Dream living/fishing location!

[Mobasser]

39 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

It’s pretty country out there. Not a whole lot of human activity either haha

That's fine with me

[redmeansdistortion]

I already live in Michigan, no desire to move as we have some of the best freshwater fisheries in the whole country.  We have the most blue ribbon trout streams of any state, the best smallmouth and musky fisheries in Lake St Clair, a great late summer/fall salmon run, and excellent sturgeon fishing in the St. Clair River, Detroit River, and Lake St Clair.  The walleye fishing is also out of this world.  When the bite is hot you can limit out in minutes.  Much of this is true for other states on the Great Lakes, particularly New York and Wisconsin, and some extent to Ohio on Lake Erie.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Just now, Mobasser said:

That's fine with me

Also, very good largemouth fishing. When I stayed there in April, guys were weighing a lot of 20+ lb bags of 5 green fish. Lunker was 8.2 lbs I think, it’s loaded with baitfish 

[Kelvin]

Currently live in South Florida.  Been fishing a few places up north and in other countries--that said-- this is fishing mecca in the US beaten only by Costa Rica for saltwater big gamefish.   Inshore saltwater, offshore for pelagics, deep sea bottom fishing and plenty of freshwater lakes and canals.  

 

To be honest bass fishing is the least exciting option. 

 

Peacock bass fight hard, are aggressive and plentiful.  Clown knife are a cross between a eel and a snake and fight really well.  And that's keeping it to freshwater.  Mayan cichlids pound for pound fight well too and those are considered by catch. 

 

The options are too much to pass up.  Just today in fact I had a 5.8 lb largemouth bass in a local canal from a boat that fought well but it was over in less than 30 seconds.   Once you get a chance to fish all the options here its really hard to pick another place in the nation. 

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

10 minutes ago, Kelvin said:

Currently live in South Florida.  Been fishing a few places up north and in other countries--that said-- this is fishing mecca in the US beaten only by Costa Rica for saltwater big gamefish.   Inshore saltwater, offshore for pelagics, deep sea bottom fishing and plenty of freshwater lakes and canals.  

 

To be honest bass fishing is the least exciting option. 

 

Peacock bass fight hard, are aggressive and plentiful.  Clown knife are a cross between a eel and a snake and fight really well.  And that's keeping it to freshwater.  Mayan cichlids pound for pound fight well too and those are considered by catch. 

 

The options are too much to pass up.  Just today in fact I had a 5.8 lb largemouth bass in a local canal from a boat that fought well but it was over in less than 30 seconds.   Once you get a chance to fish all the options here its really hard to pick another place in the nation. 

 

 

This is why that was my answer, and my definition of S. FL. starts at Stuart and goes to Key West.     

 

Down there I would agree, Bass aren't the most exciting fish, but Bass fishing isn't comparable to any form of Saltwater fishing I've found....not a Sea Trout and Redfish guy which do compare somewhat.    

 

I love Billfishing, catching big Tuna and Tarpon, but nothing compares to the chase, and accomplished feeling that comes with catching trophy sized Bass for me.   Just something magical about the Bass, something intangible that it hard to describe.   They make you crazy thinking about them all the time.

[Captain Phil]

On 10/1/2022 at 9:14 PM, Bandersnatch said:

Spent some time on the Harris chain. A lake front property there (nothing crazy) is something I’m considering. I love the diversity of the chain 

 

I am currently retired and spend a lot of my time fishing.  I could have lived anywhere in retirement and I chose this place.  The Harris Chain is in my back yard.  We moved here in 1997 and couldn't be happier.  It's not only the lakes that are great, it's the people too.  Most of them are from middle America.  They are friendly when you want them to be and not in your business when you don't.  These are small towns. Our area is on the outskirts of Orlando, so you have access to hospitals and all the things the big City offers. 

 

Fishing is everywhere.  The St. John's River is 35 minutes east.  Rodman Reservoir is 45 minutes north.  The Kissimmee Chain is an hour south.  We are in the geographical center of the State away from tidal surge and major storm damage.   The area is high and dry.  True lakefront property is financially out of the reach for most people, but boat ramps are free and numerous.  There are literally thousands of small lakes around here, all of them contain bass.   I wouldn't live anywhere else.

[Kelvin]

39 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

This is why that was my answer, and my definition of S. FL. starts at Stuart and goes to Key West.     

 

Down there I would agree, Bass aren't the most exciting fish, but Bass fishing isn't comparable to any form of Saltwater fishing I've found....not a Sea Trout and Redfish guy which do compare somewhat.    

 

I love Billfishing, catching big Tuna and Tarpon, but nothing compares to the chase, and accomplished feeling that comes with catching trophy sized Bass for me.   Just something magical about the Bass, something intangible that it hard to describe.   They make you crazy thinking about them all the time.

 

I'm new to bass fishing.  Very challenging more than I realized.  Bass are finicky.  Hard to get a commitment and the big ones are sluggish.  In the south florida waters I fish they are outclassed by peacocks and clown knifes: those two species are fast apex aggressive predators that will crush a lure. 

 

Fishing Mecca is plagued by really hot summers that drag on and the occasional hurricane.  Which hurricanes btw are overrated.  I've been living here since 1977 and a handful stick out in my mind.  The gulf states are the ones that will get hammered by canes bc they are not as prepared and the gulf is shallow with very warm waters.  Mark my words.   The Carolinas and GA are going to get crushed by a gnarly storm too.   

[Captain Phil]

Florida is not for everyone.  My wife and I have lived here all our lives and we have seen our share of growth.  Our big Cities are good places to make money, not so great places to retire.  Traffic is terrible and people are in too much hurry.  The summers are hot and humid. The winters are wonderful.  The cost of living is low and there is no State income tax.  Florida is a very diverse State.   If you are considering moving here, I would suggest renting a house before you buy.   

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

Florida is not for everyone.  My wife and I have lived here all our lives and we have seen our share of growth.  Our big Cities are good places to make money, not so great places to retire.  Traffic is terrible and people are in too much hurry.  The summers are hot and humid. The winters are wonderful.  The cost of living is low and there is no State income tax.  Florida is a very diverse State.   If you are considering moving here, I would suggest renting a house before you buy.   

 

Tell me about your summers.  My father lived in southern IL and from roughly mid May to mid September, the norm was 90+ and high humidity.  Their temperatures were generally 5-7 degrees warmer than where I live (300 miles north) which is about 5-7 degrees warmer than where I go in the summer, Northern Michigan which is about 300 miles north of me.  I HATE that high heat and humidity where after 10 AM you are drenched in sweat if you are expending much energy outside.  Am I wrong to think this is the norm for Florida but for even a longer amount of time each year?    

[JustJames]

3 hours ago, Kelvin said:

 In the south florida waters I fish they are outclassed by peacocks and clown knifes: those two species are fast apex aggressive predators that will crush a lure. 

This is the reason I wanna move to FL, clown knife, snake head, barramundi and King fish. Not even mention all the fresh tropical fruit available there like durian, lambutan, and longan. 

[Bandersnatch]

9 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I already live in Michigan, no desire to move as we have some of the best freshwater fisheries in the whole country.  We have the most blue ribbon trout streams of any state, the best smallmouth and musky fisheries in Lake St Clair, a great late summer/fall salmon run, and excellent sturgeon fishing in the St. Clair River, Detroit River, and Lake St Clair.  The walleye fishing is also out of this world.  When the bite is hot you can limit out in minutes.  Much of this is true for other states on the Great Lakes, particularly New York and Wisconsin, and some extent to Ohio on Lake Erie.

 

 

I live in GR. I have friends that have a place on the PM for the salmon run and I fly to florida where I keep an old ranger at my moms just a few miles from headwaters and three forks marsh. I’m pretty luck as it is. 

[redmeansdistortion]

56 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

I live in GR. I have friends that have a place on the PM for the salmon run and I fly to florida where I keep an old ranger at my moms just a few miles from headwaters and three forks marsh. I’m pretty luck as it is. 

I'm in Warren, a stone's throw from LSC.  We have some good steelie action on the Clinton River from October through May.  Are they removing the 6th St. dam over by you?  I heard they were talking about it and restoring the rapids.  Would be sweet.  As far as dams go, Consumer's Energy is going to be holding meetings soon about removing the dams on the Au Sable, would make a killer salmon fishery if they did.  Supposedly, those dams supply only 1% of their customers in the area and they cost too much to maintain.  The plan is to have them removed by 2034.

[J._Bricker]

Dream living/fishing location!

For me personally, I’m already there and “living the dream”. The weather is great year round here on the edge of the Big Valley with good bass fishing in the Delta and Clear Lake amongst others. And if a change of scenery is needed, there’s four International airports within a drive of an hour or two to get me there.

[Captain Phil]

11 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

Tell me about your summers.  I HATE that high heat and humidity where after 10 AM you are drenched in sweat if you are expending much energy outside.  Am I wrong to think this is the norm for Florida but for even a longer amount of time each year?    

 

I live in Central Florida about 40 miles northwest of Orlando. Our hot weather starts around July and lasts through September.  Fishing from dawn until 10 AM is comfortable.  After that, you would hate it.  In the afternoons, we have thunderstorms that cool it off.  Fishing after the storms is good.  

 

Our best fishing weather is from October until June.   We get cold fronts in the winter, but they don't last long.  I have seen a tiny bit of snow fall on my back porch a few times in my life. Not even enough to see on the floor.  You could fish 365 days a year in Florida.  When I was younger, I often did.  

[king fisher]

Chapala Jalisco Mexico.  Perfect climate, highs in the summer are in the low 80's, with lows in the mid 60's, winter highs mid 70's, with lows around 60 degrees.  50 mile long lake full of bass, and on a busy day there may be 4 or 5 bass anglers on the water.

      There is a large US and Canadian retirement community.  There are many hiking trails, bike trails, coffee shops, gyms, and yoga classes for my wife, and big bass for me. 

       Drug violence in Mexico is over exaggerated.  Yes drug gangs do shoot each other, just like they do in the states.  The police and politicians are often in the cartels pockets, but that has nothing to do with the safety of retired people minding their own business.  There are zero road rage shootings, and I haven't heard of any school kids getting shot in school.  Most of the time when you hear about an American getting killed in Mexico by drug gangs, the press didn't bother to find out the whole story.   A Canadian was murdered in PV a few years ago.  It was all over the news in Canada.  Head line read Canadian killed in dangerous Mexico.  I new the man and was shocked.  He was shot in the back of the head while getting a coffee at Starbucks.  It ended up he was the head of a gang in BC.  The hit was done by a Canadian mobster, and he had been hiding out in Mexico for years after they tried to blow him up in Vancouver.   He wasn't even shot by a Mexican.  Another time some college girls from Sweden were murdered in Acapulco.  It was a terrible crime, and caused many tourists to quite going there.  Again the news papers did not convey the whole story.  The girls spent a week hanging out with some drug dealers snorting coke, and smoking meth. in the drug dealers condo.  After a week, they got bored with the drug dealers, and decided to move in with some tourist men they met on the beach.  When they moved out of the drug dealers condo, they decided to take some drugs and booze with them.  When the dealers came back to their condo and saw the girls had moved out with their booze and drugs, they did exactly what a drug dealer in the states might do.  Of course these women did not deserve to get murdered, and I assume the police made zero effort to apprehend the murderers, but if they had not spent a week taking drugs with obvious cartel members, they would have had a nice tropical vacation.  Can you get killed by a stray bullet in Mexico?  Yes, but the odds are about the same as getting shot in the US.  If you want to take drugs, and party all night long, it is easy to find trouble.  The attitude, what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico can get you in trouble.  Catching giant bass that have never seen a spinnerbait will only get you sore arms, and a permanent smile.

      If you want to live somewhere that is inexpensive, has a large US retirement community, a fantastic climate, very little fishing pressure, is safe, and has giant bass, than Chapala is the place.

   

[Darth-Baiter]

On 10/3/2022 at 7:52 AM, redmeansdistortion said:

I already live in Michigan, no desire to move as we have some of the best freshwater fisheries in the whole country.  We have the most blue ribbon trout streams of any state, the best smallmouth and musky fisheries in Lake St Clair, a great late summer/fall salmon run, and excellent sturgeon fishing in the St. Clair River, Detroit River, and Lake St Clair.  The walleye fishing is also out of this world.  When the bite is hot you can limit out in minutes.  Much of this is true for other states on the Great Lakes, particularly New York and Wisconsin, and some extent to Ohio on Lake Erie.

 

 

Checking Zillow now……

[redmeansdistortion]

28 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Checking Zillow now……

For what a 1,000 square foot shoebox runs you in Cali, you can get a 5,000 square foot mansion here a couple of blocks away from Lake St. Clair.  If you halve the house size, then you can get a home on a canal on Lake St. Clair for similar money.

[Darth-Baiter]

3 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

For what a 1,000 square foot shoebox runs you in Cali, you can get a 5,000 square foot mansion here a couple of blocks away from Lake St. Clair.  If you halve the house size, then you can get a home on a canal on Lake St. Clair for similar money.

All we want is a 2br 2 ba.

[padon]

14 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

I live in Central Florida about 40 miles northwest of Orlando. Our hot weather starts around July and lasts through September.  Fishing from dawn until 10 AM is comfortable.  After that, you would hate it.  In the afternoons, we have thunderstorms that cool it off.  Fishing after the storms is good.  

 

Our best fishing weather is from October until June.   We get cold fronts in the winter, but they don't last long.  I have seen a tiny bit of snow fall on my back porch a few times in my life. Not even enough to see on the floor.  You could fish 365 days a year in Florida.  When I was younger, I often did.  

thats one reason i hesitate to say florida. i go for 2 weeks every year and the fishing opprotunities are tremendous. but man i just dont know if i could tolerate the heat. now if i could spend june july august and september in upstate new york im all in.

[redmeansdistortion]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

All we want is a 2br 2 ba.

Plenty of those in the 200 to 250 range.  A few years ago something like that would've been almost half that.

[Captain Phil]

My wife sold Central Florida lakefront Real Estate for twenty years.  She retired two years ago, but still works at it part time. When we moved here in 1997, we were offered a Harris Chain lakefront lot for $125K.  That lot today would cost at least $400K if you can find one.  A small handyman special true lakefront home starts in the $400s.  The average direct lakefront home on the Harris Chain is about $600-$800 with many over a million.  Even a mobile home on the water is $300K.  The problem isn't money, it's availability of inventory.  It sometimes takes her a year or more to even find one for sale.  Canal homes with a dock leading into the Chain are in the $300K-500K range.  A better deal for most people is to buy a home near the lake and either keep your boat in a marina or trailer it. Our home has most of the advantages of a lakefront home without the cost.  I choose to trailer my boat because I can fish more than one place.  The Eustis public boat ramp is 2 blocks away.  This area is a wonderful place to retire. It's close to the things you want but far enough not to be a hassle. 

[Mat_ski]

On 10/3/2022 at 9:20 AM, Randy Price said:

It will never happen because my wife wouldn't be happy there but I "think" I would love living in the northwoods of WI.  I used to hunt and fish there a lot 15 years ago.  I say "think" because the fantasy vs the reality is probably a lot different. 

Same.

[Captain Phil]

When considering where to live in retirement, it is important to be close to good doctors and decent medical facilities.   These are things you don't think about when you are young.  No matter how fit you are, father time will catch up with you.  Also, when you get on Medicare, buy the best supplemental insurance you can find.  It's money well spent. 

[Dwight Hottle]

36 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

When considering where to live in retirement, it is important to be close to good doctors and decent medical facilities.   These are things you don't think about when you are young.  No matter how fit you are, father time will catch up with you.  Also, when you get on Medicare, buy the best supplemental insurance you can find.  It's money well spent. 

I can speak from experience that is good advice. 

[PaulVE64]

On 10/1/2022 at 12:54 PM, bigbassin' said:

My thought as well.

 

You’ll never catch a smallmouth in Florida, a  decent size largemouth that may not be photo worthy in Florida is a lot of folks PB’s up north.

 

Add in saltwater available along the coast or trout in the mountains and you could be justifying a couple homes if money is no factor.

I havent topped 4# this year and I've caught 400 - 500 smallies this year.

 

Thankfully they all fight like demons.