Moray

I don’t like it when people reel lures to top of rod or even worse dangling when in my boat. 2 stories: This spring on a trip to Boundary Waters Canoe Area in MN my tow boat driver told me the previous day he had to do an emergency pick up because a dangling lure in a canoe ended up in someone’s eye. I was back in BW a week ago and one of my trip partners reeled an El Choppo to rod tip and leaned against a tree. Later that evening a ruckus in camp turned out to be a flying squirrel hooked to said Choppo. It was not a lot of fun getting the little guy unhooked with trebles flying everywhere!

Ganggreen, I was hoping to hear from you! Thank you very much for such a detailed summary of the area. You hit on a lot of the things we were wondering about. I know market is crazy right now and with SoCal house prices I hope we can make enough profit selling here to balance price of a lake front home somewhere? We are looking forward to visiting the area and will certainly look in to your other lake suggestions while we are there. thanks again Ray

Thank you for your replies! We have a place rented on Keowee for a few days and plan on renting a boat to look around. I had looked at Jocassee and would probably pick that lake to live on (We are originally from the Notheast and I love fishing for smallmouth!)if it had more of what we are looking for in terms of proximity to things. Have any of you fished Greenwood,I’ve seen it mentioned online a couple times? Thanks again for your info!

My wife and I are traveling to this area next month to check it out as a possible retirement option. I’m more interested in the fishing and my wife is interested in clear(er) swimming water and proximity to shops/restaurants. I’m hoping to get some local info and pros and cons of both lakes and areas we should check out? Any other lakes/areas that we should look at while we are there? thanks! Ray

My father loves to throw his Bubble Gum PopRs in the spring. Smallies hammer it!

I sure do miss my annual spring trip LSC! I had some great days on that lake. I moved from Indiana to SoCal a few years ago and sure wish I could get back there.

My wife and are looking at possible retirement locations and Lake James is on our list. Our plans are for lakefront property. I have done some online research but was looking for some first hand opinions on the bass fishing and the area in general. We will be visiting in August. Are there any areas or things you think we should look at? thanks Ray

California has closed most lakes. Those that remain open will most likely be shutdown by tomorrow. I’m bummed. Best time of year to fish in SoCal.The upside is the bass will have a great spawn with nobody bothering them.

Thanks again everyone! I appreciate the helpful members on this site. Looking forward to fishing a new lake and catching some smallmouth. Ray

Every time I do a search for Colorado River stamp all the info says it is no longer needed. Am I missing something or searching incorrectly? I just want to be legal. thanks Ray Colorado River stamp no longer required? Question: I hear that the Colorado River Stamp was discontinued for 2014. If so, what license or stamps do I need to fish in the Colorado River now? (Glenn U.) Answer: Yes, the Colorado River Special Use Validation has been discontinued. California and Arizona have entered into an agreement for the reciprocal recognition of licenses to fish any portion of the Colorado River that is the boundary between California and Arizona. With a California sport fishing license or an Arizona sport fishing license, you can fish from either shore, or from a boat, in the portion of the Colorado River that makes up the California-Arizona boundary and connected adjacent water that is the boundary between Arizona and California. Anglers holding California sport fishing licenses abide by California regulations, and anglers holding Arizona sport fishing licenses abide by Arizona regulations. This agreement does not apply to canals, drains or ditches used to transport water for irrigation, municipal or domestic purposes. This is what I keep finding online

Thanks you everyone for your help. I’m almost ready to book a tent site at Black Meadows. All other place are pretty much booked. I never thought about it being spring break time! I have a couple more questions that I can’t seem to find answers to online. Do I need a Arizona fishing license if I already have a California license or do I have to stay on Cali side? Do I need to have a boat inspection before launch and Is my California registration all need for Havasu? thanks again!

I’m thinking of taking my first trip to Lake Havasu in the next couple of weeks. I will be traveling from SoCal and I’m looking for suggestions for places to stay that are bass boat friendly. I’m not opposed to tent camping but would need power to charge batteries. Any and all advice or tips about the lake are greatly appreciated. Thanks

Are Watauga and Holston both lakes with drawdown?

Thanks for the info. Is Douglas a better fishing lake or the same as Tellico? Wow!

Do you keep a boat in the water year round at your place on Tellico or do you have to remove it during drawdown? Are there any areas on Tellico you would recommend for us to look at?

Thanks Choporoz. I will definitely start looking into Douglas lake area. Like you I’m a little nervous about the draw down issue. We are looking forward to exploring E Tennessee.

TnRiver46, thanks for your reply. My wife has been looking at properties on Tellico. Is this a lake that would require us to be on main lake to not be left high and dry? If I buy water front I want there to be water!lol

Even though it’s 4-5 years away my wife and I are starting to discuss where we want to live in retirement. We both want lakefront and have pretty much decided on eastern Tennessee. I was hoping to get some insight and advice on the lakes in that area. We are originally from the northeast and now living in SoCal. I have no experience with large lakes that have a winter drawdown. I love bass fishing of all types but really love smallmouth fishing so would like to end up on a lake with decent SM fishing. We want to start traveling to the area to check it out. Looking for suggestions as to lakes and areas on those lakes to checkout. Thanks Ray

Thanks Son. Really looking forward to getting into some smallie action. Weather is looking pretty good so far for next week. With the spawn being behind does that mean the blackflies are running late too? I hate those things! thanks again for the report! Ray

Thanks Son! I happy to hear they are not in post spawn yet. Look forward to your trip report. Ray

Hi all, I’m flying back home to New England from SoCal. My brothers and I are taking my father to NH for week of smallmouth fishing for Father’s Day. We will be fishing in Wolfeboro area but not on Winnie. Does anyone have any info on what stage bass are in,prespawn,spawn or post spawn? Thanks for any help Ray

Gotta love autocorrect!?

I have 2 of the Ci4’s and love them. To be honest I’ve always been a Shimano guy and have never tried Diana reels. I have 2 older model Stadics as well that have served me well for many years.

Thanks to all for the welcome! I haven’t tried DVL,Pyramid or Castiac yet. I figured it would be easier to try and figure out this SoCal fishing on smaller lakes first. The other reason is the inspection process you have to go through going from lake to lake. Silverwood and Perris except each other’s boat bands,not sure if the other lakes you mentioned would require a separate inspection?

Hi everyone. My father introduced me to fishing at a young age and I’ve been hooked ever since. I was born and raised in the northeast. I was lucky enough to fish some of the best smallmouth lakes all over NewEngland with my father and brothers,lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire being one of our favorites. It has given me a passion for bronze backs! In 2004 a work opportunity for my wife had us moving to Houston area. I mostly fished lake Conroe but did fish Sam Rayburn. Both great Lakes! I also bought a kayak and learned how to fish Galveston Bay for speckled trout and redfish. That was fun and very much like bass fishing. In 2008 another promotion for my wife led us to the Indianapolis area. In Indy I mostly fished smaller lakes for largemouths but did make a trip every year to lake St. Clair for smallmouth. If you love smallies it is a must fish lake! I fished Kentucky lake a few times. I also made it back home every spring to fish with family. Always my favorite trip of the year.In 2014 we moved again. This time to SoCal. I mostly fish Perris lake and Silverwood lake but have taken trips in other parts of the state. I have fished clear lake, Lake Nacimiento and Success lake in northern part of the state. I seem to struggle more fishing in SoCal then anywhere else I’ve lived but I’m still learning these new (too me) lakes. I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to fish some awesome lakes all over our great country. I just found this site yesterday and look forward to meeting new people and learning from the great fisherman that post here. Sorry if this was a long winded post! Thanks Ray