Bass Fishing Vacation, Help Please! 2024
FrogFreak reply :
I'm looking to book a bass fishing vacation for my wife and I for the Feb/March time frame. I'm looking for recommendations. Here's my wishlist.
Reasonably priced package that includes:
Boat rental
Lodging
Meals
Close to a major airport would be nice.
A guide isn't needed but would be ok.
I suppose the budget here is 2-3K total (include airfare) and I'd like at least 2-3 days of fishing.
The destination should be within the US and warmer than North Dakota
If any of you have some real life experience with this I would greatly appreciate it.
Catt reply :
Falcon Lake 
Steve Big O Parks can give you guide names
#2 would be Fork, send PM to Tom Reddington
DILLY07 reply :
Lake Okeechobee
Winter Park
Lake Toho
Kissimmee Chain
Lake Fork
California Delta
FrogFreak reply :
On 7/29/2014 at 5:45 AM, DILLY07 said:Lake Okeechobee
Winter Park
Lake Toho
Kissimmee Chain
Lake Fork
California Delta
I appreciate the list of lakes but I'm looking for a package or a guide that someone can recommend. Possibly a place to stay, eat, fish etc.
FrogFreak reply :
On 7/29/2014 at 3:52 AM, Catt said:Falcon Lake
Steve Big O Parks can give you guide names
#2 would be Fork, send PM to Tom Reddington
Catt,, thanks I'll hit up Steve. What's his member name?.
Catt reply :
,
On 7/29/2014 at 5:56 AM, FrogFreak said:Catt,, thanks I'll hit up Steve. What's his member name?.
To contact Steve send him a PM, he's a member, you know the guy that invented Rage Tail
LMB KING reply :
Lake Okeechobee. Everything is very cheap around that town.
DT6 4 days reply :
Dreamstrike Lake... $50 dollar boat rentals and one of the best bass fishing places in America!(opinion)
FrogTosser88 reply :
California delta.... March would be a great time.. not quite spawning season, but the weather will be warming a bit.. there are too many marinas here to even mention.. I live here so i dont rent boats or rooms. But do some research and I'm sure you will find something.
Fisher-O-men reply :
San Diego is nice that time of year. Great guides there (here)! Outlandish license fees! If you like sight fishing you could get a DD with the right guide. (no, I'm not a guide)
roadwarrior reply :
http://www.lakebaccaraclodge.com/
We have several members that make this trip every year. If it's a "Dream Trip"
you are looking for, this is the place! The package is all inclusive.
Chris at Tech reply :
On 7/29/2014 at 6:12 PM, roadwarrior said:http://www.lakebaccaraclodge.com/
We have several members that make this trip every year. If it's a "Dream Trip"
you are looking for, this is the place! The package is all inclusive.
Yeah, certainly a great trip. But the logistics are a bit challenging for only 2-3 days of fishing.
Look into Guntersville or some place Florida. To me, I'd go to Florida and do a combined freshwater and saltwater trip for the best of both worlds.
Catt reply :
Texas or Mexico for a dream bass fishing trip!
Florida & California aint even close for bass 10# plus
We had this discussion back in the early spring, I put the stats up, & no state came close. Only Mexico & 00mod could compete!
buzzed bait reply :
just one "qualifier" question, but do you intend on doing anything else on this vacation aside from fishing? that may help with suggestions, but if it's solely for fishing it leaves the possibilities nearly endless....
WRB reply :
For the San Joaquin Delta area contact Andy "Cooch" Cuccia fishing, guide service. Cooch is the best guide I know of anywhere! Fly into San Jose, rent a car. The Delta is a world class bass fishery and you can fish for stripers . The San Fransicco Bay Area is close by.
Little further north is Clear Lake, If Cooch isn't guiding there, then contact Larry Hemphill guide service for Clear lake.
Tom
plumworm reply :
Get on the web and investigate the Table Rock lake area. There are 100's of resorts, A lot of them rent boats and are well within your price range. I have been there twice in late March and the fishing was really good. Airport near by.
Greeneye8181 reply :
On 7/29/2014 at 6:12 PM, roadwarrior said:http://www.lakebaccaraclodge.com/
We have several members that make this trip every year. If it's a "Dream Trip"
you are looking for, this is the place! The package is all inclusive.
Does that come with armed security?
I'm being half serious...
RoLo reply :
On 7/30/2014 at 3:01 AM, Catt said:Texas or Mexico for a dream bass fishing trip!
Florida & California aint even close for bass 10 # plus
Based on nationwide statistics, no place on earth produces more 10-pound bass than Florida, USA.
This should come as no surprise, as Florida is the home of Florida-stain largemouth bass
Florida has additionally yielded its fair share of world-class bass over 17.5 pounds, but unfortunately,
the state's biggest obstacle is 'bureaucracy'. Florida's heaviest bass on record are documented & certified
by the "IGFA", "Field & Stream", “International Spin Fishing Association" and others, but not by the state.
Listed below are certified bass taken in Florida that are not recognized by the state (up to 2011):
1) 20-lb 2-oz - Big Fish Lake - May 1923 - Fritz Friebel (fully documented but not FL certified)
2) 19-lb 15-oz - Keystone Lake - 1927 - R. E. Lucas
3) 19-lb 11-oz (29" L x 23.25" G) - Stick Marsh - Jul 1994 - Doug Thompson
4) 19-lb 8-oz (29” L 23” G) – Stick Marsh – May 1994 – Ed Johnson
5) 19-lb 4-oz – Taylor Creek Reservoir – Jun 1974 – Phil Jay
6) 19-lb 0-oz (31”L) – Lake Tarpon – Jun 1961 – Riley Witt (former Florida state record)
7) 18-lb 13-oz (29.5”L x 26.5”G) St Johns River - Apr 1987 - Buddy Wright (fully documented & certified)
8) 18-lb 8-oz – Orange Grove Lake – Jan 2008 – Jeffrey Smith
9) 18-lb 4-oz – St. Johns River – Dec 1948 - J.W. Smith
10) 18-lb 2-oz – Taylor Creek Reservoir - Jun 1974 – Phil Jay
10) 18-lb 2-oz – Lake Brooklyn – Mar 1966 – Hugh Paul
11) 18-lb 1-oz – Stick Marsh – Apr 1994 – Robert Bloom
12) 18-lb 0-oz – Orange Grove Lake – Steve Smith (IGFA documented)
12) 18-lb 0-oz (30”L) – Tucker Lake – 1964 – L.L. Petty
12) 18-lb 0-oz – Lake George (St Johns River) – May 1958 – Marlin Coston
12) 18-lb 0-oz – Ashley Lake – Mar 1951 – Carl Swisher
13) 17-lb 15-oz – Undisclosed waters – Mar 1988 – Donald Brunson
14) 17-lb 12-oz – West Lake Tohopekaliga (West Toho) – Jul 1986 – John Faircloth
15) 17-lb 9-oz – Lake George (St. Johns River) – Babette Morgan
16) 17-lb 8-oz (28”Lx25”G) Lake Rose – 1985 – Mike Paule
16) 17-lb 8-oz (28”Lx25”G) Hurricane Lake – Mar 1983 – Robert Earl
16) 17-lb 8-oz – Lake George (St. Johns River) – Justin Morgan
Under a weight of 17-1/2 pounds, the entries are piled up at every ounce, far too numerous to bother listing.
Owning up to feeble recordkeeping, the state of Florida finally incepted a Hall-of-Fame Club (13-lb+ only),
now in its 2nd year. This year, Joe Morrell submitted two "state certified" teeners, a 13-lb 12-oz & 14-lb 9-oz.
Be reminded that for every 13-3/4 lb bass landed in Florida, there are thousands of double-digit bass.
This isn't the case anywhere else, where catching a double-digit bass is like watching paint dry or grass grow.
The future of Florida-strain transplants is speculative, but the Florida-strain bass in Florida are forever. 
http://m.myfwc.com/news/news-releases/2014/march/11/trophycatch/
Roger
WRB reply :
I don't want to hijack this thread and believe the OP. was not asking about giant bass, just a good bass fishing vacation for himself and family.
If you want to discuss bragging rights, then California holds that honor with 19 or 20 of the top 25 bass listed in whatever listing you choose. I have a 19.3 lb and 18.6 lb bass that belongs in the list and so does Butch Brown or several other anglers who didn't officially record catches, which is also true in Florida. California doesn't keep track of largemouth bass caught over 10 orc12.lbs, they are a common occurrence. Texas has a lot of good trophy bass lakes and 10 to 12 lb bass are also common there, as they are in some Mexico lakes.
California offers a good opportunity for vacations, so does Florida in Feb and a March. Some of Texas trophy bass lakes may not be that easy for families, lake Fork should a good.
Tom.
00 mod reply :
On 7/30/2014 at 7:53 AM, Greeneye8181 said:Does that come with armed security?
I'm being half serious...
No need. I have been down at least a dozen times in the last 4 years and no problems what so ever. 5 of those times to Lake Baccarac lodge itself!
Jeff
Catt reply :
Sorry ROLO!
That's history! tell me how many 10#+ those lakes producing today 07/30/14
WRB, who on this sight we thinking of a dream bass fishing trip & not have it include a shot at a double digit bass?
Dinky reply :
To be honest with you 2/3k is not enough for 2 for Baccarac or El Salto. It takes at least one days travel each way, and often two. for Baccarac, and it can for El Salto as well sometimes. The drive to Baccarac is brutal-4 hours. The drive to El Salto is 2. You do have a new Lake 45 minutes from Mazatlan that is getting rave reviews (pichachos) and you can even book a combo for it and El Salto through Anglers Inn. El Salto also has the benefit of off shore rooster fishing and jack fishing through Anglers Inn available in Mazatlan, but that adds to the cost.
If you fly a lot of your budget will be eaten up by airfare and I think you stated it included airfare.
Your best bet might be to look to some of the State Parks in the southern states lakes- Pickwick-Tennessee, Dale Hollow-Kentucky/Tennessee,
Guntersville, etc. Most have boat rentals and will also have links to guides in the area as well.
In Florida I would check out the St, Johns River area-Palatka. It is much closer than Okeechobee and the fishing is just about as good overall.
Whatever you decide, good luck and if I can answer any questions don't hesitate to pm me.
RoLo reply :
On 7/30/2014 at 11:27 PM, Catt said:Sorry ROLO!
That's history! tell me how many 10#+ those lakes producing today 07/30/14
Tom, the lakes listed above have nothing to do with 10-pound bass, that's a list of World-Class bass taken in Florida
'beginning' at 17.5 lb and up (published 2011). Realistically, a list of 17.5 lb plus bass from ANY state,
would necessarily delve back in time. Last year (2013), Florida finally introduced the "Hall-of-Fame Club",
which observes a minimum qualifying weight of 13 lb+, the same as the Texas "Share-Lunker" program.
This year (2014), one man submitted two "state certified" entries (13-12 & 14-9).
10-Pounders (Back On-topic)
The waters mentioned above and hundreds of other Floridian waters are teeming with 10-lb bass today.
Bass between 10 and 12 pounds are reported virtually every weekend in Florida throughout the entire year.
If you attend a major weigh-in in Polk County, Florida, you'll generally see one or more double-digit bass
and the occasional Teener. Florida is irrefutably the only place on earth where any small pond
or any retention pool can produce a 10-lb bass, and typically does.
Bassmasters is comprised of the world’s best professional anglers whose livelihood depends on bass fishing.
The Classic and Elite tourneys takes them to all the best bass waters in continental United States.
Since the *** of B.A.S.S. in the 1960s, the all-time heaviest one-day stringer was taken from Lake Toho
in 2001 (45-lb 2-oz). Lake Toho is in Florida...not Texas and not California. This is a direct quote from Dean:
"I couldn't believe what I saw," Rojas said. "I saw 10 pounders, 9 pounders, 8 pounders everywhere I looked."
During that same Bassmaster Top-150 Tournament, 21 double-digit bass were brought to the scales in '2' days!
Roger
WRB reply :
Roger, I think you mixed Catt's statements up with what I posted. California should have a trophy bass program, we don't to the best of my knowledge.
Catt, both the Delta and Clear lake still produce good quantities of 10 lb+ bass every week and during tournaments, so the OP's dream could easily be realized at either place and still be a great family vacation.
Didn't say California was better bass fishing then Texas or Florida, it's on a par when going on a family vacation that includes bass fishing. Both Texas and Florida have better over all bass fishing then California has to offer, IMO.
Peace.
Tom
RoLo reply :
On 7/31/2014 at 3:21 AM, WRB said:Roger, I think you mixed Catt's statements up with what I posted.
I don't believe there's any mix up, by the way Catt's name is also Tom
Here's the deal: The original poster is looking for a fun family vacation during the Feb/Mar time-slot.
Based on nationwide statistics (not mine), if FrogFreak is fishing in Florida during that period,
his odds of a 10-lb plus bass are better than anywhere else in the world.
We all have our favorite Utopia but no place is the Holy Grail, not California, not Texas, not Mexico & not Florida.
So what do we do? We turn to recent history which is an excellent tool for predicting the future,
the same way we would invest our money. With all due respect to California, it stands head-&-shoulders
above all other states for producing the all-time heaviest Florida-strain transplants, no state comes close.
On the other hand, historic all-time weights may not necessarily lend to a fun family vacation:
Bassmaster Top-25 Bass (all-time):
California 20
Florida 2
Japan 2
Georgia 1
Texas 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1998, BassMaster Magazine introduced the “Lunker Club”, a national register for largemouth bass with an official
weight of 10 lb or more (double-digit bass). Below are the Lunker Club results during its first 12 years of existence:
Lunker Club (1998 to 2010)
Florida 514 entries
Texas 300 entries
California 3rd ranked (unpublished total)
Roger
WRB reply :
Roger, I have no idea how anyone could keep accurate statistics on California 10 lb + largemouth bass caught, no official collection system in place. The big bass fishing in SoCal has crashed in recent years and now slowly recovering. I will look into 10 lb + numbers estimated for CA and let you know what I find, if interested. The 3 to 5 hundred number is well within CA's ball park this year, in the past those numbers could be met at Castaic and Casitas and It's possible those numbers are achievable between the Delta and Clear, if you count catch and release bass, not catch and killed.
I think the OP would be happy with California, Texas or Florida for a bass fishing family vacation.
I done with hijacking this thread.
Tom
Ps, there was a 13 lb+ LMB caught this weekend at lake McClure in NorCal mid summer. The vast majority of teeners are caught between Jan to Mar in CA.
jtharris3 reply :
Personally I would head to Florida. Lake Okeechobee to be exact. That's a dream trip for me and has been for years. Every time I see a show done there I think to myself what a unique fishery that it is.
I've fished Lake Fork many times and absolutely love that lake, so to me, you couldn't go wrong going there either. Which remind me that I need to get back down there soon! 
Good luck in your choice.
FrogTosser88 reply :
The thing about the Delta is the amount of water you have acess to... hundreds of sloughs and bays and ponds you will be able to explore
FrogFreak reply :
Thanks for all the advice.
Buzzed bait, this trip is just about fishing.
Tom, I think I saw Cooch on a YouTube video the other day. The Informative Fisherman had him on I believe. Thanks for the recommendation!
While I would love to catch a DD bass, the trip is really about going somewhere warm and fishing. The winters are brutal up here and most folks try to get away for their sanity.
LMB KING reply :
We have 90 degrees winter down here in The fishing capital of the world (Florida). Anyways, good luck on your decision on which ever state you chose.
Alonerankin2 reply :
In Florida, with Family, plenty to Do, plenty!
Fishing? Florida, fresh, salt, brackish , intercostal waterways,@ Jax. More water than you can fish in a lifetime.
Enjoy you're trip!
hawgenvy reply :
How about the Roland Martin Resort and Marina on Lake Okeechobee? Check out the website! I have not been to that particular joint, but in February South Florida is about the only place on the east coast that will probably have sunny 75 degree weather. And the bass fishing on the Big O is awesome! The resort has hotel rooms, a restaurant, bass fishing guides, and they supposedly rent tricked out bass boats for $250/day. Boat and guide is around $400. They have some cheaper boats, too. There is nothing else to do in Clewiston FL besides fishing, eating very basic food, drinking beer, and, maybe, wild pig shooting. But you are only an hour or so from great inshore and offshore salty fishing on both the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts. And you're two hours from Mickey Mouse heading north, or Miami Beach heading south, and three to six hours from the Florida keys. You can supplement your bass fishing with redfish, speckled trout, tarpon, snook, pompano, permit, bonefish, and all kinds of offshore stuff (think dolfin, sailfish, wahoo, snapper, kingfish, sharks, etc, etc). And great beaches both coasts.
http://www.rolandmartinmarina.com/
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