Bass Fishing Trips

Bass make an easygoing fishing vacation. You can stay at a lake cabin, a resort or a reservoir town, fish from a boat or the dock, and hire a guide only if you want one. This page covers both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Largemouth like warm, moderately clear water with little or no current: lakes, reservoirs of every size, permanent stream pools and quiet river backwaters. They usually run 10 to 20 inches and half a pound to about 4.5 pounds, and they can live 10 to 15 years.

Largemouth are carnivores that eat fish, crayfish and large insects, and now and then a frog, mouse or snake. Where shad, small fish and crayfish are plentiful, bass numbers tend to follow.

Smallmouth like cool, clear water with rock or gravel bottoms. In the Ozarks they are the main large predator in most streams. Farther north, they also live in natural lakes. They typically run 10 to 20 inches and half a pound to 4 pounds.

Where to go for bass

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Largemouth are a core part of the fishing on Missouri’s big reservoirs, often alongside crappie and white bass. Lake of the Ozarks has fishing guides, boat rentals and bait and tackle shops, plus tournament organizers, and many of these businesses list themselves as open all year. See our Lake of the Ozarks guide.

Ozark streams. Smallmouth are the most sought-after sport fish in the clear, cool streams of the central Ozarks. Smallmouth fishing has also grown more important at Table Rock Reservoir and Stockton Lake.

Northern Michigan. Pure Michigan says the state has about 11,000 inland lakes and claims eight of the top 100 bass lakes in the country. The Michigan Charter Boat Association also lists smallmouth among the species its captains fish for. See our Northern Michigan guide.

Minnesota. Explore Minnesota lists bass alongside walleye, northern pike, muskie, trout and panfish, so a lake-country trip can mix species. See our Minnesota Lake Country guide.

Ontario. Northern Ontario’s tourism office promotes the province’s smallmouth fishing, and its lodges range from short drives to fly-in trips. Largemouth are fished in Northeastern Ontario too.

Louisiana. Louisiana’s tourism office says bass and crappie are best in spring. Its brackish marshes can produce bass and saltwater fish on the same trip.

When to go

Bass fishing goes on through the open-water season, but spring gets the most attention:

• Largemouth in Missouri spawn from mid-April through late May or June, nesting in water from under a foot to 15 feet deep.
• Smallmouth start spawning in early or mid-April once water passes 60°F, can continue into June or July, and peak in May.

Both species are most active at dawn and dusk. Our April and May pages show other spring options. Water temperature drives timing, so a cold spring can push everything later. Check local fishing reports and the state agency’s rules before you go.

How the trips work

Guided boat trips. On a big reservoir like Lake of the Ozarks, a local guide saves you the time it takes to learn the water. Ask what the guide provides and how many anglers they take.

DIY from a resort or rental. Bass suit DIY fishing well. Rent a cabin with dock access or a boat, and fish the early and late hours, when bass are most active.

Stream trips. On Ozark smallmouth streams, live minnows, crayfish and hellgrammites work, and so do the lures used for largemouth. Smallmouth often cruise the shoreline shallows when they chase minnows.

Fly fishing. Some anglers consider fly fishing the best method for smallmouth. See our fly-fishing trips page.

Choosing a destination

• Big lake with guides and amenities: Lake of the Ozarks.
• Stream smallmouth: the Missouri Ozarks.
• Mixed species from a lake cabin: northern Michigan or Minnesota, where bass share the water with walleye and pike.
• Remote smallmouth: Ontario’s lodges and fly-in trips.

Before you book

• Licenses. Each state and province sells its own fishing license. See our fishing license guide, and check the agency before each trip.
• Keeping fish. Some waters have special bass rules. Check before you keep any.
• Ask your guide what is included (boat, tackle, bait, license), how many anglers they take, and whether they fish live bait or artificial lures.
• Guided or DIY. Our guided vs DIY fishing guide walks through the options.

For more freshwater trips, see walleye, northern pike and muskie.