Abstract In 2009, SUNY ESF completed a survey of 7,000 property owners in the seven counties bordering Lake Ontario in New York in order to examine the motivations, constraints, and facilitators of resident bass anglers. A total of 1,303 surveys were returned; 681 anglers completed the full survey, 165 of whom prefer to fish for either largemouth or smallmouth bass. Two factor analyses (i.e., for motivations and facilitators/constraints) confirmed eight motivations and twelve constraints/facilitators. Significant differences were identified between smallmouth and largemouth bass anglers for the motivations of nature appreciation and satisfaction with the experience only.