You get to retire/move to your Bass fishing dream lake/river.......what lake/river are you picking?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

For me it would be New Bullard's Bar in N. CA.   To me the Spotted Bass record is the one that seems the lowest hanging fruit, not to mention it's my favorite sub species.     I'd love to know just the feeling of having your line wet in a body of water that you know has the WR swimming in it.    Even if I didn't catch a WR, 5-8lb Spots are quite common, and that alone sounds like heaven.

 

Runner up would be whatever Mexican lake is in a boom cycle, perhaps that would be Baccarac.    No doubt there is a WR LGM swimming in one of these Mexican lakes, not to mention the outrageous numbers of 10-13lb fish caught every year.

 

Lastly and most topical, Lake O.H. Ivie in Texas.     This lake is entering a peak boom period, and while the WR might not be swimming there, the number of DD fish being caught is likely the most in the country currently.    

 

So friends, give me the lakes you dream about moving to ?

[TnRiver46]

I’ve already got the spot, only problem is I will never be able to retire haha. Oh well I like fishing after work (and during work)

[TnRiver46]

I forgot to mention the lake, it’s tellico. Not exactly epic fishing but I think palanuik came in 10th in the bassmaster classic fishing it (he ran like 70 miles each day from downtown Knoxville haha)

[A-Jay]

I retired in 2007 at 47 

and Relocated to Northern Michigan.

A lot went into that decision.

Even though Quite a bit has changed, still liking our decision.

There may be places that can match the brown bass fishing here,

but not too many that much better.

I am right where I want to be.

Annual trips to Lake Baccarac Lodge are always part of the deal,

and will be again in 2023.

Having world class angling, mostly to myself, pretty much right up the road,

what else am I looking for ? 

Grass isn't always greener.

I'm good.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

I don’t know yet. Still have many places to see
 

I was really attracted to the Santee Cooper Lakes after watching a Bassmaster Elite tournament on them. Looks like a nice area of SC too

[JustJames]

It is kind of brat but I’d say I’m there where I wanna retire. It is actually not my #1 pick (Somewhere in FL without hurricanes) but I think I’ll be happily living here the rest of my life.

Canyon Lake SoCal, 3-400 acres private lake 24-7 year round access with a few of DD bass reported to be caught every years, up to 2-3 lb crappies, good palm size bluegill and plenty of big channel catfish. Once I’m tired of fishing or too cold there is an 18 hole beautiful senior friendly golf course for me to kill time. Also very important, plenty of community clubs where my wife can join and get her occupied and leave me alone.

[WRB]

I retired in 2015 at 71, 80 in 2023!

If I hadn’t sold my lake Sherwood property that is where I would be now. 

Tom

[J._Bricker]

I’m already there @AlabamaSpothunter, I’m retired and about 20-30 minutes drive from the driveway until the prop is wet and being able to explore 1100 miles of fishable water. Great weather year round, and there’s four international airports within a couple hours drive if a change of scenery is needed. 

[TnRiver46]

The trend I’m noticing here: @AlabamaSpothunteris way behind us……….. 

 

just kidding, I think most of us would love to fish your home lake that’s full of shad 

 

that reminds me, how do have so many shad in there? Does your neighborhood dump them in? 

[Jar11591]

I think I would have to travel a couple hours north and find a spot on the St. Lawrence River. Ranked top bass water in the nation, and I get to stay in my home state that I love. And because this is a dream, I’d have a place on the shores of Lake Baccarac as well. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

52 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I retired in 2007 at 47 

and Relocated to Northern Michigan.

A lot went into that decision.

Even tough Quite a bit has changed, still liking our decision.

There may be places that can match the brown bass fishing here,

but not too many that much better.

I am right where I want to be.

Annual trips to Lake Baccarac Lodge are always part of the deal,

and will be again in 2023.

Having world class angling, mostly to myself, pretty much right up the road,

what else am I looking for ? 

Grass isn't always greener.

I'm good.

A-Jay

 

 

 

Living the dream my man, you deserve it!

19 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I think I would have to travel a couple hours north and find a spot on the St. Lawrence River. Ranked top bass water in the nation, and I get to stay in my home state that I love. And because this is a dream, I’d have a place on the shores of Lake Baccarac as well. 

Oh heck ya, after the MLF event, and where my childhood friend took 2nd place....I'm inclined to believe you.    They were bringing in 20lb bags every day.   

30 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

The trend I’m noticing here: @AlabamaSpothunteris way behind us……….. 

 

just kidding, I think most of us would love to fish your home lake that’s full of shad 

 

that reminds me, how do have so many shad in there? Does your neighborhood dump them in? 

Haha, and yeah we do spring stocking every year of threadfins, but thanks in part to your help I've not realized how huge the Gizzard population is.    They were last stocked 25 years ago, and seemingly went away for awhile, but since I've gotten back on the lake they seem just as thick as the threadfins.

 

I'd love to know how healthy the population of these guys are that I caught on a jerkbait.....never stocked, but man I'd eat the heck out of these if I were either a huge Bass or TNRiver46 ?

34 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

I’m already there @AlabamaSpothunter, I’m retired and about 20-30 minutes drive from the driveway until the prop is wet being able to explore 1100 miles of fishable water. Great weather year round, and there’s four international airports within a couple hours drive if a change of scenery is needed. 

Love hearing that you and A-Jay are living the dream.    Hard work pays off, nice to see it in action!

41 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_SoCal said:

It is kind of brat but I’d say I’m there where I wanna retire. It is actually not my #1 pick (Somewhere in FL without hurricanes) but I think I’ll be happily living here the rest of my life.

Canyon Lake SoCal, 3-400 acres private lake 24-7 year round access with a few of DD bass reported to be caught every years, up to 2-3 lb crappies, good palm size bluegill and plenty of big channel catfish. Once I’m tired of fishing or too cold there is an 18 hole beautiful senior friendly golf course for me to kill time. Also very important, plenty of community clubs where my wife can join and get her occupied and leave me alone.

Looks like heaven to me brother, well done sir!

[Susky River Rat]

I honestly really enjoy where I am at. I’m sure there are better places but, this style of fishing I get to do is fairly unique.  It would be hard to give that up. Now, if we were talking about other species then yes I have a few places in my mind.

[813basstard]

Brazil. 

Wife can hang tight at the house…so can the bass.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just now, 813basstard said:

Brazil. 

Wife can hang tight at the house…so can the bass.

Interesting pick.

 

I'm sure you got Peacocks down there in Tampa though.  

[PressuredFishing]

Some state and lake with an older respectful population and a cheerful traditional/orthidox culture, being a young mid 20's adult, that's really my group of people, i have no interest in the  delinquencies of my Generation. 

 

In a nutshell, anywhere other than urban  life,  here in SD California, 

 

I like the idea of Montana or the Dakotas... Trout Trout Trout!

[Koz]

I'm going to let everyone in on a secret. There's a place where you can go and catch a lot of 4, 5, and 6 pound bass every day. There are double digit bass lurking everywhere as well. There are so many bodies of water you couldn't fish them all in your lifetime. You don't need a boat. You don't need a kayak. In fact, on many of these bodies of water they are forbidden.

 

Where is this magical place? The South Carolina Lowcountry! From Hilton Head and Bluffton up to Charleston there are thousands and thousands of lagoons (ponds) all teeming with largemouth bass. It's a bank fisherman's paradise. 

 

When I lived there I fished hundreds of lagoons. When I coached my son in travel baseball and we played up in the Charleston area we would pack some fishing gear and stop at different lagoons along our route and we were never disappointed. I miss fishing in that area.

 

 

[NorcalBassin]

Definitely can't complain since I'm fortunate to be in a nice rural area of CA with really good reservoir and stream fishing nearby, but if I could have a house and dock on any lake my top 3 would be Hayden Lake, ID, Lake Coeur d'Alene, ID or Flathead Lake, MT. 

[Columbia Craw]

Lake Coeur d’Alene or Pend Orielle for me.

[Catt]

Right here in Cajun Country!

 

Close proximity to some of the nation's best bass, crappie, & bream fishing.

 

Saltwater species of every kind. 

 

Duck, goose, & deer hunting that will rival anywhere. 

 

Best cuisine in America!

[Bluebasser86]

I really like the area around Bull Shoals. Very pretty and not as populated as the other area lakes. All kinds of fish in the lake and world class trout fishing below the lake. Many other lakes within a reasonable drive also.

[ironbjorn]

My dream is to build a cabin in the woods as well as build a small private lake to stock, maintain, and fish, far away from civilization.

[Captain Phil]

3 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

My dream is to build a cabin in the woods as well as build a small private lake to stock, maintain, and fish, far away from civilization.

 

This was the dream of many when my wife and I were in real estate.   Unfortunately, this scenario no longer exists in Florida. Even if you found a property like this, it would cost a fortune.   Given that, we believe we live in the perfect retirement spot for bass fishing.  We live in a small town outside of Orlando with 1,000s of lakes all around us.  Most of them have public access. Our City has a long concrete walkway right in downtown where you can fish. Public piers are everywhere.  If you have a boat, there is no end to the fishing.  The people are nice and the traffic is light if you stay off the main roads.

 

One thing people don't think about when picking a retirement spot is access to medical facilities. When you are young, you don't think about this. In retirement you will spend a significant amount of time in a doctor's office.  Living in Florida can be fast paced or laided back depending upon where to choose to live.

[TnRiver46]

8 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

Definitely can't complain since I'm fortunate to be in a nice rural area of CA with really good reservoir and stream fishing nearby, but if I could have a house and dock on any lake my top 3 would be Hayden Lake, ID, Lake Coeur d'Alene, ID or Flathead Lake, MT. 

You must be kin to the mountain man Jim Bridger 

[Mike L]

Right where I’m at!

From 1/2 hr to 3 hrs from the best fresh and salt water fishing on the planet. 
 

 

 

Mike

[Junk Fisherman]

I plan on getting a place in Northern Michigan and living there from April to November every year.  There's so much water and you can easily get away from fishing pressure.   My wife wants our home base where we live now because of our kids.  Plan to take a 2-week trip to Texas every February or so to help ease the sting of the northern winters.