College Graduation Trip!!!

[gotarheelz14]

Smallmouth guys, I need you to help me pick a location.

I will be graduating and receiving my first under-graduate degree in 2 weeks. I plan on going right back to school for one more year to get a second degree. In the meantime, I plan to work part time for the summer and school year. I plan on going to law school after that.

So as a treat and "destreser" to myself, I have decided to take a week off right after I graduate to go on a fishing/camping trip. This will not be my official "graduation present" though. For that, I will be getting money from parents, relatives, friends and work to purchase a fishing kayak. So, I want to save as much money as possible and I want to spend as little money as I can on this trip. In a way, I think this will somehow make it more fun too. Regardless, the trip needs to be cheap!

This means we will be camping and probably only for two nights. This means we will have to wade most of the time. This means we will not be flying but instead, driving. This means that we cannot drive TOO far as gas is through the roof. Because we are driving, we also want to limit the amount of hours we have to drive to our location.

If it's not too expensive and money permits, we may be able to rent or borrow a canoe from one of our friends.

My goal for this trip is to catch a TON of Smallmouth. But most importantly, I want to catch a TON of nice sized Smallmouth. I have caught 3 smallmouth my entire life and the biggest one was around a whooping 1/4th of a lb. This needs to change ASAP. As a secondary objective, it would also be really nice to be in the middle of some Northern Pike waters. This is definitely a species I've always wanted to catch. Just the thought of being in potential Musky waters would also make my heart skip a couple beats...

So I've got most of the 5 W's figured out for the trip:

Who?: Me and my best friend.

What?: A cheap and productive wading (possibly a little canoeing if its not a lot of $) fishing trip for Smallmouth.

When?: 3rd week of May.

Why?: Destresser and to land a nice smallmouth.

Where?:_____!

I am located in Greensboro, NC and I would prefer not to drive any farther than 10 hours away. This means I can probably go to the middle of Tennessee, some of Kentucky, All of West Virginia, all of Virginia, Most of Ohio, Most of Pennsylvania.

So, I think I have some really good possibilities.

Tennessee I know, has the Tennessee River and by the look of Roadwarrior's pictures, theres definitely some monsters in there. The Tennessee River itself though, looks huge and it looks like I would need a boat. Possibly some of its tributaries or smaller portions offer camping and wading opportunities?

West Virginia has the New River Gorge and the New River. It is also very close. It looks like a really good possibility though I know that parts of this River have extremely fast current and are dangerous to wade.

To be honest I don't know much about Kentucky's Smallmouth fishing. I have not heard much though I'm sure it has its spots. I will have to do some more research into Kentucky.

Virginia I think has some pretty good Smallmouth fishing in the Potomac. I'm guessing it's gotta have some good places farther up north. To be honest, I have been to DC like 8 or 10 times so I am probably looking to go elsewhere.

Ohio seems like a really good possibility. I know it has the Ohio River and it also borders Eerie. I think Eerie is so big though, that a boat almost looks like a necessity. Plus, I think I'm looking more for a river setting so I will have to look into the Ohio River.

Pennsylvania seems like it would be a great experience. I know that they have the Susquehanna River. From my very early research, the Susquehanna has all the major species I listed. It also looks to have a lot of state forests and national forests along major stretches of the river.

Anyways, this is a huge post and I apologize for it. I hope you guys chime in on some of the states and possibilities I have listed. Hopefully, once I narrow it down to a State, I can start looking more specifically at planning all the specific details.

Thanks guys and I look forward to your help and comments!

[Dwight Hottle]

Quit stressing. The answer is Presque Isle Bay off Lake Erie in Erie PA. Travel time from greensboro NC is 8hrs-58 minute totaling 541 miles. Excellent wading/kayak/canoe with rental canoes available. There is camping available or rent a motel for under $50 for two guys that's only $25 each per night.. Based on current water temps & our slow cold spring so far your timing for late May should be good. PM me if you need any help.

[gotarheelz14]

Quit stressing. The answer is Presque Isle Bay off Lake Erie in Erie PA. Travel time from greensboro NC is 8hrs-58 minute totaling 541 miles. Excellent wading/kayak/canoe with rental canoes available. There is camping available or rent a motel for under $50 for two guys that's only $25 each per night.. Based on current water temps & our slow cold spring so far your timing for late May should be good. PM me if you need any help.

Thanks a lot Dwight, I was hoping you would chime in! This looks quite fitting. I will definitely look into this!!! I will do some research and if I need any additional information or a local's touch I'll PM you!!!!

[00 mod]

Stay away from the TN river anywhere near the dam. They are generating so much water, the fishing is bad, and you would die trying to wade!

Jeff

[J Francho]

Quit stressing. The answer is Presque Isle Bay off Lake Erie in Erie PA. Travel time from greensboro NC is 8hrs-58 minute totaling 541 miles. Excellent wading/kayak/canoe with rental canoes available. There is camping available or rent a motel for under $50 for two guys that's only $25 each per night.. Based on current water temps & our slow cold spring so far your timing for late May should be good. PM me if you need any help.

This would be an AWESOME trip. Gives me an idea......

[LTcavhorn]

Devils River in Texas...Nothing else compare to the remoteness or water clarity.

Huge smallies...google it and check out some of the videos from this amazing river