Bassmaster Magazine of Alabama has again announced their annual ranking of the top 100 bass fishing lakes in the United States, and New York State fisheries again ranked high.

The St. Lawrence River was ranked number 4 in the U.S. but is also the best in the northeast, according to the rankings which identify the top lakes in the nation based on head-to-head comparisons.

Bassmaster Magazine Editor-in-Chief James Hall said, “We divide the nation into four regions and rank the lakes in each region to give anglers perspective on the fisheries they can most likely reach.”

Lake Fork in Texas is ranked as the number 1 bass fishery in the U.S. for 2021.  Followed by number 2 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California and number 3 Santee Cooper Lakes (Marion/Moultrie) in South Carolina.

Rounding out the nation’s top 10 bass waters, in order were Clear Lake, California; Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas; Lake St. Clair, Michigan; Jordan Lake, North Carolina; O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas and Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee.

From there the lakes are ranked regionally and New York State waters dominated the upper rankings in the northeast.  Following the St. Lawrence River was Lake Erie, Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake and Chautauqua Lake.

There are six New York State fisheries ranked in the top 100 best bass fishing lakes in the U.S. but bragging rights has to go to Texas and California, with 10 lakes each.  Florida and Arizona each placed seven lakes on the list.

A study by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation shows that in the past year nearly 55 million Americans have gone fishing and bass fishing is the most popular sport fishing in the United States.

NRA cancels convention

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has canceled its Annual Convention that was scheduled to be held over this Labor Day Holiday Weekend in Houston, Texas because of the spike in the COVID-19 Virus in the Houston area.

A spokesman for the NRA said, “The NRA’s top priority is ensuring the health and well-being of our members, staff, sponsors and supporters.  We are mindful that NRA annual convention patrons will return home to family, friends and co-workers from all over the country, so any impacts from the virus could have broader implications.  Those are among the reasons why we decided to cancel our 2021 event.”

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Holiday Weekend!

Jack Danchak is a longtime sportsman and spent 30 years as the President of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.