How Far Down South 2024
BadContrakt reply :
Do you have to go to have "year round" bass fishing seasons. The wife and I are not wanting to stay in Minnesota for long (maybe a couple years at most) and no state in particular has us 100% convinced. Texas is very high on the list of places to live, but there are other states on the radar.
Just curious, if a guy were to choose a state with a great bass population, size, and year round fishing, which state would that be?
(Florida is out, we've lived there).
Tennessee Boy reply :
I've lived in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. In all three states, the bass are willing year round. The question is how willing is the angler. I'm willing to fish down to about 40 degrees, the average high in January in middle Tennessee is 47. Around half of the days in January are acceptable fishing days to me. I prefer January fishing to July fishing. The further south you go the more comfortable it is in January and the more miserable it is in July and August. I would recommend that you take a look at North Alabama. You have a nice selection of largemouth lakes like Guntersville, and smallmouth lakes like Wilson and Pickwick. In a couple of hours you can be on one of the Coosa river lakes and the meanest spotted bass in the country.
Sam reply :
South Louisiana.
A lot to do other than freshwater fish.
Check it out.
Are you retired so you don't have to worry about your career?
Alec McMillan reply :
West Georgia
greentrout reply :
Mississippi Gulf Coast salt and freshwater ... deep sea ... inshore ... fishing rodeos ...
bass fishing ... marsh locations on mississippi/louisiana border ... pearl river swamp basin and north... pascagoula river basin ...drive north potential for dd bass in state lakes ...
laid back southern culture ... great food ... great people ...
good fishing ...
813basstard reply :
South Carolina is a Native American word for Heaven.
Go there.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I fish year round in NE Kansas thanks to power plant lakes. Our open water season usually runs into December and they open back up in late February or early March. I'd go further south though. Arkansas has open water year round usually and lots of nice lakes with a variety of fish species.
geo g reply :
I would definitely go to southern Louisiana, don't ever come to Florida. We are getting too many here!
soflabasser reply :
Florida is full. On average we get +900 people a day moving to Florida. Go to Southern California, you can catch lots of big bass there. Texas is also a great place for big bass.
jbsoonerfan reply :
I live in OK and find it great for year round fishing. That being said, I would seriously consider TX, TN, GA and AL. If you can move anywhere you want, you will surely find a good landing spot.
BassWhole! reply :
When a guy says "don't come here" That's the first place I want to check out.
Catt reply :
Southwest Louisiana/Southeast Texas economy is booming right now.
Bass fishing aint bad ????
Hook2Jaw reply :
I would advise against South East Georgia.
I gotta drive two hours to get to a lake. 
Oregon Native reply :
Moved to Tn from Oregon ten years ago....sometimes wish I would have been born here....so many places to fish in such a short time!!
ohboyitsrobby reply :
We fish year round here in west Arkansas. There's no less than 7 lakes within an hour of hot springs. All kinds of different fish too.
Troy85 reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 7:06 AM, Sam said:South Louisiana.
A lot to do other than freshwater fish.
Check it out.
Are you retired so you don't have to worry about your career?
Sam makes a good point. Many times I catch bass and inshore salt water fish at the same spot. There is so much marshland available that you couldn't fish it all in a lifetime, it also gives boats plenty of room to spread out. I launched on Saturday at a launch that must have 200 trailers in the parking lot, and I saw 1 other boat fishing all day.
fishingram24 reply :
North/central Alabama would be a great spot for fishing and hunting. Love my Ms. gulf coast, lived here 50+ years, but it's just to hot and humid for me from June through Sept.
Koz reply :
In most areas of the southeastern US there will be a trade off - the winter weather is mild enough to get out there and fish, but the summers can be brutally hot and humid.
It also depends upon whether you prefer to fish from the bank or the boat. For example, here in SC if you like to bank fish then you want to be in the Bluffton / Hilton Head area where there are THOUSANDS of stormwater retention ponds that hold big bass. But if you have a bass boat it's just about useless there and you need to move further north and west to find bigger bodies of water with boat ramps.
BadContrakt reply :
Thanks for all the responses y'all.
I feel for that poor guy with no lakes within a 2 hour drive up a few posts from here ^^^^ OUCH!
Texas is strongly on my list. Like North Texas, Dallas surrounding area. Saltwater fishing is kinda cool but mehhhh... Lived in Florida and far preferred to fish the freshwater for the largies. I hear North texas gets absolutely brutally ridiculously hot during the summer. Like way hotter than Florida even. I'm hesitant... Haha! I'm glad I posted this though because it's given me a few areas to check out.
By the way, I'm in the car business. I'm not too worried about finding work but obviously wouldn't move somewhere without lining up work first. That's the least of my worries though. Finding big bass is my main concern! 
Jleebesaw reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 6:33 PM, Catt said:Southwest Louisiana/Southeast Texas economy is booming right now.
Bass fishing aint bad ????
That's a great picture!
Sam reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 9:56 PM, Koz said:In most areas of the southeastern US there will be a trade off - the winter weather is mild enough to get out there and fish, but the summers can be brutally hot and humid.
It also depends upon whether you prefer to fish from the bank or the boat. For example, here in SC if you like to bank fish then you want to be in the Bluffton / Hilton Head area where there are THOUSANDS of stormwater retention ponds that hold big bass. But if you have a bass boat it's just about useless there and you need to move further north and west to find bigger bodies of water with boat ramps.
...there are THOUSANDS of stormwater retention ponds that hold big bass AND LOTS OF ALLIGATORS, TOO. 
GReb reply :
Louisiana is sportsman’s paradise.
Took a buddy of mine from south GA into Louisiana one day and he was so jacked. “I can catch a fish and shoot a duck on every corner!” And it’s basically true
TnRiver46 reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 6:58 PM, Hook2Jaw said:I would advise against South East Georgia.
I gotta drive two hours to get to a lake.
You are going to need a for sale sign out front. Pronto. My girlfriend wanted me to move into a farm house she used to rent, I told her she’s was crazy because it was about 12-13 miles from the nearest boat ramp. Might as well have been in a desert with no water!!!!!
Koz reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 11:25 PM, Sam said:...there are THOUSANDS of stormwater retention ponds that hold big bass AND LOTS OF ALLIGATORS, TOO.
Yep, and that's why you need to be very careful, approach any foliage or cover with caution, and keep your head on a swivel when fishing. I've been chased and surprised by alligators more times than I can count.
But with so many lagoons and retention ponds even if you get chased off by a gator on one lagoon there are plenty more to choose from. There was one lagoon that I fished for a number of years and at most I could get in 10 casts before having a big gator camp out by my feet. But this year that gator moved on it it was by far the most productive lagoon this year.
EGbassing reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 1:05 AM, Koz said:Yep, and that's why you need to be very careful, approach any foliage or cover with caution, and keep your head on a swivel when fishing. I've been chased and surprised by alligators more times than I can count.
But with so many lagoons and retention ponds even if you get chased off by a gator on one lagoon there are plenty more to choose from. There was one lagoon that I fished for a number of years and at most I could get in 10 casts before having a big gator camp out by my feet. But this year that gator moved on it it was by far the most productive lagoon this year.
Are gators that prevalent in all of SC or is it just the area you live in? We were thinking about moving to Greenville soon..
WRB reply :
Climate San Diego average year around temp is 70 degrees, rarely exceed 90 a few days a year and lows in the mid 40's at night. World class fishing both fresh and salt water. No bugs.
Central California is a warmer climate and more rural atmosphere good fishing and hunting opportunities. Some bugs.
Northern California San Fransico north to Oregon border can be hot during the summer and colder winters, some light snow and more bugs. Bass fishing is world class.
SoCal were I live has fewer bass fishing lakes, good climate and over crowded.
Down side is the political climate and high cost of living.
Tom
BadContrakt reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 2:13 AM, WRB said:Down side is the political climate and high cost of living.
Tom
I'd be out of there so fast after living with those crazies.
WRB reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 2:51 AM, BadContrakt said:I'd be out of there so fast after living with those crazies.
California has nothing on Minnesota for crazy politics.
Tom
BadContrakt reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 2:55 AM, WRB said:California has nothing on Minnesota for crazy politics.
Tom
The difference is I don't live near the metro. Minnesota is all red until you get to the metro.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 2:55 AM, WRB said:California has nothing on Minnesota for crazy politics.
Tom
I've been noticing that......
WRB reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 2:56 AM, BadContrakt said:The difference is I don't live near the metro. Minnesota is all red until you get to the metro.
On 8/7/2019 at 2:56 AM, BadContrakt said:The difference is I don't live near the metro. Minnesota is all red until you get to the metro.
So is California until you get to metropolitan high populated areas, 80% of the state is rural with excellent climate. My wife is from Minnestoa, extremely cold winters and hot humid buggie summers. My wife's family spend summers in Canada and winter in Arizona ( snow birds).
You can relocate anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line for year around fishing, good luck.
Tom
Tennessee Boy reply :
There's no question that if you want big bass and nice climate, California is the place to go. The problem is, just about every piece of fishing tackle I own has a warning on it that says it causes cancer in California. No way I'm ever fishing there!
BassNJake reply :
I live in east TN now after living most of my life about 45 minutes from Cleveland and Lake Erie.
The summers in Ohio were worse for me than the summers here in East TN
The humidity was horrible near lake erie and its pretty mild here for the most part.
Although I only fish til about noon or one on the weekends, I'm outside working in the yard the rest of the time.
I'm about 2 hours from Chickamauga and pass Watts Bar, Tellico & Fort Loudon as well as Melton Hill all on the TN river on my way there.
I can go about an hour and a half east and fish Watauga or South Holston Reservoir. (both gorgeous lakes)
About 45 minutes away are both Douglas and Cherokee lakes and I live 2 left hand turns from Norris lake.
There's more lakes than I have time for.
Plus, there are a ton of creeks and streams that are stocked with trout
On 8/6/2019 at 7:48 PM, Oregon Native said:Moved to Tn from Oregon ten years ago....sometimes wish I would have been born here....so many places to fish in such a short time!!
The first time I visited TN, it felt like the home I was missing
BadContrakt reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 3:18 AM, BassNJake said:I live in east TN now after living most of my life about 45 minutes from Cleveland and Lake Erie.
The summers in Ohio were worse for me than the summers here in East TN
The humidity was horrible near lake erie and its pretty mild here for the most part.
Although I only fish til about noon or one on the weekends, I'm outside working in the yard the rest of the time.
I'm about 2 hours from Chickamauga and pass Watts Bar, Tellico & Fort Loudon as well as Melton Hill all on the TN river on my way there.
I can go about an hour and a half east and fish Watauga or South Holston Reservoir. (both gorgeous lakes)
About 45 minutes away are both Douglas and Cherokee lakes and I live 2 left hand turns from Norris lake.
There's more lakes than I have time for.
Plus, there are a ton of creeks and streams that are stocked with trout
The first time I visited TN, it felt like the home I was missing
A lot of great Tennessee reviews... What makes it so great? Where should I look to live? How's the job market? How's the winters? I have a friend here in MN that was born and raised there. We actually just call him "Tennessee" he talks about it so much.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 3:23 AM, BadContrakt said:A lot of great Tennessee reviews... What makes it so great? Where should I look to live? How's the job market? How's the winters? I have a friend here in MN that was born and raised there. We actually just call him "Tennessee" he talks about it so much.
The people are what make it so great! Where you want to live just depends on what you are after. Mountains in East Tennessee , hills/cliffs in the middle, and massive large scale agriculture out west. West Tennessee reminds me more of rural Indiana/Illinois/Ohio where you will never see traffic , with the exception of Memphis of course. It’s kind of like going back in time, which i enjoy about it. There’s also Kentucky lake out there, which is beyond huge and the fish are too. Job market is very good as long as you don’t mind sweating a lot. Winters are mild, maybe 1 or 2 snowfalls of a couple inches each year. It does get down to zero degrees or a little under on occasion but not often. One of my favorite things about East Tennessee is the wind rarely blows at all unless there is a storm coming
BassNJake reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 3:23 AM, BadContrakt said:A lot of great Tennessee reviews... What makes it so great? Where should I look to live? How's the job market? How's the winters? I have a friend here in MN that was born and raised there. We actually just call him "Tennessee" he talks about it so much.
It's the peacefulness, the people and the slow pace, even downtown Knoxville has this homey quality to it.
(I'm about 45 minutes from Knoxville)
Although i lived in a more rural area in Ohio, I was always working in the city or the suburbs.
There I described the feeling as cutthroat. The drive was always white knuckle with fingers flying and horns honking.
Everyday shopping in a grocery store was like black friday with the rudeness and the me first attitude.
The job market? It will depend on your field and I know nothing about how the auto biz is here. Like just about anywhere the closer you get to the city the more opportunities there are.
The winters are very mild compared to Ohio. The last month I was not able to fish was Dec of 2017 and I spent 3 weeks out of town that year or it would go back to 2015. I fished 9 months straight once in Ohio but 2 months were ice fishing.
the reel ess reply :
That depends on how hearty you are.
I'm in the SC piedmont and I try to fish year round. I'll fish in winter in good conditions. But, honestly, there are cold snaps that I don't even consider fishing. There are days, sometimes several in a row, where the temps can be quite mild. I see FB memories in December where I'm wearing shorts, kayak fishing with bare feet. But then there's Jan-Feb where you get the occasional day or two in the mid 50's with full sun. If you fish those, you're probably fishing for one bite, but it will likely be a good one. Temps tend to be 10 degrees warmer near the SC coast in winter. March rolls around and you get a week of 70's. You go fishing and clean up. You think spring has sprung. Then you get a brutal cold snap with sleet or a little snow. So you can count on 3 months where you can fish, but it's not much fun.
scbassin reply :
I have been in South Carolina since 1969 & don't plan on leaving. I fish 12 months a year. Between Santee Cooper Lakes & the Cooper River there is plenty of bass fishing. Plus the economy is booming. There are plenty of other lakes in the state that provide good fishing too.
JK Jake reply :
All of the places that have been mentioned are exceptional. I don’t know too much about other cities but the Dallas area is rapidly expanding, both economically and housing wise. Wether urban is your thing or not there are a lot of places down here. Like I said before though many of the previously mentioned places are rather good.
senile1 reply :
Any place with a latitude equal to that of southern Missouri and further south from there will guarantee you "year round" fishing. None of Missouri's big southern lakes (Table Rock, Northern Bull Shoals, and Stockton) freeze during the winter. The water temperatures in these lakes typically reach the low 40s during this time. The winter air temperatures should be easy for a Minnesota transplant to handle.
It all depends on what you want. If you want some snow in the winter along with open water this latitude is for you. If you don't care about experiencing all the seasons and want bigger bass move further south, but this latitude is where "year round" open water starts.
Ratherbfishing reply :
I have never lived farther south than Arkansas but I can guess that, with the exception of night fishing, deep south summers are pretty unbearable. You'll trade long cold winters for long hot summers. Or am I wrong about this? Seems to me that the mid-south would be a better compromise.
RB 77 reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 12:47 PM, soflabasser said:Florida is full. On average we get +900 people a day moving to Florida. Go to Southern California, you can catch lots of big bass there. Texas is also a great place for big bass.
No, no... you really should move to Florida, plenty of room last time I was there. I mean, there is an entire strain of Bass named after the state for cryin' out loud! That should be a slam dunk. I know OP said its out since you lived there before, but man you should see the renovation they have done to the state since then and it is home to "Florida Man" after all. A potential tourney partner. Haha...
On 8/7/2019 at 2:51 AM, BadContrakt said:I'd be out of there so fast after living with those crazies.
Yes. The politics, politicians and the following cronies for the most part in this area are bat you know what crazy!
On 8/7/2019 at 3:12 AM, Tennessee Boy said:There's no question that if you want big bass and nice climate, California is the place to go. The problem is, just about every piece of fishing tackle I own has a warning on it that says it causes cancer in California. No way I'm ever fishing there!
Yeah, good ol' Calicorny... Couldn't even buy waders online form Academy because of that nonsense...
JediAmoeba reply :
I wished I lived in Minnesota...
Armtx77 reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 6:38 AM, BadContrakt said:Do you have to go to have "year round" bass fishing seasons. The wife and I are not wanting to stay in Minnesota for long (maybe a couple years at most) and no state in particular has us 100% convinced. Texas is very high on the list of places to live, but there are other states on the radar.
Just curious, if a guy were to choose a state with a great bass population, size, and year round fishing, which state would that be?
(Florida is out, we've lived there).
I will toss my hat in for SE Louisiana.
I catch them all year long
Plenty of size
You can learn to catch Reds, by utilizing Bassin' gear.
Never shovel snow
Best food in the country
Ziedeco music
On 8/8/2019 at 3:47 AM, Ratherbfishing said:I have never lived farther south than Arkansas but I can guess that, with the exception of night fishing, deep south summers are pretty unbearable. You'll trade long cold winters for long hot summers. Or am I wrong about this? Seems to me that the mid-south would be a better compromise.
You know, mid June through the 1st, maybe 2nd week of October for ugly hot and humid weather here in SE LA.
Im originally from NW Illinois(Quad Cities) and by mid October, boats,jet skis, canoes, Harleys...etc are getting winterized and dont see the light of day, until April...late March if we were lucky.
Just one mans observations.
Koz reply :
On 8/7/2019 at 1:18 AM, EGbassing said:Are gators that prevalent in all of SC or is it just the area you live in? We were thinking about moving to Greenville soon..
I just moved to the Greenville-Spartanburg area and I can confirm that there are NO alligators in this area. You nee to be south of Columbia and near or into the Lowcountry area of SC before you start seeing alligators.
Alex from GA reply :
I live and fish in N GA mostly. I'm about 70 miles NE of Atlanta and the summers are hot and the winters are cold but the lakes are open. I start fishing before sun up in the summer and quit about noon. When I'm here in the winter I'll fish from noon until dusk if it's above 50. There are plenty of places to fish with the streams and lakes around here.
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 3:33 PM, jbsoonerfan said:I live in OK and find it great for year round fishing. That being said, I would seriously consider TX, TN, GA and AL. If you can move anywhere you want, you will surely find a good landing spot.
Yep. No bass here in OK, just minnows and bluegill. 
jbsoonerfan reply :
On 8/9/2019 at 7:51 AM, Harold Scoggins said:Yep. No bass here in OK, just minnows and bluegill.
We have no deer either! Lol
TnRiver46 reply :
On 8/9/2019 at 1:35 AM, JediAmoeba said:I wished I lived in Minnesota...
More water than land= fish paradise! (I don't know if that's true but it sure seems like it)
Catt reply :
On 8/9/2019 at 7:51 AM, Harold Scoggins said:Yep. No bass here in OK, just minnows and bluegill.
My nephew's 11 lb 3 oz!
I wanna say Grand but don't quote me on that.
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 8/9/2019 at 10:39 AM, Catt said:I wanna say Grand but don't quote me on that.
Not Grand, I recognize the shoreline, definitely California. No bass like that in OK, just little fish. No need to move to OK for the fish, waste of time.
Catt reply :
Seriously I would pick anywhere within a 4 hour radius of East Texas.
That would put you near at least a dozen of the top lakes in America including the G.O.A.T. lake.
senile1 reply :
On 8/9/2019 at 10:39 AM, Catt said:
My nephew's 11 lb 3 oz!
I wanna say Grand but don't quote me on that.
My goodness. That's one hell of a bass.
SeaCrow reply :
Around Gainesville Florida. Best of both worlds,, close to some good lakes and you can be on the Atlantic or the Gulf in about an hour. Plus you're far enough north to be out of the way of hurricanes. Not as crowded as south Florida either.
BadContrakt reply :
On 8/9/2019 at 8:39 AM, TnRiver46 said:More water than land= fish paradise! (I don't know if that's true but it sure seems like it)
Yeah you'd think! Lol it's mostly true but it's also the land of over-fished fisheries with maybe 1-2% of the lakes (if that) being managed for Largemouth Bass. This is Walleye and Crappy country baby!
Lots of bass. Lots of ONE POUND bass. 2 pounders common. 3 pounders uncommon. 4 pounders rare. 5+ is trophy.
DanielG reply :
I can't offer any advice on the fishing state but I will say this. My wife and I have a small camper and have not only traveled to but toured all 48 continental states on multiple trips over the years (except North Dakota, I saw SD and thought that was enough). Anyway, being in Maine we originally thought that we'd drive south in winter to find summer for awhile each year. Each time we did it we found that it's nearly as cold in most southern states as it is in New England. We've awakened to temperatures in the 20's in Mississippi and the Carolinas and places in between. We've found that the polar air bellies down the center of the country to the gulf. The only areas that seem to stay warmest are the corners like Florida and the southwest, Arizona, NM, etc. The rest of the country has it's own version of cold to some extent. Maybe the cold time is shorter in southern areas but it's still there.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 9/19/2019 at 11:57 AM, DanielG said:I can't offer any advice on the fishing state but I will say this. My wife and I have a small camper and have not only traveled to but toured all 48 continental states on multiple trips over the years (except North Dakota, I saw SD and thought that was enough). Anyway, being in Maine we originally thought that we'd drive south in winter to find summer for awhile each year. Each time we did it we found that it's nearly as cold in most southern states as it is in New England. We've awakened to temperatures in the 20's in Mississippi and the Carolinas and places in between. We've found that the polar air bellies down the center of the country to the gulf. The only areas that seem to stay warmest are the corners like Florida and the southwest, Arizona, NM, etc. The rest of the country has it's own version of cold to some extent. Maybe the cold time is shorter in southern areas but it's still there.
It has gotten down to zero degrees the last couple years in East TN. Luckily it only happens once or twice a year, I'm not a big fan!
Glaucus reply :
I don't remember if I posted in here yet but we're moving from Illinois to Tennessee come March-early spring. Illinois sucks in every way. Fishing played a part in our decision. My wife's sister is also following.
parkerg31 reply :
Central AL is the place to be. I have a lake and a river within ten minutes, and another lake within 30. I am 2.5 hours from Guntersville, 2 hours from wheeler, and 1.5 hours from the coosa and the Alabama river. Cant beat it
N Florida Mike reply :
Maybe Florida’s alligators are different but when I walk up on one they run into the water. I used to wade fish in the St Johns river for many years and never had any aggression from them.
But I would agree with the other Floridians. There are WAY too many people coming here.
fishing season? ???????????? for bass??
Buckeye Ron reply :
On 8/6/2019 at 6:24 PM, BassWhole! said:When a guy says "don't come here" That's the first place I want to check out.
And you will surely regret it every November thru April when you can get around due to the clogged roads. I moved here three years ago after visiting here for twenty years. My wife’s health was the one and only reason we moved here. Why anyone would want to move here full time unless for health reasons or some other quality of life issue is beyond my pay grade to comprehend. IMO of course.
Bird reply :
I've had luxury of fishing all over the US and my personal picks would be.
1. Southern California
2. Eastern Tennessee
3. Southern Alabama
Sleeper state ..... south Carolina.
reelfast reply :
I lived in San Diego for 3 years... don’t go there it is insanely expensive. Great place to visit, but not to live.
I moved to Oklahoma City and it is amazing: Inexpensive and tons of places to fish.
If I were moving somewhere where bass fishing was my biggest priority, I would move in proximity to Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend in SE Texas. 2 huge fishing lakes within one hour of each other. Both of those lakes have to be in the top 10 for bass fishing.
greentrout reply :
personally, i prefer smaller state and private waters where outboard engines are not allowed ...
they exist ... where i'm at there are days when i'm the only one on the lake ... no bs ... love to see all those folks go to all those top 10 lakes ... keep going there ...
to each his own ...
good fishing ...
related General Bass Fishing Forum topic
previous topic
most viewed General Bass Fishing Forum topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.