I'm looking for a place to go for maybe my 50th birthday with the possibility of catching a monster bass. I really like kayak fishing. Has anyone taken a fishing vacation they'd recommend? Private waters is not a negative, IMO.

I had a lot of fun kayak fishing a natural lake in NW Michigan on vacation once. I have also enjoyed inshore saltwater kayaking in several parts of Florida. My favorite is still East Tennessee rivers for smallmouth bass (heavily biased opinion)

You are kind of far away but, my fishing club rents a cabin on the shore of the Menominee River on the Wisconsin/Michigan border that we use as a home base for floating the river. The river holds lots of big smallmouth and is perfect for kayak fishing. There is 100 miles of floatable water so you don't have to fish the same stretches every day. If you haven't fished for river smallmouth, you would be amazed at how hard even a 13" smallie will fight, especially on light tackle. This past August, one of our guys got a 22 inch fish that easily went 6 pounds. Not huge for a Southern smallie, but a monster by Northern standards.

I see on their website that Beinville Plantation has kayak packages for about $250 a day. There's some big fish in there, and isn't too far from where you're at.

34 minutes ago, Preytorien said:

I see on their website that Beinville Plantation has kayak packages for about $250 a day. There's some big fish in there, and isn't too far from where you're at.

No and I've always wanted to get down to FL to bass fish, especially in late winter (FL spawn).

https://www.airbnb.com/

I just go to their map and look around for houses near lakes. If its a decent fishing location, they usually have a free kayak or canoe available. 

9 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

And I've always wanted to get down to FL to bass fish, especially in late winter (FL spawn).

 

Toledo Bend was voted the #1 bass lake in America two years in a row, produced more double digit bass in that time frame than any lake in America, & has over 1,200 miles of shoreline for the kayak angler to explore!

Briery Creek Reservoir in Virginia is well known for huge bass, and being in SC yourself, I don't think you'd have to spend a fortune to get there. I have never fished it myself, but I know a few folks who have. I just moved to VA a few months ago. I plan to make a few weekend trips there in the spring. 

personally i'd love to up north towards minnesota and slip the yak into some of those pristine natural lakes.  otherwise, i'd like to take a little road trip around florida!

boundary waters canoe area in MN is beautiful. I did 4 nights and 5 days several years ago. youre not gonna catch a monster largemouth but maybe a giant smallmouth or pike!

1 hour ago, bigfruits said:

boundary waters canoe area in MN is beautiful. I did 4 nights and 5 days several years ago. youre not gonna catch a monster largemouth but maybe a giant smallmouth or pike!

I know a guy who just went on a camping trip there. He said he knew nothing about fishing and caught the most and largest smallie in the group. That's on the bucket list as well. I've never even caught a smallie. There are some in the state but limited to one river chain. I'll try them some day.

lb for lb a better fight than LMB. and can be super aggressive feeders.

I also camped there and it might be easier to just rent a canoe if anyone decides to go there. If you go deep into the wilderness you will have to portage a few times and it is very easy to carry a light canoe with the built in shoulder pads. Plenty of good outfitters in Ely, MN. The one I used had free private bunk rooms to stay in the night before they drop you out there.

http://bwca.com/index.cfm?

PS - do extensive planning to bring the right gear. also, bring a few extra mountainhouse food packages  

On Friday, October 07, 2016 at 6:56 AM, the reel ess said:

I'm looking for a place to go for maybe my 50th birthday with the possibility of catching a monster bass. I really like kayak fishing. Has anyone taken a fishing vacation they'd recommend? Private waters is not a negative, IMO.

Sounds like a great way to spend your 50th birthday. OK, how far will/can you travel to the fishing destination, how many days/nights of fishing are you going to do, are you looking to fish just catch and release or are you wanting to eat the fish, what size kayak do you have? Sorry for all these questions but it will make it much easier for someone to recommend a location for your type of fishing.

http://www.theactivetimes.com/most-spectacular-kayak-fishing-destinations-us

 

https://www.rapidmedia.com/kayakangler/categories/trips/6878-more-kayak-fishing-destinations.html

14 hours ago, Hot Rod Johnson said:

Sounds like a great way to spend your 50th birthday. OK, how far will/can you travel to the fishing destination, how many days/nights of fishing are you going to do, are you looking to fish just catch and release or are you wanting to eat the fish, what size kayak do you have? Sorry for all these questions but it will make it much easier for someone to recommend a location for your type of fishing.

http://www.theactivetimes.com/most-spectacular-kayak-fishing-destinations-us

 

https://www.rapidmedia.com/kayakangler/categories/trips/6878-more-kayak-fishing-destinations.html

Well, I mostly like fresh water and bass fishing. I don't usually eat them, though they are good from the reservoir I usually fish. Just too much trouble to try to keep them on the kayak and paddle around a 30 acre small lake. I'd like to catch a PB so that points me toward FL since I'm in the Southeast. Bienville Plantation has been mentioned and I actually got in touch with them. The half day is $250, but I'd probably want to stay there and fish a few days.

I have a 12' Perception Pescador. It's the same boat as the older Tarpons. They bought the Tarpon mold. But I'll probably have a newer one by my 50th. I'm 46. The guided boat trips are the same price so hey, why not increase my odds?

The stick marsh and Kissimmee chain of lakes in Florida have a lot of PBs swimming around, maybe get some Golden shiners and fish the kicker trails