers, as well as spots.

Else, the Black Warrior, or the Alabama, you'll find Lakes like Aliceville and Gainesville, about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs the other way. We got deep lakes like Smith Lake, we got Lake Demopolis and thence all the way south toward the Mobile and the Tensaw.

I can even take u to some places, u gotta be careful you don't float over one of those 50 - 100' Falls, cause we got quite a few of them up by Henry Neely. If you want to try a 10' drop, welp, that one's over at the YellowLeaf GristMill, about 15 min away. And, that one requires a set of brass! And, if you don't mind hanging out around alligators, welp, there are quite a few coves on Eufala.

I'd be here till Friday scribbling all the places Monster Bass hide in Alabama. Beats the heck outta balloon fishing Okachobee or monster worm fishin' Lake Fork.

We catch 'em on everything in the tackle box. And, when we feel like paddling, again, well, we just pull that fish into the canoe.

Call this place "The Alabama Creek Hostel," complete with Canoe Fishing Guide!

Want one of those trips?

Alabama.Creek
Exit212, I-65S, Chilton County, AL

Fishing Fool Loc: redding, ca

Clear Lake California many many over 10 pounds and the occasional 15 er. Trinity lake also holds some beasts.

GJF Loc: NY metro native now Jacksonville, FL

I used to have a place in Bethel years ago. We would head over to White Lake and liveline shad just above the thermocline ( about 20ft down in 60 ft of water). We caught lots of brown trout up to 8 pounds! We used large spoons as well if you prefer casting/trolling. You can launch your yak to get to the spot. Best to be an early riser though so your getting off the water before the power boats start heading out!!

KayakDon Loc: Bethel, NY

We’re actually on Black Lake, just down the road. Never fished on White Lake - probably because I’m not an early riser, and the power boats and jet skis do take over once the sun’s been up for a while. No 8 lb. brown trout, but small electric motors only, quiet, lots of bass, pickerel, and crappie, and all the good spots are less than 15 minutes from my dock in the yak.