Summer Vacation 2019

[South FLA]

Hello all!   

 

It has been awhile since I have posted, I like the changes (Bravo Glenn!) and I am glad the forum is still going strong helping out fellow fishermen and women!  I am posting to get some recommendations for my  family's 2019 Summer Vacation (Mid July to Early August, for 7-10 days).  I want a place that offers not only good  smallmouth bass fishing opportunities in the SE, but also has lake front housing for rent and that is reasonably close (1 to 2 hours) to a metro area, but not too busy (something unlike Lanier).  We have two boys, 5 and 9, that I will most likely be pulling behind the boat tubing when we aren't fishing or exploring the lake (Easy navigation, don't want a lake with tons of unmarked rock reefs or sunken trees or unmarked channels/hazards), I will be towing my Ranger 2410 bay boat from S. Florida.  My wife, being a Florida native, isn't a big fan of murky waters with creatures that can eat you, so water clarity and lack of gators/ameobas is important (I think most of you will understand...lol).  Lastly temperature is important, we are tired of 95 degree days with 95% humidity and 85 degree nights w/ 99% humidity, and water temperatures that feel like a hot tub at night!   So think fishing, tubing, clear water, no gators, with nice lake front housing with easily navigation that is close enough to other activities for kids/wife to enjoy! 

 

I was thinking the following lakes based solely on fishing, but need to know if they would be satisfy the above requirements, but I am open to others. 

 

1.  Pickwick Lake

2.  Dale Hollow

3.  Kentucky Lake

4.  Chickamauga Lake

5.  Cherokee Lake 

 

Dwight you can text me your recommendations. 

 

Thanks in advanced!

 

[A-Jay]

Hi Robert ~ 

Great to see you here again.

 Good Luck on you search . . 

Loving my HawgTech handle btw - Super good !

A-Jay

 

[South FLA]

16 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Hi Robert ~ 

Great to see you here again.

 Good Luck on you search . . 

Loving my HawgTech handle btw - Super good !

A-Jay

 

Thanks A-Jay!  Glad you're liking the Hawg Handle, ... shameless plug!  

[webertime]

Go all in, Champlain...  Anchorage Cottages on South Hero, VT (owned by a Bass fisherman), clear water, good temps, Smallies on top of Smallies.  Montreal is an hour or so North, 25 mins to Burlington VT (Think Boulder Co, Asheville NC, Portland Ore).  Most dangerous thing in the lake might be a golden retriever that is a little aggressive towards tennis balls.  WORLD class beers, great wines, great food, concerts all over.  Look at Vermont's mountains at sunset and truly understand "Purple Mountain Majesty".  There's a COSTA up here too that week next year. 

 

I know it's a drive, we did it this Jan/Feb, but it's worth it

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, webertime said:

Go all in, Champlain...  Anchorage Cottages on South Hero, VT (owned by a Bass fisherman), clear water, good temps, Smallies on top of Smallies.  Montreal is an hour or so North, 25 mins to Burlington VT (Think Boulder Co, Asheville NC, Portland Ore).  Most dangerous thing in the lake might be a golden retriever that is a little aggressive towards tennis balls.  WORLD class beers, great wines, great food, concerts all over.  Look at Vermont's mountains at sunset and truly understand "Purple Mountain Majesty".  There's a COSTA up here too that week next year. 

 

I know it's a drive, we did it this Jan/Feb, but it's worth it

I was thinking this or St. Lawrence.

[South FLA]

Just now, J Francho said:

I was thinking this or St. Lawrence.

What up J?!!!

[webertime]

Just now, J Francho said:

I was thinking this or St. Lawrence.

That place is a secret, we don't want out...

lol

 

[J Francho]

2 minutes ago, South FLA said:

What up J?!!!

You really want to know?  Lol.  Selling the gf's house, gutting a few rooms in mine to get ready to sell in 2019, then buying a new house.  In between all that...fishing!

3 minutes ago, webertime said:

That place is a secret, we don't want out...

lol

 

I'll call it The Larry from now on when posting to the interwebz.

[South FLA]

Just now, J Francho said:

You really want to know?  Lol.  Selling the gf's house, gutting a few rooms in mine to get ready to sell in 2019, then buying a new house.  In between all that...fishing!

Trust me I know, if you are thinking to move to Sunny South FL, I can help you out with the process at Beach Town Real Esate.  Think Juno Beach, warm winters, snook (like bass, but in saltwater and BIGGER) and no state income tax.  Please disregard my previous post about murky waters, gators, humidity and temperature. 

[J Francho]

Just now, South FLA said:

Please disregard my previous post about murky waters, gators, humidity and temperature.

LMAO.  No, we're look to move to the same area, just not in a house we picked out with our exes.  Looking for a little bit bigger, too.  Florida is for vacations.  No way I could live there year round.  Up here, I'm an hour or two drive from dozens of diverse waters, and year round fishing, despite the cruel winters.

[A-Jay]

19 minutes ago, webertime said:

That place is a secret, we don't want out...

lol

 

Yea - after this weekend . . 

Good Luck with That !

A-Jay

[JLBBass]

Lol

St Lawrence hasn't been a "secret" for over 30 years!

I used to go twice a year there back in the early 70's through the early 80's. It was magical!!! EVERY species was plentiful! You could catch a dozen trophy musky in a day, dozens of trophy Northerns in a day, and 200 bass a day back then!

I was catching 30-40 lb Northerns & Muskies at 7-8 years years old! My father spoiled us!

Still awesome, and still can catch 200 bass a day at times, but pressure took it's course, and the fishing for the "trophy" toothy critters has definately took a hit.

[TnRiver46]

In july-august you will still have 90+ degrees with 90 percent humidity at all of the lakes you mentioned. Maybe not at Dale hollow but still likely. Be prepared for unbelievable bass fishing crowds if you choose chickamauga but your chance of a 10 lb largemouth goes up exponentially as soon as you launch the boat. Cherokee lake could be better for numbers of smallmouth but Dale hollow ky and Pickwick will have the potential for some 6+ lbers. Also Dale hollow is a long way from anything  metropolitan and from what I've heard there is basically no cell service the entire lake. Norris lake is one you might look into, although it's a zoo of pleasure boats all summer 

[roadwarrior]

The Mid South is just as hot and humid as Florida that time of year. You will need to

go further north.

[J Francho]

32 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

The Mid South is just as hot and humid as Florida that time of year. You will need to

go further north.

Like Canada.  Heat index was 108 yesterday.

[12poundbass]

Yeah this summer has been miserable here in Michigan, hot and very humid. Thankfully we're on day two of little to no humidity. Back to muggy tomorrow though and back to hot Saturday.

[South FLA]

Darn it!  Can't get out of the Kitchen!

[BillP]

Charleston Lake, Ontario

It's 20 minute drive to Brockville, Ontario for shopping and touristy stuff

Clear water, lots of smallies, great beach, lake frontage cottage rentals

[Further North]

On 8/30/2018 at 11:08 AM, roadwarrior said:

The Mid South is just as hot and humid as Florida that time of year. You will need to

go further north.

I can't speak to lakes way east of here, or south...and it wouldn't be driveable (unless you really like driving)...but if getting away from the weather is a key concern, consider Western Ontario. 

 

Lake of the Woods is an insanely good fishery, and at 1,000,000 acres doesn't get full, ever.  Other lakes are smaller, but if smallies are a goal, do a careful job of selection - lots of lakes up there don't have them.

 

They will, however, have pike (big pike) and possible musky.  Walleye (not my thing) are everywhere.  Yeah, the days can still get hot, but it'll cool off at night and the water won't be warm.