I am an avid fisherman living on the East Coast who is planning on moving to Texas with my family next summer. I am a middle school teacher and will be looking for work, as long as I can find a teaching job we will be moving come June/July. Looking to get away from the cold winters and poor attitude here and live where the weather is warm and the people are friendly. I have family in West Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas so it will be nice to be much closer to them as well. I guess I am looking for advice as to what areas/cities might be good to raise a family. Right now I am looking at the DFW metro and surrounding north Texas but I am open to any suggestions. I figure I should ask the people who know what it's like to live and fish there. Crime, schools, housing, anything... I would appreciate any knowledge, experience or advice related to what it's like living in your neighborhood and of course the fishing. Thanks Texas Anglers, hope to join you soon

As a school teacher you shouldn't have any problems finding work any where in this state. West Texas is a good area but then so is the DFW area, East Texas, Central and South Texas. You should take the time to come and explore our great state then you can better pick an area that you like. Any place you choose to relocate to is going to have good and bad areas. It will be easier to point those out after you pick a location.

IMO I would stay just east of Dallas in one of the neighboring counties, Dallas schools are full of thugs with no respect for authority, we moved from Dallas county when our kids were born and have never regreted it, East Tx has alot of good school districts and even more good fishing. Just my opinion

I�ve lived all but 5 years of my 56 on this earth around the Forth Worth side of the metro mess. As for the DFW area pluses are hospitals, schools, jobs, shopping, entertainment and culture and the number of lakes, rivers and creeks you can fish. The negative side is the traffic, traffic, and all out numbers of people here. If I had your opportunity I would look at the surrounding areas outside of the metro area far enough out that driving some where wont stress you and you wont spend more time checking out at Walmart than shopping.

EAST Texas!!!!!!!

teaching jobs in Texas are getting harder and harder to come by
ask your local school administrator how many resumes they are receiving for each opening
if you want to fish, look east of the dallas fort worth area or south texas

I would consider East Texas as well. I grew up in north Louisiana, so that area is close to home.

But having said that, we live on the northwest side of Houston. The traffic still sucks for me working in towards town, but if you locate a teaching job, and can go opposite of traffic, it is not too bad. School systems are good, property values are good, and overall quality of life is good. If you need info on this area, shoot me an IM, be glad to help.

My kids both went to and are in college in Austin and love the area. The Round Rock/Georgetown area is pretty nice. Lots of TFFer's overs there as well.

Good luck on the decision, gotta take care of the family first.

Thanks so much for all of the info guys, this is the kind of stuff I need to know, coming from the people who live there. I am nervous about the traffic and just sheer amount of people in DFW metro and I would probably have to land a teaching job in the right school district as I am sure there are several bad ones. I am concerned about not finding work with this economy but really want to find a home in Texas. Cost of living seems to be much more reasonable than here in the east. I have spent some time visiting the Belton/Waco area and liked it, people are nice, Texas seems like a great place. I drive across the state every summer from NM to AR so I have seen the vast differences in the landscape. I like the trees, lakes, rivers and rolling hills of central/north east texas myself. Just looking for a good place to call home. Thanks for all the great comments.

Teaching jobs in the Fort Worth Arlington area are on the raise

Be sure and check out Arlington, TX (between Dallas & Ft. Worth). Good schools, friendly people and close to lots of good fishing.

The only drawback is that the city is neglecting the residential streets and letting them go to he-- and are only concentrating on keep Jerry Jones happy.

http://www.sanangelo.org/

Lots of good fishing spots close, i.e. Amistad, great schools and the famous 5 minute traffic rush.

Well since I live in San Antonio, I'll throw it in the hat. Great area, some good schools. It's growing but still has a sense of that small town feel. Good fishing within a few hours (Choke Canyon) and a couple small lakes close by that offer cats, reds, and hybrid stripers (Braunig & Calaveras). My daughter attends school in San Angelo, and I'll have to agree with throwback, I really like that area as well.
Now, with all that said, if I could live anywhere I wanted in TX, it'd have to be east TX just due to the number of great lakes out there, somewhere east of Dallas in a small town...

I coach at a private school. I will not coach at a public school.
If you live east of dallas smaller school districts. North Tarrant county has some great schools that will pay more than some smaller districts. Austin area is good also stay away from dallas isd and fort worth isd. If you live near the metroplex you are within 2 hours of some great fishing

Granbury,Eagle Mountain and Lewisville all are good towns in the dfw area with fishing holes. good luck!

Look into the Frisco, Propser, Celina, Little Elm, Aubrey ISD's. These are the newer school districts north of Dallas. They do not have the baggage that the Dallas inner schools have. Traffic is less here also.