Hello all,
I have been on the westernbass.com website and there is a big thread going on about where is the best place to live and fish, California or Texas? I myself am a lifer in California and am looking to move to Texas soon. I was there a few months ago, caught my first Lake Fork bass and I would say my mind is made up. I was wondering what you guys would suggest about the best cities to live in the Dallas/FTworth area and beyond, your views of fishing and the state in general. Thank you in advance.

Great fishing throughout the state with very different types of fisheries too. Central Tx has a lot of clearer lakes with good smallmouth fishing in many of them and many of them as well as largemouth, Belton, Whitney, Buchanon, Travis, Stillhouse to name a few. East and south east Texas has more of your "classic" bass habitat with timber and various aquatic vegetations. Fork, Palestine, Lake of the Pines, Toledo Bend, Bob Sandlin, Cypress Springs (not much grass anymore), and Sam Rayburn are all good choices, there are many more though. North Tx (DFW area) has a wide variety from predominately rocky shorelines (Grapevine and west to Bridgeport) to timber laden lakes like Ray Roberts. Texoma is an often overlooked bass fishery but has a good largemouth population and smallmouth bass too. South Tx has a lot to offer, Falcon, Choke Canyon (grass and timber) and Amistad are all awesome fisheries, with many double digit fish caught in them. Not real familiar with lakes in West Texas but I do know O.H. Ivie, Hubbard Creek and Alan Henry produce their fair chare of lunkers and quantity too. Quite a few power plant lakes too if you like that type of fishing, Monticello, Fairfield, Martin Creek, Welsh and many more in the central part of the state. All in all, there are a LOT of great choices depending on what your other needs would be as far as housing, schools, etc would require. You don't normally have to travel too far to find good fishing in Texas. I think you would be hard pressed to find another state that offers as much diversity in regards to lake types and quality of fishing that Texas has. And the best part is, Texas doesn't seem to be as strapped with regulations as some places like California goes with access to water, times to fish, etc. I know all of Cali isn't like that but I do know they have some unusual rules in places for many water bodies there.

there is only one lake amistad

i would think the cost of living would justify texas over california. there are several great lakes to fish in texas as stated above.

Tyler would be great. 1.5 from about 5-6 great lakes.

Look in South Lake or Grapevine area. Centrally located in the MetroPlex and right in the middle of a brazzilion lakes. About 90 miles from fork and less than 20 to 20 other lakes.

If you are looking at the Lake Fork area then Tyler area would be a good choice. Not too big, not too small. It all depends on your preference for a large city. The D/FW metroplex and their smaller lakes are too congested for my personal taste. Tyler would not be too far for fishing on Rayburn or Toledo Bend, Red River in Louisana.
Personally I would prefer closer to Falcon and Choke Canyon. I love Rayburn but there is NO comparison to Falcon or Choke for fishing. Maybe someplace closer to San Antonio or South Texas if you don't mind doing without Trees. Lot's of Snow Birds from up north live down in the Rio Grand Valley. And I guess it would also be driveable to Amistad. The cost of living in the entire state is considerably less than California. Also, Texas does not have a state income tax. Do you want country or city/suburbs living? What is your major goal for the move? Is it fishing or other things. AND the major consideration- Is it YOUR choice or Her choice??? There is great hunting in East Texas and better hunting in South/West/Central Texas. Just some things to consider. Good luck on your choice.

welcome to Texas...
Have run into often strong opinions from fellow Texans bout Califionia but most always when asked, they say they never lived there and at best only visited the state. Texans "KNOW" Californians mostly from watching TV/news; not that much unlike many Californians "think" Texans are mostly all rich and kinda mean like JR Ewing.

I've spent years living in both states and found my cost of living in California was easily offset by the much higher wages and lower property taxes. Texas seems a better place to retire perhaps if you have unearned income and can get used to the property taxes here. Fishing can be great in either place but yes, the California scenery was incomparable. For Texas fishing, get prepared and dressed for the weather extremes... much more cold and hot humid periods, sometimes only weeks apart. It's bitter the 1st year here, but you get used to it. Texans will be more open to saying Howdy and sharing their fishing secrets once you get to know them. And the Tex-Mex and BBQ here is fantastic.

If I had my choice I'd live SE of San Antonio. Very close to Choke Canyon, close to Falcon, and even close to Laguna Madre and chasing redfish, speckled trout, and flounder.

Also got some giant deer(racks).

Texas, Longview or Gladewater, Fork,Bob Sandlin, Cypress Springs,Monticello,Welch,Quitman,Gilmer,Lake of the Pines,Lone Star Lake,Tyler,Hawkins,Gladewater,All of these lakes within an hours drive. HEAVEN!!!!!!!

i spent a year down there, it was nice but i still like the diversity of ne tx.

FALCONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I live east of Tyler an I hear an see a lot people talking Falcon Choke Canyon Amistad first of all show me sharelunkers from Falcon Choke An Amistad all together .Ok not downing Choke ive been there 3 times love the lake,Falcon twice love the lake, Amistad do not like at all,but Fork I dont care who u are guide,pro. amateur,any one,U CAN NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO FORK BY A LONG SHOT,29 out of top 50 biggest bass in the state plus record its not even up for ? LAKE FORK BY FAR BEST LAKE IN TEXAS PERIOD.........

Living in Texas is like living in a whole other country. There are lots of lakes to fish south of I20 and east of Abilene but if you like to fish Amarillo is not the place in Texas that you want to live. The lakes up here are drying up and the rest of the state is flooded. The closest lake to Amarillo is 30mi away and it is 75ft low and shows no sign of rising any time soon.

I would live close to where you work and even closer to where you want to fish.

Fork is a "has been" lake since LMB virus. STILL good but not what it was in it's prime. Those records don't reflect the current fishing on Fork. Same thing with Rayburn. The LMB virus really hurt, but both lakes are making a slow comeback.

I agree with Gtown.....count em'....and he left out
Winnsboro.:) There are some nice places for sale on or near almost all of these lakes. You would have to 'look' but there surely are some deals to be had. And, no matter what the weather, one or more of these ponds is fishable...everyday,
year around. Good luck and welcome to Texas!

east texas has some really good lakes: fork, cedar creek, etc.

DUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH are you crazy an im sorry i said 29 lunkers thats 34 biggest bass, out of 50 bass HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON FORK NO LAKE IN TEXAS COMPARES TO LAKE FORK. an fish over thirteen pounds a average all time FORK 91 percent FACTS SHOW.NO COMPARISON.

If its a has been why hasnt the other lakes caught up they never will LAKE FORK IS THE SH$$T NO LAKE COMPARES.......

East Texas for me hands down. Though I admit Hubbard Creek and Ivie have a special place in my heart as well and I could live out there too.

check this out http://www.lakehouse.com/browse_map.php?cat=45

Mineola TX Rocks

Everything and everyplace is good in Texas...except Gov. Rick Perry.

Nice link...

south tx-San antonio!!!!

u got lakes as close as 20 mins away and and some of the best big bass lakes in the country less them 3-4hrs, clear water, stained water, deep shallow, rocks, timber grass, u name it, its all here!!!! not to mention the cost of living is great here too!