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BEST LAKE — Bassmaster recently released its annual America’s 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings and Texas placed more lakes (10) on the list than any other state. O.H. Ivie reeled in the No. 1 spot nationwide, while Toledo Bend ranks No. 6 overall. Photo by Matt Williams
TEXAS RULES IN BASS TOP BASS LAKES RANKINGS
Bassmaster recently unveiled its annual list of America’s 100 Best Bass Lakes. Not surprisingly, several Texas reservoirs made the grade.
Since 2012, the annual rankings include the Top 10 overall picks nationwide along with a regional breakdown of the Top 25 lakes in the Central, Southeastern, Western and Northeastern geographic regions of the United States.
BASS compiles the list after evaluating tournament results, big bass program data and gathering input from state fisheries biologists and other experts.
Texas placed more lakes in the rankings than any other state (10), including Lake O.H. Ivie, which rose to the top as BASS’ pick as the very best bass lake in the nation. Toledo Bend came in as No. 6 best lake in the country.
“Things really are bigger in Texas and that includes the bass coming out of O.H. Ivie Lake, which claims the coveted spot atop the 2023 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes standings for the first time in history,” according to bassmaster.com.
‘Ivie has been the top contributor to Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Toyota ShareLunker program the last three consecutive years. In 2023, the West Texas impoundment near San Angelo produced 15 Legacy Lunkers over 13 pounds, including a 17.03 pounder that ranks as Texas’ No. 8 heaviest bass of all-time.Texas is well represented in the Central Region.
Top 25 rankings. O.H. Ivie, Toledo Bend, Fork and Possum Kingdom grabbed the Top 4 spots, followed by Sam Rayburn (No. 8), Caddo (No. 11) Falcon (No. 15), Nacogdoches (No. 17), Conroe (No. 19) and Texoma (No. 25).
DODD, DULUDE GRAB $50K AT FORK
Darrell Dodd of Como and Danny Dulude of Grand Saline weighed in 19.88 pounds on five bass to top 164 teams in the Bass Champs Texas Shootout held June 25 at Lake Fork. The winning weight was anchored by a 10.68 pounder. Dodd/Dulude earned $50,000 cash plus an additional $1,200 in contingency bonuses.
Brandon Davis of Alba and Rodney Eschberger III of Van took second with 12.73 pounds, including an 8.18 pounder. Two fish at the upper end of the lake’s 16-24 inch slot limit were brought to the scales.