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

[crypt]

40 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Which part of FLA you live in? I’m riding the struggle bus 

Melbourne. space coast.

[TnRiver46]

5 minutes ago, crypt said:

Melbourne. space coast.

Dang it!!!!!!!! I was just there for 3 days !!!!!!

 

struck out in the salt, had some nibbles at jetty park. Found some homeless people sleeping and cut my foot while trying to fish at Lee Werner or something like that.
 

caught 5 tiny bass in my cousins backyard pond 

 

my aunt lives in cocoa and my cousins in rockledge. Next year I may hit you up for some pointers if you don’t mind. 

[crypt]

give me a ring next time you get down here.......then we fish......

[TnRiver46]

34 minutes ago, crypt said:

give me a ring next time you get down here.......then we fish......

Thanks ! I’m up near all the springs now, @N Florida Mike gave me a lead on some spots to try up here and even a spot to potentially catch a Suwannee bass. I definitely need to bring some sort of vessel next Christmas. I don’t really want to pull a trailer all the way, maybe a canoe or a couple kayaks 

 

this Christmas I drove a Penske truck full of furniture down haha. 

[Woody B]

I'm happy where I'm at.  I've lived in the same county my entire life so I'm not one to move around much.  I've got several decent lakes within an hour, as well as good Deer, Bear and Turkey hunting, as well as small game hunting.   I won't catch a world record bass but I think a state record Spotted bass is possible.  I caught 1 within 1 1/2 lbs of the NC state record a couple weeks ago.   I also caught 1 that was 2 lbs 1 oz short of the state record a while back in a different lake.  

[thediscochef]

I'm happy where i'm at i just want a boat lol

[Swamp Girl]

On 12/27/2022 at 4:36 AM, 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.

 

I'm with ironbjorn. Rather, I'm not with ironbjorn, as my proximity would ruin his paradise, but my paradise would be like his: a lonesome lake where my home is the only home. 

 

However, I'm pretty dang happy where I am. I fished 16 bodies of water in 2022 and have scouted another 28 to fish in 2023. It's rare for me to see another boat and that's what I like, a quiet lake where I can focus on the birds, beavers, and bass. 

 

Bonus: My town is beautiful. I'm glad I bought my house when I did, for at the rate the home prices are climbing, it'll soon be a rich people affordable-only town and at 66, I'm still working to pay the bills, like TriRiver46, meaning I'm not rich. Just folk, lucky to live in a pretty town. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

 

I'm with ironbjorn. Rather, I'm not with ironbjorn, as my proximity would ruin his paradise, but my paradise would be like his: a lonesome lake where my home is the only home. 

 

However, I'm pretty dang happy where I am. I fished 16 bodies of water in 2022 and have scouted another 28 to fish in 2023. It's rare for me to see another boat and that's what I like, a quiet lake where I can focus on the birds, beavers, and bass. 

 

Bonus: My town is beautiful. I'm glad I bought my house when I did, for at the rate the home prices are climbing, it'll soon be a rich people affordable-only town and at 66, I'm still working to pay the bills, like TriRiver46, meaning I'm not rich. Just folk, lucky to live in a pretty town. 

My own small lake, a "lonesome lake" is my true dream.   I agree with you in a perfect world.   

 

I didn't dream big enough in the OP, in a perfect world I'd love to build a 250acre Bass paradise that only my guests and I could enjoy.      People tend ruin many things including the awesome public bodies of water I listed in my OP, a lonesome lake eliminates those problems.  

[Darth-Baiter]

interesting.  I always wanted to live where I couldn't see my neighbors.  that has all changed since my wife became a public health nurse.  she see horror stories.

 

we all imagine living somewhere with our current versions of ourselves.  not the one that has failing health, can't drive, can't get to see a doctor, no visitors to do wellness checks, etc.  

 

I plan on living the best life I can with the time I have.  

 

my wife got a call from a rural mailman that some dude hasn't coming to the mailbox to grab his stuff.  my wife had to use my 4x4 truck and went with a social worker and a Sheriff to check on the guy.  his phone died, because something in his house shorted out.  he was starving, ran out of med, living like an old wild guy.  tried to kill himself, but failed.  perfect storm of a crap life.   he wouldn't leave his home.  the ambulance couldn't come get him.  finally they convinced him and CALFire came and got him with a 4x4 rig.  

 

I plan to die socially.  with friends and loved ones.  people around me to call me out if I start losing my mind.  

[Swamp Girl]

32 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

interesting.  I always wanted to live where I couldn't see my neighbors.  that has all changed since my wife became a public health nurse.  she see horror stories.

 

we all imagine living somewhere with our current versions of ourselves.  not the one that has failing health, can't drive, can't get to see a doctor, no visitors to do wellness checks, etc.  

 

I plan on living the best life I can with the time I have.  

 

my wife got a call from a rural mailman that some dude hasn't coming to the mailbox to grab his stuff.  my wife had to use my 4x4 truck and went with a social worker and a Sheriff to check on the guy.  his phone died, because something in his house shorted out.  he was starving, ran out of med, living like an old wild guy.  tried to kill himself, but failed.  perfect storm of a crap life.   he wouldn't leave his home.  the ambulance couldn't come get him.  finally they convinced him and CALFire came and got him with a 4x4 rig.  

 

I plan to die socially.  with friends and loved ones.  people around me to call me out if I start losing my mind.  

 

You make a good point, Darth. 

47 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

My own small lake, a "lonesome lake" is my true dream.   I agree with you in a perfect world.   

 

I didn't dream big enough in the OP, in a perfect world I'd love to build a 250acre Bass paradise that only my guests and I could enjoy.      People tend ruin many things including the awesome public bodies of water I listed in my OP, a lonesome lake eliminates those problems.  

 

Heck, yeah, a 250-acre lake would be paradise. I'd love to feed fish too, like Blue Raider Bob, but once I started feeding them, I wonder if I would still want to catch them. 

 

 

[KSanford33]

Mine would be simple, and you're all going to laugh at me.

 

 

Castaic Lake.

 

Yes, I know it's no longer the fishery that it used to be. Yes, I know you should never meet your heroes. But as a young kid in the late 80's and early 90's reading Bassmaster, In-Fisherman, and North American Fishing something or other, that lake was built up to mythical proportions in my mind. 

 

 So if I could retire (which won't happen) and live anywhere (which won't happen), I'd spend the rest of my days trying to catch the next world record bass out of a lake where it likely doesn't exist. But I'd be happy to do it.

[crypt]

18 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Thanks ! I’m up near all the springs now, @N Florida Mike gave me a lead on some spots to try up here and even a spot to potentially catch a Suwannee bass. I definitely need to bring some sort of vessel next Christmas. I don’t really want to pull a trailer all the way, maybe a canoe or a couple kayaks 

 

this Christmas I drove a Penske truck full of furniture down haha. 

we could use my boat next year.

[TnRiver46]

23 minutes ago, crypt said:

we could use my boat next year.

You are too kind! My cousins boyfriend used to have a gambler bass boat. He took me out on toho once, we slayed with Carolina rig trick worm in 5 feet . 1 oz sinker, blew my mind 

[Tackleholic]

There are times I wish I had moved further south, but being here is lots better than most have it.  My house overlooks one of the top bass lakes in the country and my Vexus vx21 is in  a slip less than 5 minutes away.  In my garage sits my river boat and I am 10 minutes away from launching it into the world famous White River for trout fishing.  Sometimes I complain, but I shouldn't.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

6 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

Mine would be simple, and you're all going to laugh at me.

 

 

Castaic Lake.

 

Yes, I know it's no longer the fishery that it used to be. Yes, I know you should never meet your heroes. But as a young kid in the late 80's and early 90's reading Bassmaster, In-Fisherman, and North American Fishing something or other, that lake was built up to mythical proportions in my mind. 

 

 So if I could retire (which won't happen) and live anywhere (which won't happen), I'd spend the rest of my days trying to catch the next world record bass out of a lake where it likely doesn't exist. But I'd be happy to do it.

Very relatable post for myself. 

 

Place was like Disney World in my head as kid.     Then when I joined here and WRB explained the dynamics and current state, it saddened me greatly.    

 

The lake just happens to be located in the best climate in the USA, so even without a WR, it's a darn nice retirement place.  

[J Francho]

I could stay right here and he great with it. VA looks good too.

[flyfisher]

I'd be cool with a place somewhere in central PA so I could fish the susky and then a place where i could be warmer in the winter months and chase largemouth or saltwater or just stay up in central PA and fish for trout.  The place is a gold mine of fishing really.

[Tackleholic]

On 12/30/2022 at 3:25 PM, Tackleholic said:

There are times I wish I had moved further south, but being here is lots better than most have it.  My house overlooks one of the top bass lakes in the country and my Vexus vx21 is in  a slip less than 5 minutes away.  In my garage sits my river boat and I am 10 minutes away from launching it into the world famous White River for trout fishing.  Sometimes I complain, but I shouldn't.

Forgot to mention the lack of mosquitoes;  I've been here 11 years and can only remember 3 mosquito bites.  Guess that gives me "braggin' rights".

[TnRiver46]

8 minutes ago, Tackleholic said:

Forgot to mention the lack of mosquitoes;  I've been here 11 years and can only remember 3 mosquito bites.  Guess that gives me "braggin' rights".

Where is this????????? Mosquitos eat me alive up north, Alaska was the worst I’ve ever seen 

[Tackleholic]

44 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Where is this????????? Mosquitos eat me alive up north, Alaska was the worst I’ve ever seen 

Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, Tackleholic said:

Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

You must be immune 

[Tackleholic]

1 minute ago, Tackleholic said:

Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

Take a spring, summer, fall vacation here and experience it yourself.  Look me up when you do.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, Tackleholic said:

Take a spring, summer, fall vacation here and experience it yourself.  Look me up when you do.

I’ve been bitten by a few dozen mosquitoes driving thru Arkansas at 70 mph 

[Tackleholic]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

You must be immune 

Not by any means;  I moved here from Northern Illinois.  Enough of those blood sucking vampires there to carry a man away.

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve been bitten by a few dozen mosquitoes driving thru Arkansas at 70 mph 

Depends on where you are in Arkansas.

[ABrugs]

I have quite a while before I'll be retired, however, I currently live in SE Michigan about 20 minutes from Lake St. Clair and plan on living in this area for my entire life. I recently started bass fishing back in 2020 and have been fishing from shore over the past 3 years. My first step will be buying a bass boat within the next couple of years to get out and explore all that LSC has to offer. Until then, I'm completely content waking up early on Saturday mornings before my wife and our boys are up to watch the sunrise and chase some smallies.

 

^ One of my dreams is to buy a cottage up north as that's my favorite place on earth. I think that living near LSC and having the place in northern Michigan would be the perfect lifestyle. There's a variety of lakes up there and the idea of towing my bass boat back and forth while spending time w/ my family makes me happy to think about.