JulienRoy Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 Hey! My name is Julien, I am currently looking for a vacation spot in the U.S. in order to go bass fishing. As you probably know, bass fishing can be very expensive when you don't know where to look / don't have a boat, and this is basicaly where I am at right now. First of all, I am looking for a vacation from 1st of april to the 8th of april aproximatly, I might get to my location by car or plane, depending on what is available. (I can't move these dates) I need to know where to find the information on what is legal/illegal for fishing in various states, and if I need a special permit since I am canadian, is there a federal site available for this? I do not have a boat, I don't necesserely want to rent a bass boat or a great boat, I simply need something to go aroud on the water, see me as a "back-pack" fisherman. Everything I have looked at thus far from lake okachobee to georgia's small lakes is quite overpriced (from my point of view). I am looking for something that can go under 1,5k for a week (including plane/car trip), the less expensive / quality the better, including lodging, eating. If the location offers a bit of villegiature or other activities, they are a plus but not a must, as I will be going alone. Now this might be unorthodox, but if some one would be ready to recieve me at their home, it might end up being alot less expensive. I am 25 year old, I am a guy, I am an auditor at an accounting firm and I can gladly send my Curriculum and some information that will let you verify this, you can feel very secure that this isn't any form of scam and I am ready to go lenghty ways in order to prove that I am in fact honest and not dangerous, of course this would have to go both ways to some extent. This is basicaly where I stand, I find it hard to find information on the internet with the ongroing advertisments. Any type of point of view, on where to go, how to do it etc... are welcome, I am not acustom to the U.S. waters. I will glady give french courses to any one who helps me or recieves me! Also, if any one wants information on Quebec fishing, from bass/trout to musky/pike I will gladly help, we have great ice fishing location in the winter and some of the greatest musky lakes in the world for summer fishing! Hopefuly I did not transgress any forum rules! Thank you for your time and good luck fishing! Quote
fowlskies Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 If you like fishing for smallmouth Lake Champlain is a great lake to fish and it is just across the Canadian border in New York or Vermont so there won't be a lot of travel time or money spent on getting there. And you can easily stay for a week and stay within your budget. If you go on the NY side google DEC NY for license information. But of course this is if you go after ice out. If you go early May you should hit the spawn and the big ones will be in shallow for fishing from the bank. Quote
Super User webertime Posted January 17, 2012 Super User Posted January 17, 2012 If you like fishing for smallmouth Lake Champlain is a great lake to fish and it is just across the Canadian border in New York or Vermont so there won't be a lot of travel time or money spent on getting there. And you can easily stay for a week and stay within your budget. If you go on the NY side google DEC NY for license information. But of course this is if you go after ice out. If you go early May you should hit the spawn and the big ones will be in shallow for fishing from the bank. He'd have more fun reading Bass Resource on his phone in a bar in Montreal than Champlain that time of year. It could be (was last year) frozen still. I'd say research a state park in Virginia/Tenn/Kentucky and rent a canoe/kayak Quote
fowlskies Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 Wasn't it starting to flood that time last year? I was fishing South bay at that time last yr and it was flooded. There wasn't an ounce of ice to be found and that was at the end of April. Quote
Super User Long Mike Posted January 17, 2012 Super User Posted January 17, 2012 If you have only $1,500 to spend on a vacation to the lower forty-eight, then I would suggest that you stay very close to home. On that budget, flying is out of the question, so it's gonna be a driving/camping trip down the East Coast. . Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted January 17, 2012 Super User Posted January 17, 2012 Drive to the keys, sleep on the beach and go bone fishing. Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 If you have only $1,500 to spend on a vacation to the lower forty-eight, then I would suggest that you stay very close to home. On that budget, flying is out of the question, so it's gonna be a driving/camping trip down the East Coast. . i agree with this. $1500 wont go far in a week if you include airfare, transportation, a place to stay, food and drink, fishing expenses, etc... And the thing is, if he stays in the Northern U.S., dont a lot of those states have seasons for bass where you can only fish for them certain times of the year? I would suggest saving up some more money between now and April... Quote
fowlskies Posted January 17, 2012 Posted January 17, 2012 In NY there is a season that doesn't start until the third Sat. in June and goes through Nov. Its still legal to catch bass in the offseason but it has to be on artificial lures only and it must be catch and release. Quote
Randall Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Go to the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center east of Atlanta and stay in the campground. Fish will be shallow prespawn and spawning and you can walk around the lakes and ponds. It can still get cold and windy that time of year but many days are in the 80's at the end of March beginning of April. Good shot at a big fish over eight pounds on some of those lakes as well. My second choice would to be to stay near Lake Junaluska which is near Maggie Valley in Western NC. Lot's of campgrounds, motels and cabins here. You can shore fish this lake in some areas but some areas are off limits. It has good numbers of quality fish and a few big fish as well. It has a walking trail that goes around the lake which is surrounded by homes and church buildings. Good to call ahead and check lake levels and fishing rules here as both can change at the whim of the Methodist Church who owns and control access to the lake and fishing. Could also fish for smallmouth and trout in the area as well. Temps this time of year here run around ten degrees cooler than temps in Atlanta for both water and air temps You could possibly fish both of these in one trip but I would think you would do better staying at one and figuring out the pattern and staying with it. Quote
NBR Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Lake Champlain is a wonderful lake but the ice may not even be out on April 1. If I were you looking at an April 1 t0 8 time frame I'd look at Dale Hollow or Pickwick both in Tennessee. Google those two and converse either on the phone or email with resort owners. Another place might be Kentucky Lake which also conects with Lake Barkley. There is a resort there and if I remember correctly it is on 'The Land Between The Lakes". It is on a pennisula seperating Kentucky Dale Hollow, Pickwick and Kentucky/Barkley have large mouth, small mouth and several other fish species. There are other lakes farther south that would also be good but as you get farther south there are no smallies. Shoot me a PM if you want. Quote
JulienRoy Posted January 18, 2012 Author Posted January 18, 2012 Well I am currently looking at deals on flights "intra" us, wich means driving to an hotel, parking and flying to the destination. I am currently looking at a few availabilities and I'll give you the costs overall thus far. Lets say I was to travail to atlanta, I can book 2way trip from boston to atlanta for 200$, florida for 250$, +149$ for the hotel(parking included for 2 weeks), lets say we are two, cut down in half, then drive by car is another 200$ cut by two, so 100$. 20$ for extra luggage (fishing gear and maybe tent), so Im roughly looking at 500$ per person to get to either atlanta or florida. (wich is probably the equivalent of if I was going to get there by car, and half the trouble). Of course getting to the destination by taxi and getting back is probably another 200$, so 100$ cut in half With our budget combined (his is smaller) That leaves roughly 1200$ for cabins/camping/food/fishing boat, im looking to rent the boat for 4-5 days top, considering the trouble of getting there and getting out. There is lake lanier in atlanta that seems interesting enough, and in affordable price there is the everglades in florida. (okachobee being the #1 choice, but seems way overpriced for renting decent boats) Any insight on wich will be cheaper/better to stay and have better rates on boats? Looking for a boat with an electric motor and a battery... Although people seem to discourage me considering my budget, the numbers aren't really looking that bad. Thanks a bunch Quote
JulienRoy Posted January 18, 2012 Author Posted January 18, 2012 Flight to florida from montreal (quebec), 430$ (fort lauderdale.) Taxi to the glades 50$ Holliday park camping, 20,90$ per night boat rental 14 foot john with a 9,9, 45$ per day. so thats under 700$ for a fishing trip if we are 2, and 900$ if I am alone, food and booze roughly 200$ per person, its a good 900$ if we are 2 and 1100$ if I am alone, wich leaves 400$ to rent a better boat. How are you guys seeing 1500$ is not enough.... >< Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Flight to florida from montreal (quebec), 430$ (fort lauderdale.) Taxi to the glades 50$ Holliday park camping, 20,90$ per night boat rental 14 foot john with a 9,9, 45$ per day. so thats under 700$ for a fishing trip if we are 2, and 900$ if I am alone, food and booze roughly 200$ per person, its a good 900$ if we are 2 and 1100$ if I am alone, wich leaves 400$ to rent a better boat. How are you guys seeing 1500$ is not enough.... >< because we didnt do the research for one, atleast not me. and i wasnt trying to discourage you, sorry if it seemed that way. when i travel i like to take more money than i actually think i need, and usually i end up needing it. something may come up that you didnt budget for... Quote
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