I'd like to find a fishing destination (a lodge maybe) up north where I could escape the Texas heat and catch some bass. Any suggestions?

well i dont know if your gonna get away from the heat in arizona but lake havasu has some AWESOME smallies in that lake, just a little suggestion

Look into Presque Isle Bay. Mark Zona did a feature about it on "World's Greatest Fishing Show". It's off Erie (I think) and is pretty protected from the wind. Supposedly the smallies stack up in there during certain times of the year.

EDIT: I found a link that might help you some.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassma...est_BMM0701_PIB

I went to Minnestoa canada border in June for amazing Smallmouth Walleye & Northern Pike fishing, got nice accommodations (wife & son along also)guide & rented boat for week all at one place, nice folks...I am going back next year.

http://www.fairlyreliable.com/

you can send me PM if you have any questions

Thanks for the tips. Gotta beat this heat but still want to fish.

I have been to Pine Cliff Lodge in Ontario, Canada last 2 yrs and am leaving 7-10 for a week. I had 45 smallies over 3 lbs last year (some on a fly rod). Great place,reasonable price & wonderful people.

Someone had pics posted from last summer trip up north. They looked to have a real good time.

I used to go to Nestor Falls, Ontario every 4th of July. Beautiful water, scenery, etc. I'll be honest; I would have never been able to afford it if it hadn't have been that the place I was staying was family owned.

By the way; you can fish for what seems like 22 hours a day up there. It gets hot up there too, though!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Saint_Clair_(North_America)

wikepedia on lake st. clair

That smallmouth fishing on the rivers near me are unparalleled. Take a canoe or a Riverboat and see some awesome scenery.

Was wondering why no one thought to bring up the best smallmouth lake in the world.

I grew up on this lake, nothing compares, and I've fished a lot of states. My PB day of numbers was 144, of weight was a 8.6.

Not to mention the chance at decent northern lmb fishing and the other northern fish worth catching: Muskie, Pike, Walleye, Perch, Sturgeon, head to either river north or south for excellent fishing, too.

PM me for spots and tactics should anyone decide to head there.

X 1000! I lived there (Ouachita mtn's) for 7 years & still didn't hit 'em all.
Ouachita, Caddo, Cossatot, Mulberry, Buffalo, Fourche LaFave, Spring, Little Red,
King's, Crooked Creek (this one was awarded america's #1 wild smallmouth stream in '95), Mountain Fork, plenty of rivers w/in 7 hrs of DFW. A canoe, a tent, and
a rod or 2 is all you need!
Upper Ouachita was always my favorite.
http://www.ouachitahaven.com/

good luck & post pics!

-B

I fished lake Erie this time last year for small mouth and caught some monsters! I mean a ton of 6-7 pounders.

I went out with this guy. he WILL put you on some fish.

http://www.braunsoutdoors.com/

Try this link..http://away.com/gorp/resource/us_river/ar/crooked.htm
for crooked creek in Arkansas up between Harrison and Mtn Home. You can wade fish it for miles and it's claim to be one of the best small mouth bodies of water there is. I lived about 2 miles from it for a few years, had some good fishing. But if you have bad luck, you can drive about 20 miles to Flippin, Ar and catch all teh trout you can eat.