Road-Tripping Bass trip?

[Darth-Baiter]

One of the best things about BResources is that I get to take a peek at all the wonderful fisheries we have in this country.  One of the worst things about this forum is that I get to take a peek at all the wonderful fisheries we have in this country.

 

I have spoken with my wife about the topic.  I want to load up a vehicle with my gear and kayak and just head east.  I can stare at the Pacific Ocean from some of my job sites, so I am about as far west as I can be in the Continental USA.  Honestly, I think it is the U-turn in Florida that will break my heart.  I will be a long way from home.  I think my 2006 Toyota Tacoma can make the journey.  A brand new Mercedes Sprinter van might be better, but no.  Wife quits listening at that point.

 

I should have done this before the gas price spike and while my truck was newer and had fewer miles.   it would be so fun and exciting to plan a trip like that.  Buying 3-5 day non-resident fishing tags along the way.  I could dip a toe into an endless number of lakes, rivers, swamps(?).

 

My wife said she would fly out to meet me a couple of times to hang eat dinner and to talk stories.  I suppose she would target the funner cities for her. We drive about some, and I get her to the next airport down the road.

 

Retirement is too far away in my timeline to do it then.  I have plenty of vacation balance.  I imagine 6-7 weeks could get me onto 10 great bodies of water.  Sucks my interest lies east of Texas, or I would break the trip in half.  Hit Caddo lake and motor east.  

 

dreaming here, I suppose.  my truck is the wild card.  it gets sucky MPG.  sorry for my rambling.  day dream over.  

 

Maybe if I do a youtube Vlog the entire time, the cost would be tax deductible?

[TnRiver46]

I did some of this in my younger days, it’s pretty fun! Dogs, work, and money get in the way now. I always make plenty of weekend camping trips throughout the year, that’s more than enough for me anymore 

[Bluebasser86]

Swing through Kansas and I'll put you on some dinks and ugly lakes ?

[TOXIC]

I’ve had the same thoughts but being able to jump on a potentially huge body of water and be able to find fish,seems like a long shot especially from a yak where you have limited travel distance options. 

[TnRiver46]

I should add, if you make it to east TN I can put you right on some nice kayak smallies 

 

you might have to leave the propellers and flippers at home tho, rocks are not optional 

[soflabasser]

I have traveled to several states to catch fish I dreamed about catching as a kid, it was an awesome experience that I recommend to everyone when they get a chance. One place I recommend you visit is South Florida. You can catch big largemouth bass, several exotic species of fish, saltwater fish, and many other species of fish. If your goal is to fish Northern waters I would recommend fishing somewhere you can catch muskies, for me this is the best gamefish in Northern waters. Smallmouth bass are fun to catch as well, especially river smallmouth bass.

[Deleted account]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Swing through Kansas and I'll put you on some dinks and ugly lakes ?

Miracles out of nowhere...

[WRB]

You should do it.

Whatever you budget for time and money double it!

Texas is a BIG State but the best bass fishing is east Texas...big lakes! 

The heartland of southern bass fishing Arkansas to Florida you need to factor in hot humid weather with tornados and hurricanes now to oct.

Tom

[king fisher]

I suggest instead of heading East you go South to Mexico  Gas is less expensive than in the States, lodging is cheaper, you can camp for free, 5 tacos for a dollar, many lakes with bass that live their whole life without seeing a lure, other lakes where a crowded day is three boats, and the bass are big.

     I can give you names of a dozen lakes that don't have lodges on them, and most people don't even know they have bass.  Of course you can fish the famous lakes, even get a guide for a day far cheaper than if you book with a lodge.  All lakes have Double digit bass and can easily be fished with a kayak.  If you make it as far south as PV I would be glad to show you a couple of my best spots.  Kayak fishing in the salt water is good too.  Nothing against a bass fishing road trip in the states, but for a bass fishing adventure of a lifetime, cross the boarder, and leave all your fineness gear at home.

[Scott F]

If it were me, I’d head north to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. More lakes and rivers than you could fish in several lifetimes. Cooler, more comfortable weather in summer, and minimal pressure on the bass. Places like the Boundary waters in Northern Minnesota or the Sylvania Wilderness in the UP of Michigan are motor free and perfect for bass fishing kayakers. There are beautiful smallmouth rivers and outfitters to help with shuttles. Tourist towns are scattered throughout the Northwoods to provide hotels, restaurants and shopping so you don’t have to rough it the entire time and your wife will be happy with. 

[schplurg]

On 6/10/2022 at 7:06 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

One of the best things about BResources is that I get to take a peek at all the wonderful fisheries we have in this country.  One of the worst things about this forum is that I get to take a peek at all the wonderful fisheries we have in this country.

 

I have spoken with my wife about the topic.  I want to load up a vehicle with my gear and kayak and just head east.  I can stare at the Pacific Ocean from some of my job sites, so I am about as far west as I can be in the Continental USA.  Honestly, I think it is the U-turn in Florida that will break my heart.  I will be a long way from home.  I think my 2006 Toyota Tacoma can make the journey.  A brand new Mercedes Sprinter van might be better, but no.  Wife quits listening at that point.

 

I should have done this before the gas price spike and while my truck was newer and had fewer miles.   it would be so fun and exciting to plan a trip like that.  Buying 3-5 day non-resident fishing tags along the way.  I could dip a toe into an endless number of lakes, rivers, swamps(?).

 

My wife said she would fly out to meet me a couple of times to hang eat dinner and to talk stories.  I suppose she would target the funner cities for her. We drive about some, and I get her to the next airport down the road.

 

Retirement is too far away in my timeline to do it then.  I have plenty of vacation balance.  I imagine 6-7 weeks could get me onto 10 great bodies of water.  Sucks my interest lies east of Texas, or I would break the trip in half.  Hit Caddo lake and motor east.  

 

dreaming here, I suppose.  my truck is the wild card.  it gets sucky MPG.  sorry for my rambling.  day dream over.  

 

Maybe if I do a youtube Vlog the entire time, the cost would be tax deductible?

 

I like the way you're thinking these days. If your wife is good with it then you should be planning already! Screw the gas, it will only get higher, and the truck will never have less miles on it than now  Go! I can talk myself into anything this way!

 

Plus everywhere you go will have cheaper gas than Cali, so it may not sting so bad. 

 

And if you can go now screw waiting for retirement. You may be too old by then, or dead!

 

"This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us"

[soflabasser]

I will add another thing in this thread that has not been mentioned yet, do a fishing road trip when you are still able in good health. All the money in the world is not worth much if you cannot go fishing for bucket list fish if you leave it too late. When you are older you will have fond memories of these fishing trips, that alone is worth all the money invested. If you can go now, then go now, live life and enjoy it, just make sure to be respectful of others around you by following the speed limit, and other things that are common sense while fishing away from home. I hope you catch your bucket list fish, and that you have a fun road trip!

[Catt]

Just a wild & crazy idea 

 

I bet if you were to give our members a heads up of your itinerary we could find someone to put you on fish.

[Captain Phil]

Do all the things you dream about when you are young enough to enjoy them.  Too many people wait until retirement to check off their bucket list.  By that time most people are spending all their free time at the doctor's office.  

[Big Hands]

We had this exact poster at my house when I was a kid, and yes, I really wanted a BSA Victor Trail Motocross just like this one. I wouldn't say that I ever come close to being the poster child for living the sentiment that this poster uses sarcasm to invoke, but it has absolutely stuck with me and has occasionally been my guiding light when I really want to do something . . . like taking a fishing trip to Texas (which I have done eight times in the last 25 or so years). I haven't regretted any of them. 

 

A couple things other posters have hit on that resonated with me are:

 

1) The weather in those southern states in the summertime is (how can I say this respectfully?) a force to contend with. If I wanted to mostly fish at night (and I do LOVE night fishing), that make a summertime trip there a better choice. My suggestion for some outstanding (but occasionally not outstanding) weather AND fishing, would be sometime between the last half of September and the first half of November. Kids are in school (most years anyway) and many of the sportsmen and sportswomen are off in the woods deer hunting. JMHO and you can't always dictate when the time is right on all fronts (pun intended).

 

2) As much as I LOVE to fish a famous body of water like Lake Fork or hopefully one day in the future Toledo Bend, I also know that there are some outstanding smaller bodies of water that you possibly never knew existed, like Lake Naconiche for example, that could make for a better kayak fishing experience. 

 

I have five bucket list bass fishing road trips on my list (in no particular order):

a) East Texas and Louisiana (retirement may find me living in this area)

b) Florida (and adjacent states)

c) Minnesota (and adjacent states)

d) Tennessee (and adjacent states)

e) Mexico

 

While extensive planning has it's merits, but I will also say that some of my best road trips have been spur of the moment, throw our stuff in the hoopty and hit the road with no reservations and lets see where we end up type of excursions. I love road trips.

[TnRiver46]

On 6/11/2022 at 1:32 PM, king fisher said:

I suggest instead of heading East you go South to Mexico  Gas is less expensive than in the States, lodging is cheaper, you can camp for free, 5 tacos for a dollar, many lakes with bass that live their whole life without seeing a lure, other lakes where a crowded day is three boats, and the bass are big.

     I can give you names of a dozen lakes that don't have lodges on them, and most people don't even know they have bass.  Of course you can fish the famous lakes, even get a guide for a day far cheaper than if you book with a lodge.  All lakes have Double digit bass and can easily be fished with a kayak.  If you make it as far south as PV I would be glad to show you a couple of my best spots.  Kayak fishing in the salt water is good too.  Nothing against a bass fishing road trip in the states, but for a bass fishing adventure of a lifetime, cross the boarder, and leave all your fineness gear at home.

^ now that sounds like some good advice!!

[Zcoker]

I took off once when all the world seemed so wide open and ripe. I was on the road for two years, camping out in a cheap pup tent, sleeping with my rifle next to me Lol. One day while working, the crazy thought just hit me! I sooner sold off everything, gave up everything, and split. Simple as that. I had this wild idea that I could pan for gold out in the Rockies and make enough money to keep on trucking lol. I never really got a good footing on the gold part of the deal but I sure did see a lot of this country, just about every state along with every nook and cranny. 

 

Although I wasn't fishing at the time, it sure was an eye opener. I mean, it was more a "just do it" moment. From then on, that slogan has sort of stuck with me and I can attribute it to a lot of things in my life. Yes, gas is to the moon, automobiles have many miles.....there's just a lotta junk hanging around! But sometimes chances have to be taken. Sometimes we just gotta figure things out and just DO IT! Simple as that. 

[schplurg]

My Dad told me the other night, "Mike, I'm a wealthy man, I can do pretty much whatever I want when I want. But the money just doesn't mean anything. It really means nothing"

 

We'd had a serious talk earlier and he was uncharacteristically drunk that night. We talked for hours.

 

I think what he meant was that family, and all the other stuff we talked about meant more to him than the money.

 

Now if you ask me (or anyone else) he's kinda full of it! He loves money and he loves HIS stuff. He's always been that way ever since he was a boy, probably a bit too much. But he's a good family man as well and it's always been important.

 

Crap what was I trying to say!?

 

I'l let my Gramma explain: "Mike, travel and have fun while you're young! Last time I went to Italy to visit family I could barely walk any distance. It's too painful when you're old!"