Midwest anglers may not have access to saltwater shores, but that doesn’t mean fishing enthusiasts on the coasts should feel sorry for them. With thousands of gorgeous lakes, wide rivers teeming with bass and catfish, and a near domination of the Great Lakes, Midwestern anglers have plenty of places to go fishing. These are the top fishing locations in the Midwest.
Lake of the Woods, Minnesota
Sitting at the top of Minnesota, one of the best states for all-around fishing is a large, remote lake called Lake of the Woods. Fishing this gorgeous lake gives you the chance to escape into an area of forests, bears, moose, and great fishing. Anglers casting lines at the Lake of the Woods not only get some of the best walleye in the country, they also get bass, northern, Muskie, and crappie.
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
The area from Little Sturgeon Bay to Fish Creek, Wisconsin earned the #2 best bass water for 2015 from Bassmasters. This was actually a disappointment for the area, as it was #1 in 2014. It hosts some of the most elite fishing tournaments in the country, but it’s also a great place for hobby anglers to catch smallmouth bass, salmon, trout, northern pike, and Muskie. When you visit Sturgeon Bay, you can go from deep fresh water to shallow fishing, all without leaving your boat.
Lake St. Clair, Michigan
When you hear the word “Detroit,” what do you think of? Most people in the country would say the auto industry and Motown soul, but if you’re an angler, you should think of Lake St. Clair, located just to the east of the Motor City. This is one of the top destinations for Muskie, walleye, and sturgeon, but it’s the bass catch that makes this lake one of the best. For 2015 Bassmaster named Lake St. Clair the #3 bass lake in the country.
Chippewa Flowage, Wisconsin
Home to some of the largest Muskies in the world, the Chippewa Flowage is a flooded impoundment that was created to generate power for northern Wisconsin. Not only does it create energy, it also creates world-class northern pike, bass, walleye, and crappie. The 15,000-acre body of water is a maze of connected lakes surrounded by wooded shores, floating bogs, and untouched islands. While you’re in the area, you can also visit the nearby Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward.
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Located in central Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks is one of the top vacation destinations in the midwest, as well as a prime fishing spot, especially for table-filling crappie and big, fat catfish. For anglers, the best time of year to travel to the Lake of the Ozarks is in the fall, when the party crowds and vacationers have moved on and you can enjoy the water for what its true purpose: fishing. Spend a week on the Lake of the Ozarks and you’ll see why it’s a top fishing destination in the Midwest.
Top-Quality Fishing Apparel for the Midwest
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