Brag about your state's bass fishing.

[Captain Phil]

Florida is a fisherman's paradise.  If you like to fish, you will never fish all that is possible.  There are big lakes, rivers, rock pits, small lakes, ponds and canals.  Every one of them contains bass.  On both coasts you have backwater, flats and offshore fishing.  No boat?  No problem.  Fish from bridges, piers or walk the bank.  A resident freshwater fishing license costs $47.  You don't need a license if you are under 16 or over 65.  You don't need a fishing license if you are using live bait on a pole without a reel. 

 

Big coastal cities like Miami are crowded and expensive with lots of traffic.  You can live a nice life style in a small Florida town for much less.  Doctors and hospitals are plentiful.  Florida has no State Income Tax.  The sales tax where I live is 7% with no tax on food.  Our monthly electric bill averages about $200 a month between summer cooling and winter heat.  There are no window bars on the homes in my neighborhood.  I have never had anything stolen or have I ever felt threatened by anyone in my town.  Obtaining a concealed weapons permit in Florida is as easy as taking a 2 hour course and costs less than $100.  You don't need one, but you can if you want one.    A thief would be nuts to be caught breaking into a home around here. 

 

The town where I live is directly on the Harris Chain with 50,000 plus acres of water. Rodman Reservoir is a 45 minutes drive north. The St. John's River is 30 minutes east. Kissimmee is about an hour south.  There are literally thousands of small lakes in between.  The temperature sometimes gets into the 30s in winter, but it doesn't last.  It's hot in the summer months.  To be honest, I have seen hotter days in Northern Alabama and Texas. 

 

I love diversity.  If you don't, you can live in a gated community like the Villages where everyone and everything looks the same.  My town has trailer parks, country clubs, new developments, small older homes and multi million dollar estates.  Most are retirees.  My next door neighbor is from England.  Our Pastor is from Colombia.  We all get along and no one cares where you came from, how much money you make or what you did to make it. 

[CM-fisher]

On 10/12/2022 at 5:43 PM, gimruis said:

Americas Dairyland isn’t far from me and has a lot of the same type of habitat as Minnesota does. There’s so many lakes plus miles of river here to fish and they vary in size from small to medium to large. My state is pretty strict about seasons, number of lines, and bag limits but I believe that the conservative approach has kept fishery populations at a high level. Bear in mind that this thing called winter inhibits growth for several months, so it takes longer for fish to grow here.

 

I also only pay $13.50 for a resident conservation license which I consider to be an absolute steal.

 

Some of the smaller lakes less than an hour away have virtually no bass fishing pressure too. That’s probably a by-product of having 10,000 lakes.

Basically took the words right out of my mouth. MN has some special fishing to offer

[throttleplate]

[Swamp Girl]

I envy you year-round fishers. I tried ice fishing once. One and done. Sitting on a bucket staring at a hole ain't fishing. 

[throttleplate]

3 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I envy you year-round fishers. I tried ice fishing once. One and done. Sitting on a bucket staring at a hole ain't fishing. 

[RDB]

Texas used to have great bass fishing but they were all wiped out by global warming and the pandemic.  You are better off looking for bass in another state.

[roadwarrior]

10 hours ago, RDB said:

Texas used to have great bass fishing but they were all wiped out by global warming and the pandemic.  You are better off looking for bass in another state.

 

                                              

[Zcoker]

A big plug for south Florida fishing. I can be deep into the everglades catching monster bass or walking the beach catching world class tarpon, giant Florida GT's, big sharks on poppers... almost anything one can think of, really. It's truly a mecca for fishing year round. Only thing is the destructive hurricanes and the cost of living, which is doomed. They calling us the "plywood state" lol. If one can swing it and live under those conditions, it's very nice place to live for a person who enjoys fishing. I've done it my whole life and have fared well....so far, so good, knock on wood! 

[Dwight Hottle]

18 hours ago, Zcoker said:

A big plug for south Florida fishing. I can be deep into the everglades catching monster bass or walking the beach catching world class tarpon, giant Florida GT's, big sharks on poppers... almost anything one can think of, really. It's truly a mecca for fishing year round. Only thing is the destructive hurricanes and the cost of living, which is doomed. They calling us the "plywood state" lol. If one can swing it and live under those conditions, it's very nice place to live for a person who enjoys fishing. I've done it my whole life and have fared well....so far, so good, knock on plywood! 

 

I took the liberty of fixing it for you. 

[rocketsurgeon]

The Central California coast is great during a wet year, dry years not so much. Fortunately I can be on the Sac Delta in a few hours if I head North and be on some epic SoCal lakes in a short time also. Multi day trips to Tahoe for a little golf, yes there are bass to be caught there.

[Mike L]

Florida again!

North, South, East or West

 

’Nuff Said 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[jitterbug127]

Unfortunately I live in Greenwood, indiana . The fishing here is terrible at best. I’m half an hour from the closest lake, and the bite is tough. I’ve become a river rat because it’s the only place to get a decent bite. Heavy pressure and very limited options make it tough for the recreation fishermen. Having a kayak has helped a ton. We have very limited bank fishing options 

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, jitterbug127 said:

Unfortunately I live in Greenwood, indiana . The fishing here is terrible at best. I’m half an hour from the closest lake, and the bite is tough. I’ve become a river rat because it’s the only place to get a decent bite. Heavy pressure and very limited options make it tough for the recreation fishermen. Having a kayak has helped a ton. We have very limited bank fishing options 

Mr. 127, I just looked at your city on the map. I can see why fishing could be tough due to a lot of people nearby and not much water. However, have you tried accessing those ponds on I-65 that were created when they built ramps? I fished similar ponds outside of Columbus, OH and caught lots of bass. The trick is gaining access. 

[jitterbug127]

3 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Mr. 127, I just looked at your city on the map. I can see why fishing could be tough due to a lot of people nearby and not much water. However, have you tried accessing those ponds on I-65 that were created when they built ramps? I fished similar ponds outside of Columbus, OH and caught lots of bass. The trick is gaining access. 

I have not fished many of the ponds in my area. Most of the newer neighborhoods have ponds that will produce fish, and before my son was born I would fish those periodically. Not the best, but I’ll take anything I can get on a hook over being skunked. This year has been tough since I’ve got an 8 month old, so my time on the water is precious. I am addicted to brown back fish, so I’m going to the river every chance I get to fish these days. 

[Swamp Girl]

1 minute ago, jitterbug127 said:

I have not fished many of the ponds in my area. Most of the newer neighborhoods have ponds that will produce fish, and before my son was born I would fish those periodically. Not the best, but I’ll take anything I can get on a hook over being skunked. This year has been tough since I’ve got an 8 month old, so my time on the water is precious. I am addicted to brown back fish, so I’m going to the river every chance I get to fish these days. 

Heck, yeah, brown bass are addictive. For years, I only fished for brownies. Now I'm happy with either largemouth or smallmouth. Good luck with your kid! 

[1984isNOW]

On 10/23/2022 at 5:45 PM, jitterbug127 said:

I have not fished many of the ponds in my area. Most of the newer neighborhoods have ponds that will produce fish, and before my son was born I would fish those periodically. Not the best, but I’ll take anything I can get on a hook over being skunked. This year has been tough since I’ve got an 8 month old, so my time on the water is precious. I am addicted to brown back fish, so I’m going to the river every chance I get to fish these days. 

I feel you my man, I got a 3 year old and 6 month old and been fishing less than ever, plus moved to a new part of the state so I have no idea what spots are worth fishing and I'm dying for some real fishing time.

 

I'm definitely losin it a little

[cheezyridr]

all you guys that come from florida, or texas or what have you... braggin about how good the fishin is, how nice it is to live there...

 

lemme tell you about where i live.  you wanna fish all day and only catch trash someone threw in the water? you can do that here.  you like catchin so many dinks that a 2 lb bass gets you excited? you can do that here too.  wanna lose every single crankbait you own because all the water is way shallow and full of debris? well buddy, have i got the place for you!  yeah, we have no state sales tax here.  it's the corporate headquarters of america.  we never run a deficit here.  seriously, we had a budget surplus so big last year, they handed out $300 checks  to every working age adult last summer. only new york  has more ridiculous 2a laws than we do.  we only have 2 freeways, and in my lifetime, i don't remember them ever not being under construction.  all the other roads are full of chuck holes. this state has been blue so long, it's as if there's colloidal silver in our water.  we're responsible for joe biden and chris c oons.  if you find yourself in new jersey, and it's not ridiculous enough for you, come to delaware.  we'll definitely fix that for you.

[Munkin]

32 minutes ago, cheezyridr said:

all you guys that come from florida, or texas or what have you... braggin about how good the fishin is, how nice it is to live there...

 

lemme tell you about where i live.  you wanna fish all day and only catch trash someone threw in the water? you can do that here.  you like catchin so many dinks that a 2 lb bass gets you excited? you can do that here too.  wanna lose every single crankbait you own because all the water is way shallow and full of debris? well buddy, have i got the place for you!  yeah, we have no state sales tax here.  it's the corporate headquarters of america.  we never run a deficit here.  seriously, we had a budget surplus so big last year, they handed out $300 checks  to every working age adult last summer. only new york  has more ridiculous 2a laws than we do.  we only have 2 freeways, and in my lifetime, i don't remember them ever not being under construction.  all the other roads are full of chuck holes. this state has been blue so long, it's as if there's colloidal silver in our water.  we're responsible for joe biden and chris c oons.  if you find yourself in new jersey, and it's not ridiculous enough for you, come to delaware.  we'll definitely fix that for you.

 

Best day I ever had for big fish was at Trap Pond. Caught 10 bass over 5lbs one evening on a Zoom toad.

 

Allen 

[cheezyridr]

4 hours ago, Munkin said:

 

Best day I ever had for big fish was at Trap Pond. Caught 10 bass over 5lbs one evening on a Zoom toad.

 

Allen 

 

down in slower delaware,  it's a whole 'nother world than new castle county.  sussex is home to just 23% of our population, while new castle county makes up nearly 60%. good luck having a day like the one you posted at say, lums pond, or the brandywine, or the christiana.   when i was a kid, i fished alot of the places in lower delaware, and i did pretty well.  driving down there these days is a breeze, but coming back is a nitemare, once you get to the the spot where i-95, rte 1 and 295 all come together. actually,  once you get over the canal bridge, traffic starts to suck. i just don't have the patience for it. 

Edited October 25, 2022 by cheezyridr
squirrels

[Rockytop]

I live on the Cumberland Plateau on the border of east and middle Tennessee. I can be on Chickamagua or Guntersville in an hour, Nickajack in 20 minutes, Tims Ford or Center Hill/Rock Island in hour and a half or so, Dale Hollow in about two hours, not to mention the Elk, Caney Fork, Collins, Sequatchie, Hiwassee, and other rivers within a hour or two drive. I am blessed to live where I do and to have grown up hunting, fishing, and trapping in the mountains of Southeast Tennessee and Go Big Orange!

[TnRiver46]

15 hours ago, Rockytop said:

I live on the Cumberland Plateau on the border of east and middle Tennessee. I can be on Chickamagua or Guntersville in an hour, Nickajack in 20 minutes, Tims Ford or Center Hill/Rock Island in hour and a half or so, Dale Hollow in about two hours, not to mention the Elk, Caney Fork, Collins, Sequatchie, Hiwassee, and other rivers within a hour or two drive. I am blessed to live where I do and to have grown up hunting, fishing, and trapping in the mountains of Southeast Tennessee and Go Big Orange!

? 

[Texas Flood]

The best thing about Iowa is that its next to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

[Swamp Girl]

18 hours ago, Rockytop said:

I live on the Cumberland Plateau on the border of east and middle Tennessee. I can be on Chickamagua or Guntersville in an hour, Nickajack in 20 minutes, Tims Ford or Center Hill/Rock Island in hour and a half or so, Dale Hollow in about two hours, not to mention the Elk, Caney Fork, Collins, Sequatchie, Hiwassee, and other rivers within a hour or two drive. I am blessed to live where I do and to have grown up hunting, fishing, and trapping in the mountains of Southeast Tennessee and Go Big Orange!

Tennessee is having quite a year. 

[FrnkNsteen]

On 10/23/2022 at 4:32 PM, jitterbug127 said:

Unfortunately I live in Greenwood, indiana . The fishing here is terrible at best. I’m half an hour from the closest lake, and the bite is tough. I’ve become a river rat because it’s the only place to get a decent bite. Heavy pressure and very limited options make it tough for the recreation fishermen. Having a kayak has helped a ton. We have very limited bank fishing options 

Agreed! I live about 60 miles southwest of there and couldn't agree more about the lakes. We do have some old coal mining strip pit lakes thar are electric only we hit when we can.

 

The only thing we can brag about the fishing in our area is that you don't consume a lot of bait,.... Because there isn't much hitting it!! ??

[throttleplate]

Grew up on the border of minnesota- north dakota. We always fished minnesota as we were 50 minutes away and the mystique of the land of 10,000 lakes was the draw.

There is a drawback to minnesota and that is they have seasons on bass and minnesotas favorite the walleye. 

Bass catch and release starts on may 1st and walleye season starts may 15th to keep and eat.

 

North Dakota has no season on bass or walleye and i just started fishing the dakota waters this year. Its a farther drive, 70 minutes for my radius of rivers i go to but it is all highway.

I also catch multiple species of fish. I always want to catch smallies but i end up catching walleye, muskie, catfish, bullheads, white bass and panfish all on a smallie lure. I really enjoy this multi type of fishing.

I may not buy a non resident minnesota license next year and just stick to the north dakota waters.