Bassmaster Ranks 3 AL Lakes Among SE's Best Bass Fishing Destinations

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Three Alabama lakes have been recognized among the Southeast's top bass fishing destinations in the 2026 edition of Bassmaster Magazine's annual Best Bass Lakes rankings.

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Lake Guntersville led the way for Alabama, ranking fourth in the magazine's Southeastern Division Top 25.

Pickwick Lake, which spans Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, came in 12th, while Lake Eufaula, located on the Alabama-Georgia border, ranked 13th.

The rankings were released as part of Bassmaster Magazine's annual "100 Best Bass Lakes" issue, which highlights the nation's top fisheries for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.

This year's list coincides with the nation's 250th anniversary and celebrates America's public waters as a cornerstone of the country's outdoor heritage.

"From sea to shining sea, America is blessed with an incredible variety of bass fisheries," Bassmaster Magazine Editor-in-Chief James Hall said in announcing the rankings. "As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, there's no better time to hitch up the boat and experience the very best bass fishing our country has to offer."

Lake Guntersville has long been regarded as one of the country's elite bass fisheries, regularly hosting major professional tournaments and producing trophy-sized largemouth bass.

Pickwick Lake also has earned a national reputation for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, while Lake Eufaula — often called the "Bass Fishing Capital of the World" — remains one of the Southeast's most popular tournament destinations.

Bassmaster said its annual rankings are compiled using tournament results, state fisheries data, input from fisheries biologists, B.A.S.S. Nation leaders, local experts and feedback from anglers across the country.

Nationally, California's Clear Lake claimed the No. 1 overall spot, followed by Lake J.B. Thomas in Texas and New York's St. Lawrence River.

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