Jump to content

How far will you travel for a 1 day fishing trip?


Go to solution Solved by Bird,

Recommended Posts

  • Super User

I recently got into fishing from a kayak and I’m wondering how far y’all will go for a day trip, also how long is your normal commute for fishing?

 

I’ve got a couple good spots around me but the bigger lakes are a decent drive, lake Seminole is 2-3 hours away from me depending on what part of it you are wanting to fish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

Have a couple lakes around me with in 15 minutes. My favorite lake is about 45 minutes away. I have a few spots 1.5-2 hours away that I hit a few times a year. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

For a one day trip, normal is an hour +/-, once in a while as far as 2. Anything farther is an overnighter, come to think of it some of the 2 hour trips are overnight too.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The majority of my 1-day trips are 35 to 45 minutes away.  There's a river 1.5 hours away that I would fish if the circumstances were right.  I used to do some 2 hour away trips in the past to southern Wisconsin but not anymore.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

Longest I’ll go is a little over 2hrs. My normal drive is an hour and 45 minutes. So I’m pretty much maxed out at the moment. I’ll probably check out some closer lakes soon too

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve done close to 3 for a one day trip. I used to do 1.5 hours pretty much all the time. Now I am down to an hour or under.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My limit is about 1 1/2 hr drive and that's the reason I haven't fished Toledo Bend yet.

 

But that will change now that my new camping van has finally been delivered (after over a year and a half on order).

 

After my mods are finished, TB here I come 😎👍

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User
1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

Have a couple lakes around me with in 15 minutes. My favorite lake is about 45 minutes away. I have a few spots 1.5-2 hours away that I hit a few times a year. 

This is pretty close to me too.  A couple lakes are 15-30 minutes, another couple are about 45, and a bigger one that I fish about 2-3 times/season is 90 minutes.  That is my max for a day trip outing, and I usually pick up my Father to go with halfway there.

 

If I wasn't towing a boat, I might consider going a little further.  But hauling a boat requires slower, safer driving than without.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I rarely fish without a 45min - 1 hour drive.  I try to limit it to 1.5 hours one way for a day trip, although I occasionally stretch it to 2 hours if it's for a good spot.  Fly fishing in the driftless, I may start at a spot that's an hour drive but end up with a 2 hour drive home at the end of the day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

I have lakes/rivers within 20 minutes and the majority are 45-90 minutes.  I make a few trips a year that are about 4 hours one way as well.  As long as my fishing time is longer than my drive time I am good.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User
1 minute ago, flyfisher said:

I make a few trips a year that are about 4 hours one way as well.  As long as my fishing time is longer than my drive time I am good.  

So if you drive 4 hours one day, and 4 hours back, then your fishing time is at least 8+ hours at that spot?  That's 16 hour day or more.  That's a long day.  I wouldn't have the energy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User
3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

So if you drive 4 hours one day, and 4 hours back, then your fishing time is at least 8+ hours at that spot?  That's 16 hour day or more.  That's a long day.  I wouldn't have the energy.

yup I do it 4-5 times a year at least.  I leave my house around 3-4am on the water around 8 leave the water at dark and get home around midnight usually.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So I just moved. My old house had a whole bunch of small lakes within a half hr drive. I used to fish several spots that were around an hr to an hr and a quarter. Now, I'm about 3 minute drive from lake champlain. Depending on where I want to launch, it's 3-30 minutes. I drove 2.5hrs one way to go crappie fishing last weekend though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

I have so many great fishing lakes within a 90 minute drive or less I rarely go further. The closest is five minutes from house. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

^ Like John, I've got lots of good lakes right in my neighborhood - heck, the lake that the state record largemouth was caught in is less than 30 minutes away.

 

And Tonka consistently makes BASS' top 100 lakes - and I'm 2 blocks from the lake, 5 minutes from the closest launch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As you might expect, Florida has many fishing opportunities. So many that it's often a challenge to choose one over another.  These days it's not which lake is the closest, it's which lake has the least aggravation.  Our population has exploded to the point where everything is crowded.   Our boats ramps are maxed out even on weekdays. The Harris Chain has been beaten up so badly by tournaments that it's hard to find a fish that hasn't seen a hook.   Lately, I find myself fishing in smaller lakes closer to home.  Most of them are pretty good.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User
1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

yup I do it 4-5 times a year at least.  I leave my house around 3-4am on the water around 8 leave the water at dark and get home around midnight usually.

That's impressive.  And dedicated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User
2 hours ago, BayouSlide said:

My limit is about 1 1/2 hr drive and that's the reason I haven't fished Toledo Bend yet.

 

But that will change now that my new camping van has finally been delivered (after over a year and a half on order).

 

After my mods are finished, TB here I come 😎👍


That’s some dedication lol, Now I won’t feel as crazy driving 2 hours to fish Seminole, I’m gonna give it a shot and see how much of a hassle it is.


Edit: Meant to quote flyfisher’s post, did the wrong one, don’t know how to fix it 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Normal is 1 to 2 hrs. For same day. After that it’s overnight. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User
  • Solution

The wife and I camp at various lakes in VA/WV and stay for a week at a time, 4 hour drive 1 way.

 

I'll take the boat down couple days before and fish for several hours and then leave the boat and come back home.

 

After our week long trip, I bring the wife home pulling the camper and next morning have to run back down and get the boat but fish again for several hours.

 

It's a tremendous amount of driving and you may ask " why don't you let the wife tow the boat ?

Simple answer:

I've been with this sweet woman for almost 40 years and she could tear up a digging iron. 

I refuse to set her up for failure.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Global Moderator
3 minutes ago, Bird said:

I refuse to set her up for failure.

                 

 

                                                       Veronica Mars Wink GIF

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

2 hours MAX.,  hitting this lake tomorrow.  it is so remote (i have 45 minutes on a dirt road) it is rare i see bass boats.  some zealous boaters will drag a boat up the jeep trail, and they keep it maintained well..but what a dust-fest.  the boats get so dirty.   none of my kayak buddies are willing to subject their new trucks to the dust.  losers!  :D

 

down side, if i flip over..the chances of a help is remote. i better be able to save my own butt.  :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...