as I age. I think access to health care, and my circle of friends override my love of fishing.

I love fishing. but my proudest and most cherished are my friendships. I would stay here.

1 hour ago, bowhunter63 said:

Okeechobee for sure. Topwater all year Yes please

Caught an 8 foot gator doing that once!

I like @A-Jay thoughts on this - a spot for catching giant smallies and a spot to catch bulky largemouth - I also like @Swamp Girl thoughts on keeping it simple (and as a born and bred New Englander moving back in that direction is something I often consider) --- many things to like here in MN, including access to some wonderful smallmouth fishing - but after 20 years here in the frozen tundra (and before that Upstate NY and MA) I have been worn down by seemingly endless/brutally cold/harsh winters that last 5 to 6 months - it would be great to have (as @A-Jay suggests) a northern place and a southern place, but that is not in the cards (unless that lottery ticket becomes a winner) - so in 5 to 8 years I will most likely make a move to NC/SC/TN or FL (I have family that have moved there and they are pushing for that) - that intense heat/humidity would not be for me - I love the change of seasons but would prefer winter to be 2 months instead of 6 so NC/SC/TN might offer a better yearly weather balance

25 minutes ago, WaskaCrank12 said:

I like @A-Jay thoughts on this - a spot for catching giant smallies and a spot to catch bulky largemouth - I also like @Swamp Girl thoughts on keeping it simple (and as a born and bred New Englander moving back in that direction is something I often consider) --- many things to like here in MN, including access to some wonderful smallmouth fishing - but after 20 years here in the frozen tundra (and before that Upstate NY and MA) I have been worn down by seemingly endless/brutally cold/harsh winters that last 5 to 6 months - it would be great to have (as @A-Jay suggests) a northern place and a southern place, but that is not in the cards (unless that lottery ticket becomes a winner) - so in 5 to 8 years I will most likely make a move to NC/SC/TN or FL (I have family that have moved there and they are pushing for that) - that intense heat/humidity would not be for me - I love the change of seasons but would prefer winter to be 2 months instead of 6 so NC/SC/TN might offer a better yearly weather balance

There are opportunities to live both north and south that will allow you to fish year round.

If you can work remote and don’t have kids and/or a school system to work around opens up a lot of doors.

If you don’t have the finances or flexible schedule quite yet to own a home in 2 locations, think about keeping one where you want to spend the majority of your time (or for tax purposes) and consider renting a second place either a week here and there, or for a chunk of time (months).

Stash a kayak and a few rods in location #2 and transport your GPS between the locations.

Two weeks away from old man winter in Minnesota will do a lot for you more than just catching some fish.

If there’s a will there’s a way!!

7 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Two weeks away from old man winter in Minnesota will do a lot for you more than just catching some fish.

That's the ticket.

@WaskaCrank12: New England is pretty and our coastal winters are warmer than Minnesota's.

Somewhere where the water doesn't freeze in winter.

3 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

Somewhere where the water doesn't freeze in winter.

Then where will you ice fish?

In a great spot with year-round bass fishing and solid stream fishing in the high country to get away from the heat in the summer. But then again, it is still CA. Dream would be to live near a mid-sized lake in Northern Idaho with plentiful SM and LM along with the toothie critters we don't have in CA.

It’s pretty telling that most people seem to be happy where they are. I like that. There really is no place like home. I’m in that boat too.

I’ve lived almost all of my life somewhere along the Tennessee River. In east TN, west TN, and north AL. It’s one of the most diverse fisheries anywhere. It has big smallmouth, largemouth, spots, crappie, catfish, white bass, stripers, and many other species. I hope to live 100% of the rest of my life on this river.

My retirement goal is to move a couple hours north to be closer to the world class smallmouth fisheries northern Michigan has to offer. During the winter, I’d like to spend a month or two in Texas chasing their big largemouth. Maybe checkout Tennessee and Florida once in a while but mostly Texas.

I’d like to sneak in a Baccarac trip here and there too.

I would want a house with a dock on Bois D'arc lake in Texas with a boat. It's the next big thing around here. It's only been open a few years and multiple double digits are coming out of it in 2025+26

Myself I would prefer a warmer climate in the winter where I could fish for bass. And come back to Pennsylvania for the summer and fall.

Some of them fishing show hosts, fish Minnesota in the summer and fish Texas waters in the winter.

Unrealistically, SoCal where my buddies are catching 10-12lbers weekly right now. More realistically, NorCal or Washington for nicer weather and still giants. MOST realistically, I’m never leaving central Maine. I was born here and will die here. I don’t like crowds, people, or sitting in traffic. I like catching 30 fish a day. I like going to the lake and seeing another 2-3 boats. I like 3 of the 4 seasons

I’m looking seriously at moving to Kootenai County, Idaho for a number of reasons. The fishing is among them.

I’m staying where I’m at. Not that I love where I love but, I love having the susky.

I’m staying where I’m at. Not that I love where I love but, I love having the susky.