Ultimate walleye retirement location

[Northtwin]

I am able to retire this year and my wife has agreed to make a move. I have been pondering the perfect location for my passion walleye fishing. I also like to ice fish for walleye, perch and crappie. It would also need to be an area that had good whitetail and duck hunting. Is there such a location? I have been looking at Devils Lk, Lk of the Woods, Rainy Lk and the Leech Lk area. Any suggestions?

[rebs]

I am able to retire this year and my wife has agreed to make a move. I have been pondering the perfect location for my passion walleye fishing. I also like to ice fish for walleye, perch and crappie. It would also need to be an area that had good whitetail and duck hunting. Is there such a location? I have been looking at Devils Lk, Lk of the Woods, Rainy Lk and the Leech Lk area. Any suggestions?

western new york
lake erie, lake ontario, niagara river, chautauqua lake, just acroos the border to canada lake nipissing. great location fisdhing all year around from boat and also ice fishing, short drive to the southern tier for excellent white tail hunting and all the water ways for duck hunting. we have everything you are looking for.

[jwhite58502]

Come to Bismarck better weather than DLAKE, great walleye, pheasant and deer hunting, not so many ducks right here but lots of them 1 hour north of here.

Great healthcare, strong economy even now and not to many people traffic etc...

Another option is for all of those same options plus no INCOME TAX look at Mobridge or Pierre in SD

[ALLEYES_]

Saginaw Bay

Tons of Walleye, The sky gets black with waterfoul and there are plenty of inland lakes for other types of fishing. Plus salmon are only a couple hours away.

[T Mac]

I am able to retire this year and my wife has agreed to make a move. I have been pondering the perfect location for my passion walleye fishing. I also like to ice fish for walleye, perch and crappie. It would also need to be an area that had good whitetail and duck hunting. Is there such a location? I have been looking at Devils Lk, Lk of the Woods, Rainy Lk and the Leech Lk area. Any suggestions?


Sounds like a great wife!
Where do you live now?...and how "rural" is your wife going to stand for?

[dutchboy]

Congrats on the retirement!!

When she said it would be O.K. to move did she indicate she would be coming with? LOL

Can't get my wife to move across town!

[orchard frank]

We retired to Bays de Noc area about 6 years ago, have not regretted it for a minute. Unlimited amount of walleye water, lots of good launches, good salmon, bass, and the perch are getting better every year. Lot's of deer, bear, and waterfowl. Winter is pretty long, ice fishing is a religion around here. Water is rough quite a bit, but the fish bite when the wind is blowing. We came here cold, didn't know anybody, met a ton of nice folks.

[Thebad]

Bemidji, MN or Upper Red Lake area...more water and public acres to hunt than just about anywhere.

[Northtwin]

We are in northern Wisconsin so we enjoy small town life. Lots of lakes but the walleye fishing has gone down hill along with the deer hunting (DNR?). And yes the wife is coming along. Who else is going to load and unload all those boxes!!!!!!!!!

[1/2 two fish]

for me it would either be in south dakota or central mn. northern mn. sucks as far as deer hunting goes. central mn. has alot of good walleye lakes great ice fishing good deer hunting and nice people. south dakota has it all. great pheasent hunting,deer hunting good walleye fishing. the only down side on south dakota would be that the wind never stops blowing. one more place to think about would be white fish montana. salmon, trout,walleye, mule deer, elk. ice fishing. etc. good luck !!

[bridgeman]

LOL....Move to Pennsylvania we need your tax money

[lund Jay]

Bull Shoals, Ark is near the top of my list. I could not believe the walleye opportunities that far south. Winter would not be near as long as in the north. Im sure the deer and duck would be good. Good luck on your retirement!:cheers:

[Koldfront Kraig]

The Dakotas.

Cheaper living and great hunting and fishing.

[bob oh]

How are Dakotas cheaper living?

[went522]

I am able to retire this year and my wife has agreed to make a move. I have been pondering the perfect location for my passion walleye fishing. I also like to ice fish for walleye, perch and crappie. It would also need to be an area that had good whitetail and duck hunting. Is there such a location? I have been looking at Devils Lk, Lk of the Woods, Rainy Lk and the Leech Lk area. Any suggestions?


Of those choices I'd pick the leech lake area. Or the Grand rapids area...basically the N. central part of the state has tons of good lakes to choose from. You mention the main lakes...don't forget about the smaller lakes, there's a BUNCH in that neck of the woods that have outstanding walleye populations!! The drive to the lakes like Leech, Mille lacs, LOTW, Winni, Cass, Bowstring, and Red is short as your "centrally" located. Deer hunting is very good, grouse is good, duck is OK. Get in a area like GR, being it's a decent size town it has everything you could need...or the wife needs. When retirement comes we'd like to be in the Grand rapids area...for the above reasons.

BIRDDOG

[stinkycat]

Devils lake is great for waterfowl and Ice fishing but that is about it. Along ways from anything and the weather is horse....! Bismarck is a great place. It is the only town in ND I would move back to if I had the choice. Great hunting, great fishing and the climate is much nicer. I choice N. Central Minnesota. Your thoughts on the Leach Lake area is a good one. Great fishing, hunting and not to far from other interests. If I had the chance to live on any lake in MN it would be Leach. IMO

[T Mac]

Well one place I would rule out completely is Montana.
It just sucks for hunting and fishing and the weather is absolutely inhuman!!!!.
Plus we have rattlesnakes and grizzly bears every place you try to step.
The men all smell bad and women are so scarce that sheep are nervous.
SO... cross Montana off the list.
You'll be glad you didn't consider Montana







:)

[stinkycat]

Sounds like a little Montana population control!

[T Mac]

:)

And it is ugly here in Montana, too;
;) ;)

[capnlee]

Personally, I hope to retire in southwest Colorado. There is still some relatively affordable real estate in Montezuma county and fishing and hunting galore. My ultimate retirement would be a summer place in Colorado and a winter place in northeastern New Mexico--open water and good walleye fishing year round. Retirement is about 15 years away, so I'm just dreaming for now.

[bob oh]

T-Mac I'll agree with the weather - just watch the weather channel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Xswab]

T Mac........LMAO!!!! Keep 'em at the borders!!!!

[Morton]

SOUTH DAKOTA !!!!
It is all here and then some.
Besides all the activities you mention I get to watch turkey, eagles, cougars ( on occasion ), elk in the hills, and the people are some of the best in the country. They are freindly and self sufficient and extreemly helpful.

It also doesn't hurt that I can honestly count Walleyes in the thousands caught each year.

We chose to move to SD and build our retirement home 5 1/2 years ago and don't regret one moment.
Our decision was helped along by the fact that there is no personal state income tax, We are on the NE border and can buy food without tax, etc.

Morton

[Explorer]

I/2 to fish,, How far do you have to drive to find Walleye around Whitefish. I was under the understanding you had to come all the way back to the Missouri River.

[Blackmacs]

Rainy Lake isn't such a great spot either. It's too cold to ice fish, the woman are...well not attractive, summer fishing stinks, and the only pilot is kind of off if you know what I mean.

[karpbuster]

Personally, I hope to retire in southwest Colorado. There is still some relatively affordable real estate in Montezuma county and fishing and hunting galore. My ultimate retirement would be a summer place in Colorado and a winter place in northeastern New Mexico--open water and good walleye fishing year round. Retirement is about 15 years away, so I'm just dreaming for now.
Sounds really cool. The time flys by, so enjoy yourself in the meantime, I know you will.

Not a lot of difference bewteen South Colorado and North NM. I would buy the land now, since it is so low these days, in 15 years you will have it paid off and ready to go. I would have thought you were going to buy a lake lot on Conchas or Ute? Whatever flips your switch. It is all good.

karpbuster

[capnlee]

karpbuster,

I actually have my eye on a piece of land at Conchas. It's not right on the lake, but it's pretty close--over by the Dam Korner store. I can't buy it just yet. I am working on getting everything else paid off before I invest. In the meantime I am sharing rent on one of those lots by the north campground. My buddy has his camp trailer there now, but everyone has to move their trailers out of there by May 2010. I think they are going to expand the campground. Land in Southwest Colorado will only happen if the right situation comes up in the next few years.

I am headed back down to Elephant Butte to do some striper fishing this weekend. Come on down if you get a chance. I'll be there Saturday through Monday...maybe even through Tuesday if the fishing is good.

[karpbuster]

karpbuster,

I actually have my eye on a piece of land at Conchas. It's not right on the lake, but it's pretty close--over by the Dam Korner store. I can't buy it just yet. I am working on getting everything else paid off before I invest. In the meantime I am sharing rent on one of those lots by the north campground. My buddy has his camp trailer there now, but everyone has to move their trailers out of there by May 2010. I think they are going to expand the campground. Land in Southwest Colorado will only happen if the right situation comes up in the next few years.

I am headed back down to Elephant Butte to do some striper fishing this weekend. Come on down if you get a chance. I'll be there Saturday through Monday...maybe even through Tuesday if the fishing is good.
My brother has a buddy who lives near Conchas lake he loves it there. It is off the beaten path and the sky and land is very unique there really beautiful. I think Conchas is a better looking, better fishing place than Ute, but Ute is always at high pool (recreation lake).

Thanks for the offer. I can't go this weekend, I have my daughter's and wife's birthdays and my other daughter's graduation from UNM (Dec 18, 19 and 21st). Hmmm maybe Monday?

Have fun and catch some big ones, let me know how it goes. You should be by yourself down there after the weather and perfect timing of the shoppers. A really great idea.

karpbuster

[RDJ]

for me it would either be in south dakota or central mn. northern mn. sucks as far as deer hunting goes. central mn. has alot of good walleye lakes great ice fishing good deer hunting and nice people. south dakota has it all. great pheasent hunting,deer hunting good walleye fishing. the only down side on south dakota would be that the wind never stops blowing. one more place to think about would be white fish montana. salmon, trout,walleye, mule deer, elk. ice fishing. etc. good luck !!

No Walleye close to Whitefish MT..Your at least a couple hours from fishable populations of eyes and 4-5 hours from decent fishing..Farther yet to good fishing, either East or West...Peck or Columbia..Pretty place to live though and all the other things mentioned are close at hand..

RJ in Missoula..

[Small Fish On]

Webster South Dakota (good walleye fishing, great duck hunting), Baudette MN (great walleye fishing, good duck hunting). Would be my two top picks.

[Bill Krejca]

:)

And it is ugly here in Montana, too;
;) ;)

Wow, pretty gruesome - I'm glad I live in scenic Iowa.

Bill Krejca

[Hot Runr Guy]

Well one place I would rule out completely is Montana.
It just sucks for hunting and fishing and the weather is absolutely inhuman!!!!.
Plus we have rattlesnakes and grizzly bears every place you try to step.
The men all smell bad and women are so scarce that sheep are nervous.
SO... cross Montana off the list.
You'll be glad you didn't consider Montana







:)
I see that new job as Montana's state tourism director is working out real well, eh?
Have a great Christmas Ter.
HRG

[T Mac]

I see that new job as Montana's state tourism director is working out real well, eh?
Have a great Christmas Ter.
HRG


By Golly...now there's a thought!

Could I use you for a reference...?
:)

Merry Chrstmas yourself, Terry.

Terry

[Devils Lake Resident]

The seasons of Devils Lake.

We'll start in January.....
Walleye & perch fishing most every day. Also, some awesome pike fishing along with spearing.
Hunting fox and coyotes during the day.
Hunting fox and coyotes at night during the full moon. A totally AWESOME experience.

February......
Walleye & perch fishing most every day. Also, some awesome pike fishing along with spearing.
Hunting fox and coyotes during the day.
Hunting fox and coyotes at night during the full moon. A totally AWESOME experience.

March.....
Fishing in much warmer temps for jumbo perch and hawg walleyes as they get ready for the spawn.
The start of open water shore fishing for pike and walleyes as coulees and bridge areas start to open.

April.....
Possibly some ice fishing, but mostly shore fishing at the beginning of the month and open water fishing towards the end.

May.....
Spring snow goose season. No limits, electronic calls, all day hunting, no plugs... NON STOP action!!! Some of the funnest goose hunting you'll ever do!!!

May - August......
Some of the best walleye, pike, and bass fishing the country has to offer!!!

August......
The start of bow season. With corn and beans increasing in the area, buck size has increased dramatically.
Early Canada goose (honker) season. Numbers are high and action is non-stop

September.....
Dove hunting opens and you can expect some excellent dove hunting as you practice up for the other seasons.
Early Canada goose season still open.
Grouse and partridge season offer some excellent upland game hunting.
Sandhill Crane opens with good numbers with 1/2 to 1 hour drive. Like shooting B52's out of the sky!!!
Early duck season for residents and opening of regular duck and goose season.

October......
Duck and snow goose hunting reigns.
Excellent fall walleye bite with very little pressure.
Pheasant opener. A few in the area, but drive an hour or so and you can expect limits.

November......
Opening deer gun & muzzleloader season. Excellent deer populations with increasing trophy numbers due to corn and beans becoming more predominant in the area.
Excellent late season mallard and blue bill hunting.
Some years the start of ice fishing season.

December.....
Opening ice fishing
Late season bow deer
Pheasant
Fox & Coyote

Only downfall is COLD winters. Buy a remote start, some nice warm clothes, and enjoy hunting and/or fishing year around without all the crowds of the more populated areas.

[Phil T]

"Retirement" is the key word. Aging is an accelerating process. There's a lot more difference between 60 and 75 than between 40 and 55.

You'll eventually need easy access to a hospital that can at least provide enough emergency service to transport you to a bigger hospital. That would eliminate, for example, Walker, MN, but favor Park Rapids or Bemidji.
You'll also choose a residence that's easy for emergency services to find. Forget the remote cabin life.
You may also want a town with a decent auto dealership, marine service, and both grocery and drug stores.
Now, check out all the recommendations you've gotten and view them with a practical eye.

[karpbuster]

"Retirement" is the key word. Aging is an accelerating process. There's a lot more difference between 60 and 75 than between 40 and 55.

You'll eventually need easy access to a hospital that can at least provide enough emergency service to transport you to a bigger hospital. That would eliminate, for example, Walker, MN, but favor Park Rapids or Bemidji.
You'll also choose a residence that's easy for emergency services to find. Forget the remote cabin life.
You may also want a town with a decent auto dealership, marine service, and both grocery and drug stores.
Now, check out all the recommendations you've gotten and view them with a practical eye.
You know when your old when the realtors bring up the fact that a hospital is so many miles away. But good call.

karpbuster

[hgmeyer]

Enough said... You'll have everything within a relatively short drive. If cost is a factor try the East side of Lake Winnebago..

[kjtruax]

LOTW has got to be the greatest retirement location on earth, still have a while before I retire, but that's where I'm going. Agree, sounds like a great wife; a keeper.

[Heron]

Somewhere I could fish open water year round for sure. Have to have a river near by or be on a river as well. Would rather fish for river eyes any day.

[Raybob]

"Retirement" is the key word. Aging is an accelerating process. There's a lot more difference between 60 and 75 than between 40 and 55.

You'll eventually need easy access to a hospital that can at least provide enough emergency service to transport you to a bigger hospital. That would eliminate, for example, Walker, MN, but favor Park Rapids or Bemidji.
You'll also choose a residence that's easy for emergency services to find. Forget the remote cabin life.
You may also want a town with a decent auto dealership, marine service, and both grocery and drug stores.
Now, check out all the recommendations you've gotten and view them with a practical eye.

I agree Phil T ~ I tried to put alot of fore-thought into my retirement location to enjoy it to the max by looking from alot of perspectives before I retired. This reminds me of a post I made awhile back...
04-14-2007, 12:04 PM

RE: Would you rather have a house on a river or lake?

I luv livin' on a lake w/a stable water level/pool. Now that I'm old & retired I have no-more long lines at the launch ramps & the hassels of trailering a boat as the bod slowly goes south ~ just hit the button on the boathouse lift & drop the I-boat into the water-- also select a large body of water w/good fishin', clubs, Gas, food & etc on the water so you don't get that trapped on one lake thingy :)

-learn to entertain friends & family along w/home chores on the yahoo weekends & fish each & every peaceful weekday to it's fullest on a lake you can almost call your own!

Sure Taxes go up on a waterfront, but not as much as Property Value by a long-shot! I'll be leavin' my 4 children more buck$ w/the waterfront than I would have w/buck$ in the Bank, CDs --whatever...I'm sure reapin' the rewards of a waterfront home in my twilight dayz that was paid off & totally remodeled maint-free before I retired......... One decision I had to make long ago was do I want to live on Erie & chase "non-Blow-day" schooly Walleyes -or- live inland & chase "Everyday" structure Saugeyes...

BTW ... if you wake up between Midnite & Dawn for a 'wiz-break all you have to do is step outside & hit the button for the nite-bite. Also I feed the I-boat more Gas than I do the Suburban in the softwater months :) :)

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45144&highlight=river+lake%3F+house

[srj]

I'm into my 4th year of retirement now. I live just north of Bemidji and fish/hunt all the locations you have mentioned. I don't mind driving a bit to hot seasonal bites or flights and there are dozens of lakes within a few minutes of Bemidji proper, most of them good to excellent walleye lakes. Drive a bit farther--20 minutes to Cass and the chain, 40 minutes to Winnie and Leech, 2 hours to Rainy and Lake of the Woods--my two favorites. And 2 hours to the Canada border.

The deer hunting here is very good. Lots of deer. The duck hunting ranges from fair to very good, depending on the year and migration patterns as well as the local wild rice crop. Goose hunting is good. Waterfowl hunting gets better a bit west of Bemidji where you leave the woodlands and enter the flatlands--Red River Valley prairie land.

Bemidji is kind of a big small town--12500 or so. Sometimes seems too big, sometimes too small. College, malls, shopping, major hospital/medical center, etc. Missing a really good restaurant, however.

Housing, as in most locales, has taken a hit this last year. Even lake homes are selling at a reduced price occasionally. And there are quite a few available. Lake Bemidji homes are still quite high as it is in high demand. By the way--Lake Bemidji-6000+ acres, terrific walleye fishing summer and winter, VERY large muskies, awesome lake, awesome lakehome prices.

All in all, not a bad place to be.

Good luck in your search and best wishes for retirement.

[Crankbaiter]

I'm stuck here in Montana with TMac and I will just have to tuff out the griz and the snakes and the awful weather too.......but if a guy was wanting to take the wife somwhere South for say a couple months in the winter and maybe still chase walleyes where would be the best place? Cant be too darn remote (boring for the wife) and it would be nice to be able to wear t shirts in January. Does any place like that exsist?

[Xswab]

Been thinkin' that way myself lately....got an old buddy in NM, very near Caballo Lake that is trying to entice me. Says the Lake is full of stripers and eyes, but that is one long butt drive from here.

[karpbuster]

Been thinkin' that way myself lately....got an old buddy in NM, very near Caballo Lake that is trying to entice me. Says the Lake is full of stripers and eyes, but that is one long butt drive from here.
Caballo ... Full of eyes and stripers ... huh? Interesting, there have been some good reports of eyes there. I use to run past Elephant Butte to fish Caballo, but pretty much don't any more. My brother had a cab over camper on his truck and we would camp at Caballo and fish, now we stay at the EB Inn and fish EB.

It would be a drive and a half. :) I have driven from Albuquerque, NM to Winnipeg to go fishing, so?

karpbuster

[JiMinneye]

Because I live in Grand Rapids Minnesota I am probably a bit partial, but it is an excellent place to live. Growing progressive community, good(new) hospital, 1000 lakes in Itasca County with all species that you listed and more, some small lakes to fish walleyes on when the wind blows to hard for the big waters. Quick drive to Winnie, Leech,Bowstring,Sand,Cass, 60 miles to the north shore of Mille Lacs. 90 Miles to Duluth if you want to go to fish one of the Great Lakes. Mississippi River runs through the area with many miles of underfished overlooked waters, and 2 Hours to the border, Although I don't deer hunt I wish they would increase the limit as they are everywhere. Lots of ducks,bear,and the grouse are on there way back up. Friendly hard working people. A great place to raise kids. Good public schools where kids actually learn something. Crime Rate is next to nothing and wide open wooded spaces where the wind doesn't always blow. I just wish I could retire and enjoy it all... enjoy your retirement. Jim

[Nick(Ia)]

Tri Cities area of Washington, Columbia River, decent weather...always a "breeze", plenty of options nearby. Hope I get to actually retire and try it someday.

[bob oh]

I kind of like it on the shore of Lake Erie's Western Basin. Don't hunt much anymore but Ohio does have excellent white tail deer hunting (brother has shot 2 or 3 this year and is still hunting), pretty good turkey hunting and a lot of pheasant-hunting clubs :-). Also have excellent goose hunting but all the land is leased. Fishing is pretty fair and keeps me busy from early April to Nov. I don't ice fish and have decided this year to see if I like fishing Florida's lakes...

[wa11eye]

Northtwin,

Get out of northern wisconsin? are you crazy??? I spend great amounts of time on the Chippeqa Flowage and the in the national forest right next to it.

there are tons of deer and lots of eye's, crappie, and what ever else you're looking for by way of fish.
as for the deer, you still have it better up there than most state do(other than texas). i think you're crazy for getting out of there.

you never know what you have until you move. remember that other places look nice at first, but living there is something else. i live on the flowage for most of my summer and wish i could do it year round.

where in the northwoods do you live??

[wildnorthern]

Fished the chip for the opener. Was very slow for me. Love the area though. Just picked up grouse hunting.

[Backwater Eddy]

Devils Lake was my first thought too.

If winters are not something one wish's to get away from, the fishing and sporting opportunities never end.

Even on a snow birds schedule the fishing alone would put it high on my list.

[teamlund]

Door county wisconsin around the sturgeon bay area. Huge walleye and lots of them and when the eyes are not snappin gthe pike will be and they get BIG up there. You can even hop onto the other side of the penninsula and go out for salmon and trout on lake michigan, and dont forget abou awesome perch fishing:D

[Phil T]

This subject has been discussed repeatedly before. Check the archives in the old general discussion forum.
The key word is retirement. You will someday need access to medical care at least good enough to stabilize you for a trip to a big hospital. Remember, the aging process is an accelarating decline. The decline from 60 to 80 is a lot greater than from 30 to 50, or even from 40 to 60.
You don't need to live in Rochester or Minneapolis, or even Fargo or Bismarck. On the other hand, you don't want to live in Walker, MN, which doesn't have a decent 24 hour clinic. Bemidji and Park Rapids, MN have a small hospitals. You also don't want to live in a cabin/house so far off the beaten track the ambulance service will have trouble finding you.
Another consideration is distance to children and grandchildren. I'm 62 and will retire when my wife is 62. We used to live about 1/2 way between our two daughters, but the one in NW ND moved to Fargo, and the one in Fargo moved to Minneapolis. Almost all my relatives live in Oregon and I haven't seen them in decades. They dont count. Most of my wife's family is in Fargo. We'll be moving east in retirement.
As for fishing and other recreation, visit each of the communities you have considered. You won't be fishing 12 months/year or even every day. Upland, waterfowl, or even deer hunting also be considerations for me, along with hiking/biking trails and parks. I think golf is a four-letter word, so I'll leave that one alone.
Also consider crime rates. That information is available on the web, so you don't have to believe a realestate salesperson. Taxes and real estate value stability are major financial considerations.
In summary, retirement isn't simply walleye fishing. Life would be much simpler if it were.