2 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

 

Here's a very small version of our roach I caught on Boxing day. We were catching various small silver species, micro fishing with size 22 hooks, a size 6 shot and a 10mm soft plastic. 

Very cool, looks like a dynamite Bass snack.

 

The fish I posted is a Wild Golden Shiner.    You can also buy Golden Shiners at bait shops.   Typically, around here, you never see "Wild" Golden Shiners.   People just buy smaller versions of the one I posted whenever I've seen them in the past.  

Minnesota native and I can't ever seem to think of someplace that would be better than here..

 

I'd probably choose some place on the upper Mississippi.  Really anywhere from Aitkin to Elk River, so many good spots to choose from.  Otter Tail chain would be a very close second.  River smallmouth are the best kind.

 

I've got my eye on a few properties in these areas, I've already decided that if I'm going to have waterfront property it's going to be on a river.  One that doesn't really flood all that bad.. and if it is in a bad flood plain I'll just have tent sites on it.

3 minutes ago, Standard said:

Minnesota native and I can't ever seem to think of someplace that would be better than here..

Transplantee when I was 14 - but that's almost 50 years ago (can I be a native now?)

 

I'm already retired and staying put - though if I had the money, Lake George or LaPorte area (between Walker and Park Rapids) would be my pick.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Transplantee when I was 14 - but that's almost 50 years ago (can I be a native now?)

 

I'm already retired and staying put - though if I had the money, Lake George area (between Walker and Park Rapids) would be my pick.

 

That's still in MN, so I think it counts as staying put

Just now, Standard said:

 

That's still in MN, so I think it counts as staying put

I moved from New England (MA, RI) when I was 14 - that's the transplantee part.

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I moved from New England (MA, RI) when I was 14 - that's the transplantee part.

 

I just considered the 50 years in MN as being native.  If you've stayed put for that long in this hell hole that's the least you deserve

When I Google best lakes to retire on, several Tennessee lakes pop up.

My wife's business will keep me here " VA" long-term.

When I know a situation is out of my hands, I learn to become content.

I retired at 58 and have no problem finding places to fish but have to drive to them..... I'm fine with that.

Be thankful for what you have.

 

5 minutes ago, Standard said:

 

I just considered the 50 years in MN as being native.  If you've stayed put for that long in this hell hole that's the least you deserve

Even my wife loves it here now after 33 years....and I 'imported' her from SE Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area)

38 minutes ago, Standard said:

Minnesota native and I can't ever seem to think of someplace that would be better than here..

 

I'd probably choose some place on the upper Mississippi.  Really anywhere from Aitkin to Elk River, so many good spots to choose from.  Otter Tail chain would be a very close second.  River smallmouth are the best kind.

 

I've got my eye on a few properties in these areas, I've already decided that if I'm going to have waterfront property it's going to be on a river.  One that doesn't really flood all that bad.. and if it is in a bad flood plain I'll just have tent sites on it.

thats the tough part for me. the northern fishing, minnesota , upstate new york, wisconsin , just fantastic. but i hate the cold and dont wanna spend 6 months of every year not doing what i want. i love florida in winter but dont think i could tolerate summer down there. hopefully i hit the megamillion and can have several homes,lol

My wife grew up in MN and Ontario-lake of the Woods summers. Soon as she graduated from Saint Catherine’s,  St Paul moved to SoCal...no more frozen car, following snow plows in 30 below for her. 

It’s good some folks like the frozen north we are not among that group.

Tom

16 minutes ago, WRB said:

Soon as she graduated from Saint Catherine’s,  St Paul

As smart as you are, I knew you had to marry someone just as smart. St. Kates is a good school...my sister got her Masters of Library Sciences there.

1 hour ago, Standard said:

Really anywhere from Aitkin to Elk River, so many good spots to choose from.

St Cloud wouldn’t be bad. I lived there for 5 years in college.

1 hour ago, Bird said:

When I Google best lakes to retire on, several Tennessee lakes pop up.

 

Ahaaaa!!!!! So that’s why we have rolling blackouts this winter. $&^% you google!!!

59 minutes ago, padon said:

thats the tough part for me. the northern fishing, minnesota , upstate new york, wisconsin , just fantastic. but i hate the cold and dont wanna spend 6 months of every year not doing what i want. i love florida in winter but dont think i could tolerate summer down there. hopefully i hit the megamillion and can have several homes,lol

I been in FLA bout 2 days and I’m ready to go back to the snow 

42 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

As smart as you are, I knew you had to marry someone just as smart. St. Kates is a good school...my sister got her Masters of Library Sciences there.

Wonderful college and beautiful campus. No question who has has the brains, she spent a year in Rome at Loyola, brilliant woman that tries to keeps me in line.

She misses shore lunches in remote Canadian lakes with eagles and the call of the Loon. Doesn't miss the mosquitos and black flies.

Tom

You mentioned Lake George MN. We were driving back from Lake of the Woods and decided to visit Itaska were Mississippi River originates and letTommy at age 3 walk across the River head waters. As we drove south Tommy was sleeping and woke up saying he was here when he was George. Keep in mind Tommy was 3 years and the next turn in the road was Lake George resort! We stopped for lunch and will never forget it!

Tom

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Ahaaaa!!!!! So that’s why we have rolling blackouts this winter. $&^% you google!!!

I been in FLA bout 2 days and I’m ready to go back to the snow 

Where you at in FLA?  That can play a huge role, but generally speaking FLA is paradise this time of year.    Florida man is real however lol 

8 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Were you at in FLA?  That can play a huge role, but generally speaking FLA is paradise this time of year.    Florida man is real however lol 

Cocoa, Didn’t come to fish, although I’ve squeezed in a little. Everyone’s idea of paradise is different. We are going north to see some springs today 

I'd pick Maui.  I love bass fishing.  But I could learn to love saltwater fishing just as easily.  And waking up every day to beautiful weather would be hard to beat! 

 

And if I did get a hankering for bass fishing, there's always Lake Wahiawa over on Oahu.  It's got a nice peacock bass population.  But I prefer the pace of life of Maui.  

 

Plus, let's be honest with ourselves.  In last part of our lives, fishing will likely become very difficult, if not impossible.  My grandfather loved bass fishing more than anything.  But in the last 15 years of his life, he couldn't get in, out of, or stand in a small boat.  Even walking down to a bank wasn't possible.  It would be better to find a retirement spot that would suite all of stages I would go through.  That way I'm not stuck on a lake house staring out the window at reminders of what I can no longer enjoy.  

Salt water is far more physically challenging, and I don't like the 

equipment.

39 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I'd pick Maui.  I love bass fishing.  But I could learn to love saltwater fishing just as easily.  And waking up every day to beautiful weather would be hard to beat! 

 

And if I did get a hankering for bass fishing, there's always Lake Wahiawa over on Oahu.  It's got a nice peacock bass population.  But I prefer the pace of life of Maui.  

 

Plus, let's be honest with ourselves.  In last part of our lives, fishing will likely become very difficult, if not impossible.  My grandfather loved bass fishing more than anything.  But in the last 15 years of his life, he couldn't get in, out of, or stand in a small boat.  Even walking down to a bank wasn't possible.  It would be better to find a retirement spot that would suite all of stages I would go through.  That way I'm not stuck on a lake house staring out the window at reminders of what I can no longer enjoy.  

You are Haole, not welcome in the Maui as a resident only as a tourist. Great place to visit not so good to live imo.

Money not being restrictive San Diego offers a great climate and fishing opportunities with a beach front home.

Tom

4 hours ago, WRB said:

You are Haole, not welcome in the Maui as a resident only as a tourist. Great place to visit not so good to live imo.

Money not being restrictive San Diego offers a great climate and fishing opportunities with a beach front home.

Tom

San Diego and Honolulu have the two most stable average barometric pressure ranges in the US.   Whereas here in central Alabama it's like a literal roller coaster. 

What Areas in the USA Have the Fewest Barometric Pressure Changes? (unitedstatesnow.org)

 

I learned this years ago because I believe barometric pressure plays a vastly larger role in our own health than science has yet to show or prove.

 

If I could live anywhere climate wise it would be SoCal.    Dang shame it's inhabited by other humans ?

I'm 5 minutes either way to some of the best fresh or saltwater fishing on earth. so I'm staying put.

3 minutes ago, crypt said:

I'm 5 minutes either way to some of the best fresh or saltwater fishing on earth. so I'm staying put.

Yep, you are in a fantastic place for a fisherman.   

7 hours ago, Bankc said:

But I could learn to love saltwater fishing just as easily.  

Let me know if you ever crack that code! I’ve tried dozens of times, so far I’d bout rather take a kick to the groin 

6 hours ago, WRB said:

You are Haole, not welcome in the Maui as a resident only as a tourist. Great place to visit not so good to live imo.

Money not being restrictive San Diego offers a great climate and fishing opportunities with a beach front home.

Tom

I’ve got a customer that is from Hawaii, she recently went back to visit and said it was a nightmare and that rich people from the mainland have ruined it with traffic and garbage. She picked up garbage for about a week and wore herself out and injured her shoulder. She sent me and extremely long detailed email about it. You are correct, the locals have had enough 

1 hour ago, crypt said:

I'm 5 minutes either way to some of the best fresh or saltwater fishing on earth. so I'm staying put.

Which part of FLA you live in? I’m riding the struggle bus