George Fiorille

New York is home to some of the finest bass fishing waters in North America. While fisheries like Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and Lake Champlain are widely recognized for hosting major professional bass tournaments, they’re only part of the Empire State’s incredible bass fishing scene.

One of the best tasting fish in fresh water is the yellow perch. What this species lacks in fighting ability, it more than makes up for in their superior taste. One of the best times to fish for perch is in spring. The cold waters this time of the year makes their flesh very firm and tasty. This is also one of the easiest times of the year to catch a limit. Very early spring can find the yellow perch still out in fairly deep water.

Many fishermen firmly believe that the Bassmaster Classic is the “Super Bowl” of bass fishing. While other organizations may match the money payouts, they don’t come close to the popularity, publicity, and enthusiasm generated at the Classic. The 2026 B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsmans Society) Classic was held in Knoxville, Tenn. March 13-15. It was a record Classic in many ways. This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com.