we have been looking for a retirement lake house for a couple of months now. Big Sam was at the top of our list, well, until I fished sept, 23,24,25 and 26th. What a mess, as all three ramps I launched at were just about chock full. Now this was Monday through Thursday. It seemed as if every single upper middle class peckerwood, that was under 5'8" and lacked the physical prowess for even,,,,, tennis, was out in daddy's boat. Trash littered across the ramp parking lots, cans and water bottles floating across the lake, and diy buoys strewn across the lake marking whatever. Don't dare fish ANYTHING offshore, or you would have 1-4 boats circling and marking your position within minutes. What has bass fishing become? And what will it look like in 10-15 more years? 18-24 year olds running 80k$ and up rigs, blaring rap musing infused with profanity and lewd verbage all over the lake. I was fishing a creek channel into a large cove and at one point was down wind of two college anglers fishing the bank. They were playing some "music" that was way too loud. After I glanced over a couple of times one of them said, "He's saying what kind of music are those hood rats listening to"? Spoiler alert.. you are not a hood rat. You are a spoiled upper middle class 5'5" dork, that needs that kind of music to make you feel otherwise. If you need all that to fish, then fishing may not be your thing.


I am very fortunate and get to retire shortly after 50 in a couple of years, as i'm in my late 40's now. We truly don't know where to go for a little piece and quite, at a slower pace. We've been looking in nw michigan, kentucky, arkansas, ne missouri. We will be able to purchase a nice waterfront home and a couple hundred acres a bit away from the lake for hunting. With the 450k people just moving to TX every year from the other states, who knows how many from other countries, what will the state that I was born and raised in be like? I couldn't imagine not living in TX, but, man are we crowded.

The owner of Bass Strike Tackle said there was another goodly sized trnmt. that coming weekend, as well. With the west and south Texas droughts pushing everyone east, prepare for some tougher catching in a couple of years in east Texas.

rant over. Grow the sport!

I suggest you look for a private lake. Therr are a few around that should meet your needs of privacy.

Pull your panties up and get over it…

I was there for a Team Championship this weekend and my partner and I were talking about how few boats were on the lake.
If you and your husband want to retire down here in Texas, get ready for some weekends that will be busy with a lot of boats…if that’s a problem, please go north…and enjoy the winters…

How dare those hood rats go to a lake instead of sitting in their rooms playing video games!

Should there be a fishing lake just for anyone under 6’?

I'd move on to another state.

Blame Bassmaster magazine for naming it #1 lake in the nation.. both Rayburn and TBend changed big time after that happened. We always fish weekdays on those lakes going on about 15 years or so now. Went from hardly seeing anyone Tuesday-Thursday to crowded boat ramps all week long.

Have you considered Bob Sandlin? Pretty chill area, a few lakes to choose from, and still pretty close to Fork.

Falcon should be as quiet as he’d like, he can run around the Mexico side with very little “hood rat” music playing.

This didn’t go well.

never does

Did said 5'5" dork have a Turtelbox or was that the 5'8" silver spoon peckerwood hood rat?

There are many lakes to consider in Texas. One lake that comes to mind that doesn't have much development around it is Richland Chambers. From there, you can fish a number of other lakes within 1 to 2 hours drive.

If you don't want to fish around hood rats, I highly recommend you stay away from any lakes within a 2 hour drive of Houston or Dallas!

Yeah well, sadly other states don't want you either. We have enough folks moving in to get away.
I'm betting you can your nice quiet place somewhere in Texas.

I agree on the music though !!!