Best place to live and fish ... 2025
ksdog reply :
I'm looking to relocate to an area that offers the best multi species, multi season fishing. Freshwater only. Where do you guys recommend ? PM me if you want to keep a secret. 
avtks@hotmail.com
roadwarrior reply :
I'm considering Nashville, TN. It's surrounded by some of the best smallmouth lakes in the country, including Dale Hollow. Old Hickory, the home of the World Record walley is close. The Cumberland River produces huge stripers and catfish. The Tennessee River and associated reserviors produce crappie, sauger, striper, catfish and trophy smallmouth. Largemouth, Kentucky, and white bass are native to all of these waters. The Smokey Mountains and trout fishing streams are just a few hours away.
If you are looking for a safe city with all of the ammenities for health care, shopping and entertainment, this is an interesting option. I also enjoy the four seasons as long as the winters are short and mild and Nashville meets that criteria, too. Being close to a metropolitan area and within three hours of waters that offer a variety of fishing opportunities appeals to me.
Housing costs are moderate, but if you're from a high priced market, may seem cheap. Tennessee has no state taxes! This is a great region for sportsmen, yet has other options that make it appealing to your better half: Great shopping malls, world class entertaiment and other activities that can keep the ladies busy.
basspro48 reply :
Well, if you don't mind scalding hot temperatures I would have to say central Florida, but if I had to choose I would go to Guntersville, Alabama which is really a no-brainer because Lake Guntersville is right there and it is pretty secluded.
cajun1977. reply :
if your truly looking for multi species id say minnesota they have all species ans numerious lakes to fish cant beat that
paparock reply :
Well I am just west of Roadwarrior in north Arkansas. I am living in Lakeview, Arkansas right on Bull Shoals Lake. Mountain Home, Arkansas is about six miles to the southeast. Mountain Home sits between to very large manmade reservoirs Norfork(known for big striped bass up to 50lbs.) and Bull Shoals (with over a 1000 miles of shoreline) where the state record smallmouth came from and where the experts say the next world record walleye is going to come from.
The White River flows out of the tailrace of Bull Shoals and the tailrace of Norfork meets it south of the town. The White is known as the worlds best Brown Trout fishery. If you look at the record book the White dominates. Brown Trout over 39 pounds come from these tailrace flows. There are also large Rainbows, Cutthroat, and Brookies. None of the lakes or streams freeze so you have year round fishing. The United States only National River, the Buffalo River offers canoe fishing for smallmouth in beautiful scenic bluff terrain.
I chose this area to retire in because Arkansas (my native State) has the overall lowest tax rate in the US, houses are reasonable, the cost of living is cheap and you can get to all the best fishing and hunting with a 20 minute drive. You are about and hour and a half from Branson if you want top notch entertainment. Check out the area online.
http://www.mtnhome.net/index.asp
That will give you a general overview.
RoLo reply :
For largemouth bass, there's probably no finer region than central Florida,
but the question specified a diversity of freshwater fish and that leaves Florida in the lurch.
For a variety of freshwater species, I'd have to go with Ontario and Quebec in Canada.
(smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, walleye, salmon, trout, etc).
For a variety of freshwater fish within the United States, I'm with Roadwarrior.
I think an angler would be very hard pressed to beat Tennessee, though I wouldn't care to trade winters!
Tennessee has beautiful geography, and an abundance of clean rivers and impoundments.
When we stayed in Celina, TN on Dale Hollow, we visited Nashville on several occasions
and found it to be an appealing, full-featured city.
LARGEMOUTH
Kentucky Lake
Percy Priest
Nickajack Lake
SMALLMOUTH
Dale Hollow Reservoir, TN (Holder of current world-record and it ain't goin nowhere)
Kentucky Lake, TN (In a tournament, Rick Clunn caught "two" 5lb, 10oz smallies!)
WALLEYE
Tims Ford Reservoir
Centerhill Reservoir
Dale Hollow Reservoir (Home of the world's second largest walleye: 22lb, 4oz)
Roger
earthworm77 reply :
Canada, that is a good choice. Although it might as well be France, I ain't getting there anytime soon. I will also support Central Florida. Do you know that there are more bass species in Florida than anywhere in the world?
Largemouth, Striped, Hybrid Striped(Sunshine), Suwannee, Shoal, Red Eye, Peacock, Spotted, likely some smallmouth leaking in from interstate waters.
flippin4it. reply :
RoLo nailed it!
Triton21 reply :
RIGHT ON Rolo!!!!!!!!!!
Rattlinrogue reply :
I'd have to say Central Florida.My son lived there for a year,and there are numerous world class bass fisheries all around.In addition to that you are an hour from the Atlantic and an hour from the Gulf of Mexico for saltwater fishing.Throw in a 3 hour trip to Miami's canals where you can catch peacock bass,and you have a diverse choice of types of angling.I would certainly want to live in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Celebration area.Now that I'm gonna be out of coaching and teaching in 5 weeks,I'm seriously considering a move.I simply love Central Florida!
ksdog reply :
OK. Thanks. Anymore suggestions ?
Matt Fly reply :
I'd have to say East Texas, 50 lakes within 200 mile radius. Gambling in La. BASS and FLW Tourneys in La. and Tx. 10 team trails with entries of 75.00 upto $260.oo, Any of those 50 lakes could produce a 13+ bass. Every style of fishing available. Central fly zone for geese and ducks, outstanding turkey and deer populations in TX. Pro sports teams, hockey, baseball, football, and basket ball. 3 bass pro shops, soon to be 4 within hours apart. 1 in Shreeveport, Houston, DFW, and soon to be another in Dallas. Close to Mexican bass waters. Dozens of theme parks, camping, no state income tax. And for the salt water anglers, the gulf of Mexico and some of the best spec trout and red fishing.
CJ reply :
Rolo and RW is right on.I live right by Ky. and Barkley lakes.Both species of bass are on the rise as far as quality.I saw a 22 plus lb. stringer of nothing but smallies weighed in on Ky. last March.I know of two smallies that went over 7 lbs.There have been LM caught over 10 lbs. here.The grass is coming back strong on Ky.One last thing don't forget about the big crappie here.There have been some caught that weighed over 4 lbs.
Aaron reply :
I have to cast a vote for Ky. I live in west KY and there is some great fishing here. We have LM, SM, cats, and some great crappie fishing. We also have some sauger that can be caught in the winter. Theres also LBL and some great deer hunting.
Plus the cost of livng is low and the people are great. NAshville is a short drive away and St, Louis isnt much further.
I use to take all of this for granted until i met a bunch of people that make annual trips down here to enjoy our wonderful lakes and other outdoor activities.
Cujo reply :
Pennsylvania. It has some of the best all around fishing. Also it has some of the best trout fishing in the country
bixbybasspro reply :
QuoteI'd have to say East Texas, 50 lakes within 200 mile radius. Gambling in La. BASS and FLW Tourneys in La. and Tx. 10 team trails with entries of 75.00 upto $260.oo, Any of those 50 lakes could produce a 13+ bass. Every style of fishing available. Central fly zone for geese and ducks, outstanding turkey and deer populations in TX. Pro sports teams, hockey, baseball, football, and basket ball. 3 bass pro shops, soon to be 4 within hours apart. 1 in Shreeveport, Houston, DFW, and soon to be another in Dallas. Close to Mexican bass waters. Dozens of theme parks, camping, no state income tax. And for the salt water anglers, the gulf of Mexico and some of the best spec trout and red fishing.
Double that^^^^, and of course Oklahoma, my home state b/c there is so many lakes in reach...Awesome!
FALCON reply :
IF YOU DON'T MIND WINTER SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN IS GREAT. I LIVE ON LAKE ST. CLAIR AND WE HAVE WORLD CLASS SMALLMOUTH AND MUSKIE FISHING WITH BETTER THAN AVERAGE LARGEMOUTH AND WALLEYE. THERE A NUMBER OF INLAND LAKES TO CHOOSE FROM WITH GOOD LARGEMOUTH FISHING.
WE ALSO HAVE PRO SPORTS TEAMS IN HOCKEY, BASKETBALL,BASEBALL, AND FOOTBALL (ALTHOUGH WE TRY NOT TO GET TOO FRUSTRATED WITH THE LIONS AND TIGERS). COUNTLESS MALLS AND MUSEUMS.
Captain Cali reply :
I was going to say Hawai'i but it's freshwater only. 79-85* average air temp year round. I have no clue what the freshwater fishing is like over there. Anywhere warm would work for me. I can't stand the cold, anything below 50. 
Landis76 reply :
KANSAS!!!!
Just kiddin.
I'd have to say east TX as well. But I am partial to bass fishing. I'd like to live down there cuz it's easier to fish all year round.
mike22 reply :
For the best multi-species area, I would say Oneida or Vilas Co. in northern Wisconsin or the Leech Lake area in Minnesota.
FlyRod reply :
Danica Patrick's hot tub.
Landis76 reply :
QuoteDanica Patrick's hot tub.
GENIUS
flechero reply :
If you can tolerate the mid summer heat, Central Tx is a great area. I live about an hour north of Austin. Belton Lake has LM, SM, spotted bass, whites, hybrid striped, crappie, catfish and panfish. Within an hour or hour and a half drive you can also have rainbow trout, Stripers, walleye, landlocked redfish (2 different places) and tilapia. You won't have a chance at a record trout or walleye, but the numbers are good in all the listed species. (I can't speak from experience with walleye, I've not fished for them here, just know others that have) With the diversity of shallow and deep lakes and power plant lakes, you can fish spawn from December through early May if you want. You'll also have a good variety of lake types, from deep clear rocky bluff lakes, to shallow stumpy hydrilla and weed filled dark water lakes or anything in between... take your pick.
You'll have Austin just south, Dallas/Ft.Wworth area is 2 hours north, Fork is 2 1/2 hours, the coast (Gulf of Mexico) is only a few hours away. I ended up here purely by luck. And I don't think you'll ever get me to leave! I only wish we had musky... but I need a reason to go north once in a while! ;D
If you are a hunter, there are tons of opportunities for almost anything you want to hunt.
But if big Smallmouth are your favorite, you'll need to look at Roadwarrior's post again. Our SM don't get as big.
ksdog reply :
Interesting....
cart7t reply :
Bassmaster has got an a 2 part series going on the best cities with the best close-by fishing.
I can tell you one thing
Scratch St. Louis off your list if it's on there! ;D
I'd suggest Springfield Missouri. Nice, smaller town. Fairly cheap housing.
Home of Bass Pro Shops
Lakes close by:
Table Rock - Largemouth, Smallmouth and KY bass fishing. Pretty good white bass action.
Taneycomo - Trout
Bull Shoals - Largemouth, Smallmouth, Stripers, Walleye and a nice spring white bass run.
Stockton - Largemouth, Smallmouth
Pomme De Terre - The ozarks hidden jewel - Good Largemouth and Muskie
Within 100 miles
Truman - Largemouth, Crappie
Lake of the Ozark - Largemouth and Party Cove
Norfolk - Stripers, Walleye, LM bass.
Beaver - Stripers
ball_coach_1 reply :
The key phrase to me would multi-species BASS able to fish YEAR ROUND...
...then my opinion would be Tennessee or Northern Alabama.
se bass tian reply :
i have always wondered how north carolina is for bass fihing
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