Jared Kutil
12/16/2024
Texas is home state of the biggest trophy bass agency in the United States “The Share Lunker Program”. They crowd source true giant bass (13+ pounds) from anglers who come to the state and fish from north to south and east to west and catch them. These are the Top 5 Big Bass lakes going into 2025 in regards to quantity and quality.
6. Bois’D’Arc
The newest large lake open to the public north and slightly east of Dallas is showing promising potential to catch numbers of bass 6+ pounds and occasionally an 8+ pound fish. TPWD ran the same play they did out of their Lake Fork playbook. Brood stock ponds, F1 Hybrids, flooded forests and tons of baitfish. It is set up very similarly to the early days of Fork. Fish are living deep in these impenetrable forests feeding and growing. Mixed with some decent aquatic vegetation this lake will continue to move up this ranking list as the lake ages and classes of fish get older.
5. Toledo Bend Reservoir
One of the biggest lakes in the USA sits on the border of Louisiana and Texas and is LOADED with numbers of big bass. Last year the Bassmaster Elite Series saw a winning weight of 100lbs 13oz. That’s 5 fish a day over 4 days of competition which means a 5lb 1oz average size bass by the winner. The entire field caught tons of 7+ pound fish. The lake is so healthy with numbers of truly giant bass. On any given weekend a local tournament is sure to take 30lbs to win. Lots of water, lots of fish and lots of giant bass is a good way to sum up Toledo Bend. Timber forests under water, shell beds, deep grass, shallow vegetation, this lake has everything!
4. Sam Rayburn
Sam Rayburn is just a few miles west and north of Toledo Bend and it too is a special fishery. Known for the “brush pile” bite there are tons of big bass that eat big gizzards and crappies. This lake sure knows how to pump out 7 pound + fish. Like Toledo Bend, if you’re not bringing 30 pounds to the scales with your best 5 fish you may be surprised how far down in the standings you fall. Rayburn has expansive grass flats, timber, points, drains, brush piles and everything you could ever want to fish. Truly a BIG BASS FACTORY
3. Lake Fork
The infamous Lake Fork is still one of the most premier lakes in all the US. With a slot limit protecting the breeding size fish of 16” to 24”, this lake is not known for catching numbers but when you set the hook, you really never know when it’s going to be double digit fish. The expansive timber on this lake provides an overwhelming habitat for giant bass to grow. There are ridiculous amounts of baitfish populations in the lake and there isn’t a bad part of the lake to fish. Lake Fork will continue to be a producer for a very very long time.
2. JB Thomas Reservoir
Look on google earth and you’ll wonder how anything lives in the lake. The water looks like yoohoo milk chocolaty and brown but it is home to probably the most double digits being caught right now. JB Thomas is just another west Texas lake recently discovered and producing monster caliber fish. It was consistently producing double digits even through the summer in 2024. It has a few contours, points and off shore habitat so a lot of fish just roam around chasing bait in the open muddy water. You better buckle your seatbelt when you set the hook, you never know what will be on the other end of the line.
1. OH Ivie
OH Ivie has been BEAT TO DEATH the last 5 years and for good reason. The lake is still a monster bass producer. Timber forests, salt cedar flat points, big chunk rock and crazy under water contours make this place an incredible lake to try and crack a teener. The water is surprisingly clear and as you wander up the river it slowly gets dirtier but from top to bottom Ivie has the big girls. The lake is loaded to the bream with bait fish giving the large bass a buffet line to get big on.
