Retirement Suggestions Please

[Bass24-7]

Looking for my Bass Fishing retirement home suggestions.  Here is the vision. Please don’t judge. Trying to provide info that may help in suggestions.

 

1). Would like to have boat kept in a marina with lift / 24 hour access on LARGE freshwater lake / river.  I’ve done enough trailering,  I’m ready to significantly reduce trailering / ramp trips

 

2) We would  like to live close to the Marina but no requirement  to be on water, actually prefer a little acreage , scenery, privacy.  As long as we have healthcare, groceries within 30-40 minutes we are good
 

3) We  also like to travel in a smaller sprinter van , so we’ll be looking for a location that allows us to head off on multiple / diverse trips.  Southern Florida is a bit to isolated for easily exploring the rest of the US on shorter trips, so Central / south Florida is out

 

4) Bass Fishing is our primary recreation, we also like travel and bicycling 

 

Any Southern Town / Lake / Marina Suggestions that we can research further would be much appreciated!  We aren’t afraid to do the research but some starter location / suggestions much appreciated ! 

[GTN-NY]

I know nothing about it and only have seen it on TV but Lake of the Ozarks always looked very interesting

[BrianMDTX]

Lake Conroe in TX may fit that bill. 

[Jig Man]

36 minutes ago, GTN said:

I know nothing about it and only have seen it on TV but Lake of the Ozarks always looked very interesting

Third most dangerous body of water in North America

Check out Lake Guntersville in ALABAMA.

[Captain Phil]

Retiring to Florida is a mixed bag.  I have lived and fished in Florida all my life. I'm 74 and my wife and I are both retired. You don't want to retire to the most populated areas.  They are too crowded, expensive and the lifestyle is too hectic. This generally disqualifies most any place south of Lake Okeechobee.  The far North end of the State and the panhandle are less populated.  In the panhandle, you will be dealing with major hurricanes.  It's very quiet and pleasant between storms.  Be prepared to be totally wiped out if the right one comes along.  

 

This leaves Central Florida.  While the I-4 corridor is heavily populated, the numerous small cities around this area are pleasant.  It may be best to rent a house before you buy in any area so you can find out what it's like.  We live in the Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares area and we love it.  We don't wait for an hour to eat dinner in a restaurant and we are close to good medical doctors and facilities.  The Villages is the largest retirement community in the country.  The lifestyle in the Villages is not for us, you may like it.  One of the major problems we fisherman have in choosing a place to retire is our wives.  If you are like me, you would live in a fish camp.  My wife would not.  She wants things to do and people she can be friends with.  This is one of the major reasons people move to the Villages.  In the Villages, you can stay busy 24/7 if you choose to.

 

There are fishing opportunities everywhere in Florida.  Some of it is better than it was 50 years ago.  From my home in Eustis, I am 45 minutes from Rodman, the Harris Chain is in my backdoor and the Kissimmee Chain is less than an hour away.  There is no end to the number of small lakes, canals and rivers.  All of them contain nice bass.

 

Living on a major lake in Florida is very expensive.  Homes on the Harris Chain start around $500K for a fixer upper.  Most are nearer to a million.   A better option is to buy a home not on the water and store your boat in a marina.  In season, there is a waiting list for dockage.  My boat is moored on Little Lake Harris.  I pay $175 a month for dockage with a lift.  I am 5 minutes from some of the best bass fishing in Florida.

 

Hurricanes are not as big of a problem as most people are lead to believe by the news media.  Unless you live near the coasts, they are more of a nuisance than a danger.  In 70 plus years, I have been through many a hurricane.  Andrew was the worst.  I am yet to have any major damage to my home.  However, anything is possible. 

 

Winters in Florida are pleasant.  Right now the temperature at my home is in the sixties. The summers are hot and humid.  If you have allergies, living in Florida is a challenge.  Thankfully, we have airconditioning.  Florida is a microcosm of the US.  We have every race, nationality, economic class, educational background and social group possible.  If you don't like diversity, you don't want to live here.  

[the reel ess]

52 minutes ago, GTN said:

I know nothing about it and only have seen it on TV but Lake of the Ozarks always looked very interesting

Too many drug cartel types around there. ??

[GTN-NY]

14 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Too many drug cartel types around there. ??

And that’s what I saw on TV

[Bankbeater]

My plan is to retire to the Springfield, Joplin Mo. area.  It's not a 15 minute drive to a lake, but it's closer than I am now, and it's more centrally located to all the lakes in the Ozark region.

[GTN-NY]

31 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Third most dangerous body of water in North America

Why is that?

[moguy1973]

34 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Third most dangerous body of water in North America

Check out Lake Guntersville in ALABAMA.

9 months out of the year it’s fine and during the week those other 3 weeks are fine too. Just stay off it on the weekends and holidays during the summer. Otherwise it’s one of the best fishing lakes in the Midwest. 

3 minutes ago, GTN said:

Why is that?

It’s party boat central in the summer.  They have yatchs that put ocean going vessels to shame on a narrow Ozark lake.  It’s not uncommon to have 4’ swells on a busy weekend. Not a place for any bass boat. 

5 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

My plan is to retire to the Springfield, Joplin Mo. area.  It's not a 15 minute drive to a lake, but it's closer than I am now, and it's more centrally located to all the lakes in the Ozark region.

Springfield is an amazing place to live. You have all the White River reservoirs super close to the south, Pomme and Stockton to the north.  Lots of great fishing close by.  

[the reel ess]

If you're like me you'll find the fishing opportunities no matter where you move. So find yourself a place near a jerkwater lake that's not far from a town. You might be surprised how many retirees are in the area. I grew up on L Wateree, SC and there were retirees up and down our road. They would ride up on their carts and introduce themselves. It was not our primary residence so we were glad to have them looking after our place.

[Catt]

Texas!?

 

Jasper area has access to Sam Rayburn & Toledo Bend 

 

Dallas/Ft. Worth area has dozens of lakes, just stay out of the Metro Mess.

 

Texas has no state taxes, excellent highway system, some of the best healthcare in America. 

[Russ E]

25 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

If you're like me you'll find the fishing opportunities no matter where you move. 

This is so true. nearly any place has at least a few good fishing spots .

I never expected to end up retired in Eastern Kansas, but here I am.

while it is by no means a fishing mecca, there is enough decent fishing around the area to keep me busy.

[BrianMDTX]

8 minutes ago, Catt said:

Texas has no state taxes, excellent highway system, some of the best healthcare in America. 

Just gotta get used to those Texas U-turns! Yeah, plenty of bass fishing opportunities here. Even small ponds can hold some big bass. And not just one and a ton of dinks, either. 

[the reel ess]

11 minutes ago, Russ E said:

This is so true. nearly any place has at least a few good fishing spots .

I never expected to end up retired in Eastern Kansas, but here I am.

while it is by no means a fishing mecca, there is enough decent fishing around the area to keep me busy.

 

About the only place I couldn't live is the desert. That's out. The Brazos River is a possibility though.

[OkobojiEagle]

SW Tennessee intrigues me.  I'm more apt to want smaller lakes as I retire.

 

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[Lead Head]

Texas is definitely a good choice for fishing. If your wanting something a little more low key look into Lake Ouchita in Arkansas. It should meet all of your requirements and its pretty central as far as exploring the rest of the U.S. as well.

[rtwvumtneer6]

3 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Third most dangerous body of water in North America

Check out Lake Guntersville in ALABAMA.

TVA was my first thought ??

[Team9nine]

My parents moved to the Lake Barkley area down near Cadiz, KY. Kept boat on water at one of the many marinas. Had LBL and State resort to visit close by, and still within easy driving distance of most Gulf states and the SE US. Still get all 4 seasons, but “winter weather” usually only lasts a couple days, and big lakes rarely freeze except in the worst winters.

[the reel ess]

How about Chickamauga? The Tactical Bassin guys relocated there and have some good videos up on YT already.

[Kdizzle]

7 hours ago, GTN said:

I know nothing about it and only have seen it on TV but Lake of the Ozarks always looked very interesting

 

 

Its actually kind of a sewer.  Lots of run off from the on shore hotels and upper crust living on the edges of the lakes.  Also the constant pleasure boating and hooting and hollering from drunken morons all over the lake during the summer could sour a retiree looking for peace and quiet in his golden years very quickly, and this isn't even bringing up party cove, which is something to behold.

 

Pomme De Terre or Stockton are much better options.

6 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

My plan is to retire to the Springfield, Joplin Mo. area.  It's not a 15 minute drive to a lake, but it's closer than I am now, and it's more centrally located to all the lakes in the Ozark region.

Fantastic place to settle.  Lake Springfield which is just a 15 mile drive down 65, and is a very underrated fishery.  Stockton and Pomme are about the same distance from you around there, with addition to great bass fishing you get great walleye fishing at Stockton and Musky fishing at Pomme.

[Bass24-7]

Thanks everyone, Your giving me lots to consider.  TN seems to have lots to offer and definitely looking into Springfield MO area.  Any suggestions further south in Louisiana ?  Much appreciated. 

[K1500]

Mountain Home AR area has Bull Shoals, Norfork, and the White and Norfork trout rivers. Beaver is about an hour or so away. It is close to Branson and the fishing up there. 

[LCG]

I am Canadian, so I can't help you much. But, I just wanted to say that you sir are living the dream. My hats off to you and yours, sounds like an awesome retirement. 

[Luke Barnes]

My brother in laws aunt and uncle had a place on Grand Lake here in Oklahoma. Close to the water and 2 minute drive to the marina where they kept their boat. They were cruising type folks and not anglers but I would LOVE to retire there. 10 minutes from a decent town and a lake that's hosted the BassMaster Classic its a no brainer for me!