The Best Lakes to Catch a 10-Pound Bass This Winter

Do you dream of big bass? If so, you’re not alone. Each year, thousands of anglers set out in hopes of landing a personal best largemouth, anxious to join the double-digit club.

If your goal is to join the double digit bass club, these are the states you should be fishing this winter. Image courtesy of Kyle Hall

We’re here to help you on your quest. Through a little digging and a number of personal accounts, we’ve gathered a list of the best places to visit during your pursuit of a 10-pound largemouth. Here, the chances of encountering a hawg are better than anywhere else in the country.

Texas

The Lone Star State is where it’s at for trophy largemouth bass. Once a debatable topic, Texas now puts to rest any notion that other states known for lunker largemouths can compete. Truthfully, if we were compiling a top-10 list of big bass lakes across the U.S., Texas reservoirs would likely occupy eight spots. We want to spread out the options a bit, though, therefore we’ll just pick the cream of the crop.

Texas’s rise to big bass dominance came as a result of the state’s total dedication to managing for big bass. Habitat enhancement, tight creel and slot limits, tolerance toward aquatic vegetation and breeding and stocking programs for trophies have resulted in a selection of outstanding fisheries.

For starters, we must mention OH Ivie in central Texas, east of San Angelo. Every serious trophy bass angler has heard the reports of Ivie’s monsters — dozens of “teener” fish (over 13 pounds) have been plucked from these waters in recent years.

However, it’s important to point out that OH Ivie is not some dream destination where giant largemouths hide behind every bush. On the contrary, visiting anglers on their first trip to Ivie often report fishless days. The giants we see caught are the result of veteran knowledge of the lake’s offshore features, refined techniques and, often, the use of forward-facing sonar.

Formed in 1990, OH Ivie is a relatively new body of water and is still quite fertile. Add major water level fluctuations in recent years, and we’re left with a timber-filed honey hole for bass. You’ve got a shot at watching a 12-pounder engulf a big swimbait, if you put in enough casts. Just be ready for unending boat traffic, lines at the nearest gas stations and the possibility of days in between bites.

OH Ivie, a relatively new lake, it turning out absolute monsters like this giant caught by Kyle Hall. Image courtesy of Kyle Hall

JB Thomas reservoir, in west Texas, takes the sonar game to the extreme. Here, dirty, low water has fish roaming the flats. Savvy techno-anglers have discovered ways to catch them, and the results have been some eye-popping specimens.

Pale, almost yellowish behemoths fill the social pages of anglers fishing Thomas. The reservoir is in a remote area, a long drive from everywhere, and it has no vegetation. But JB Thomas has cranked out more ShareLunker awards than any lake in Texas recently, so it’s a mandatory stop for serious trophy hunters, regardless of fishing methods.

If traditional bass fishing is more your thing, Toledo Bend never disappoints. Despite its age (remember, many angling heroes started their career here, including Larry Nixon), Toledo Bend continues to crank out 10-pound-plus fish with fairly common regularity. Truthfully, it may be the best “old lake” in America for big bass; a 13-10 was caught there in 2024.

Large swings in vegetation levels have occurred recently in Toledo Bend, requiring a flexible approach to tactics. When vegetation growth is strong — particularly hydrilla — fishing anywhere other than in and around the grass is pointless. Big bass love it, and flipping, lipless crank baits, and jerkbaits score big. When vegetation is unavailable, the lake’s structural elements are key.

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California

Once the premier destination for giants, California’s big bass boom has faded a bit. The reduction or elimination of trout stocking has removed the protein-punch on many waters, slowing the growth rates of big bass. Still, a few waterways are worth mentioning. Clear Lake, for example, never disappoints. The site of numerous tournament records and once the country’s premier big bass lake, Clear Lake still cranks out enough 10-pounders that it’s worth a stop.

Swimbait fishing has always been popular on Clear Lake, and night fishing shouldn’t be overlooked. There, extra-large worms and jigs combine with plopper-style topwaters to produce heart-stopping strikes. Like on many lunker lakes, there are often long periods between strikes.

Lake Morena, outside San Diego, may be tops for a California giant. Fish exceeding 19 pounds have been caught here in the past, and trout stockings still occur. The lake was temporarily closed in 2023 due to elevated algae levels, but is currently open and set to receive trout stockings soon. Rental boats are the program, but park personnel there report a 15-pound bass that was weighed in early 2024.

Florida

Once the big bass capital of the world, Florida has declined in recent years due, primarily, to habitat loss. Strong hurricanes combined with a disappointing legacy of plant control have produced lakes that crank out just a fraction of the big bass they once did. Still, two stars continue to shine, and both feature impenetrable heavy cover. Orange Lake, near Gainesville, is the best big-bass lake in the state, and it has been for a few years. Here, marshes make up much of the shoreline, with large amounts of hydrilla growing throughout the waterbody. All produce outstanding bass habitat. Flipping is the name of the game on Orange Lake through winter, so pack big weights and plastics.

Florida, once the epicenter for big bass, still cranks out some lunkers like this 10-plus-pounder caught by the author. Image by Millennium Promotions

Rodman Reservoir is the all-time best big bass lake in Florida, and it still produces. Sean Rush, the reservoir’s premier guide, puts clients on dozens of 10-pounders annually. Shiner fishing is the name of the game for Rodman’s regulars but visitors have a good shot at a trophy while worm fishing or punching heavy mats.

Rodman Reservoir is not only the top big bass lake in Florida, but has long been one of the best in the nation. Image by Millennium Promotions

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Tennessee

Lake Chickamauga is Tennessee’s premier big bass stop. While it’s nothing like it was in the earlier parts of the decade, big bass are still routine, and 10-pounders don’t turn many heads.

Chickamauga changed big bass fishing forever when locals discovered the power of the A-Rig, the umbrella method responsible for outlandish limits of fish over 10 pounds. This specialized technique shines during cold-water periods, and pre-spawn sows hammer A-rigs aggressively. A special understanding of structure and current help trophy efforts tremendously, as the biggest fish spend most of their time offshore. Still, at any time, a giant is possible at Chick, and it’s a feasible destination for anglers in the middle of the country who don’t have time for days of driving.

Have you cracked the 10-pound code yet? What’s it like to hold a bass that big? You’ll never understand until it happens, the scale settles and she’s there in your hand. Remember, 10-pound bass are incredibly rare. They deserve careful handling and immediate release.