BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – April 24, 2012 – Bassmaster magazine, the official publication for members of B.A.S.S., announced today the 100 best bass fishing lakes in the U.S. The list was compiled in a months-long process that included research from state fisheries agencies, nominations from B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament organizers and a panel of widely traveled professional anglers, fishing writers and others.

Despite its reputation as a dangerous place to fish, Texas’ Falcon Lake ranked in first place. The 58-year-old impoundment straddles the Rio Grande and is shared by Texas and Mexico. The 83,000-acre reservoir has been in the news as much for drug cartel-related crime as for its enormous catches of largemouth bass.

Falcon produced the record winning catch for the Bassmaster Elite Series circuit when Paul Elias caught 132.5 pounds of bass during four days in 2008. Although the Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments have not returned to the lake since, it regularly gives up tournament-winning catches averaging more than 8 pounds per bass.

Texas tops the list of states with eight lakes or rivers in the Top 100, followed by Florida, which has seven fisheries on the list, including No. 2-ranked Lake Okeechobee. Rounding out the Top 10 are Lake Guntersville in Alabama, Lake Erie in Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania, Lake Champlain in New York/Vermont, Lake Amistad in Texas, Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota, San Joaquin Delta in California, Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho and Clear Lake in California.

According to Bassmaster editor James Hall, the idea for ranking the best lakes emerged at a B.A.S.S. tournament during a lively discussion among outdoor writers with definite ideas about the nation’s top performing lakes. Hall decided the debate warranted a more in-depth investigation.

“Instead of just having opinions, we wanted to put science behind the opinion to rate the ‘100 Best Bass Lakes,’” Hall said. “The method was as scientific as we could make it. The result is a list of outstanding fisheries. I think it will be fun for people to consider where their favorite lake stands compared to the best in another state.”

The 100 Best Bass Lakes list was ranked using a variety of qualifiers. Department of Natural Resource representatives provided the five most productive lakes in each state based on electroshock surveys and angler catch rates. B.A.S.S. Federation Nation presidents offered top lake recommendations based on tournament catches, while conservation directors supplied details on lake accessibility and best fish stocking practices.

A blue ribbon panel of outdoor writers, editors, Bassmaster Elite Series professional anglers and fishing industry veterans ranked the final list based on current fishability of each lake, considering its history, big fish and overall quantity potential and aesthetic surroundings of the area.

The list is slated to appear annually. For full details about each of the lakes ranked, as well as more details about each one, visit http://www.bassmaster.com/news/100-best-bass-lakes.

Bassmaster Magazine 2012 100 Best Bass Lakes in the U.S.

1. Falcon Lake, Texas

2. Lake Okeechobee, Florida

3. Lake Guntersville, Alabama

4. Lake Erie, Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania

5. Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont

6. Lake Amistad, Texas

7. Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota

8. San Joaquin Delta, California

9. Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

10. Clear Lake, California

11. Rainy Lake, Minnesota

12. Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee

13. Lake St. Clair, Michigan

14. Oneida Lake, New York

15. Toledo Bend, Texas/Louisiana

16. Kentucky Lake/Barkley Lake, Kentucky/Tennessee

17. Grand Lake, Oklahoma

18. Kezar Lake, Maine

19. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas

20. Columbia River, Washington/Oregon

21. Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes, Florida

22. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut

23. Santee Cooper lakes, South Carolina

24. Roosevelt Lake, Arizona

25. Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin

26. Lake Fork, Texas

27. Louisiana Delta, Louisiana

28. Lake Ouachita, Arkansas

29. Lake Konawa, Oklahoma

30. Lake Of The Ozarks, Missouri

31. Potomac River, Maryland/Virginia

32. Shasta Lake, California

33. Lake Havasu, Arizona

34. Lake Michigan, Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana/Michigan

35. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota

36. Florida Everglades, Florida

37. Lake Charlevoix, Michigan

38. Lake Mead, Nevada

39. Choke Canyon Lake, Texas

40. Lake Seminole, Georgia/Florida

41. Congamond Lakes, Massachusetts

42. Table Rock Lake, Missouri

43. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

44. Falls Lake, North Carolina

45. Umpqua River, Oregon

46. Okoboji Lake, Iowa

47. Red River, Louisiana

48. Pueblo Reservoir, Colorado

49. DeGray Lake, Arkansas

50. Trap Pond, Delaware

51. Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas/Missouri

52. Spirit Lake, Iowa

53. St. Lawrence River, New York

54. Squam Lake, New Hampshire

55. High Rock Lake, North Carolina

56. Arbuckle Lake, Oklahoma

57. Lake Tarpon, Florida

58. Apache Lake, Arizona

59. Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona

60. Perry Reservoir, Kansas

61. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee

62. Lake Wawasee, Indiana

63. Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

64. Lake Conroe, Texas

65. Noxon Rapids, Montana

66. Diamond Valley Lake, California

67. Summit Reservoir, Nebraska

68. Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey

69. Rend Lake, Illinois

70. Lake Pleasant, Arizona

71. Lake Audubon, North Dakota

72. Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming

73. Harris Chain Of Lakes, Florida

74. Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine

75. Ute Lake, New Mexico

76. Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania

77. Wilson Reservoir, Kansas

78. Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico

79. Lake Oahe, South Dakota

80. Gull Lake, Minnesota

81. Kerr Reservoir/Buggs Island, N.C./Virginia

82. Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky

83. Lake Gaston, North Carolina

84. Bullards Bar Reservoir, California

85. Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho

86. Tygart Lake, West Virginia

87. Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Kansas

88. O.H. Ivie, Texas

89. Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania

90. Lake Murray, South Carolina

91. Lake Sammamish, Washington

92. Lake Eufaula, Alabama/Georgia

93. Enid Reservoir, Mississippi

94. Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee

95. Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana

96. Manasquan Reservoir, New Jersey

97. Lake Mohave, Nevada

98. Lake Lanier, Georgia

99. Sebago Lake, Maine

100. McPhee Lake, Colorado