OK guys. After reading several posts today on the subject, and since I will be retiring in just a few short years......what is the most desirable small town for retirement in either central or east Texas? It has to be less than 30,000 people, near good fishing, nice geography (trees), low crime rate, not a "touristy" high priced place for homes, etc. I have always been attracted to East Texas although I'm not really familiar with it. I like the forests, the sandy soil, and the nice lakes. There seems to be loads of small towns all up and down east Texas. Of course, I also like central Texas and the hill country. But the living is expensive within a 50 mile radius of Austin. I live here currently. Remember now, the fishing has to be good and with a close proximity to the town. Thanks for your comments.

------------------
Ed Utley

"Catch and Reheat" - Don't Let A Nice Piece Of Bass Go To Waste"

Emory, then you can walk to lake Fork.

Hey now, I can answer your question.

Athens!!!

Population under 15,000, crime rate is low, your 30 something miles from Tyler if you need a does of a bigger city and the cost of living isn't that bad.

Lakes within a 30 mile radius of Athens are Lake Athens, Purtis Creek, Cedar Creek, Lake Palestine and Richland Chambers. You can't beat it. That's a whopping 105,654 acres of fishing, plus Purtis Creek is a state park. We are also the home of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Jason Hanson
Athens Bass Club http://www.athensbassclub.com

Lake Athens with water front would be best if you could afford it! There are so many great lakes within an hour of there. If you don't have the bucks then try Cedar Creek. More affordable, but the Dallas weekender traffic gets to be a bit bad. Every Monday morning I would go around my seawall and scoop up garbage from the weekend!

Athens is a good place like mentioned. It is still fairly close to Dallas so you get big city amenities, it is also close to Tyler if you want a little smaller town. Lindale right north of Tyler is also a good place, as well as Longview, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Huntsville. I am not that familiar with Central but Temple and Killeen is a nice area.

I would move to Jasper, Lufkin or any other surrounding towns. From Jasper you can be fishing at Rayburn or Toledo bend within half an hour from your home. Lufkin is a little further from Toledo, but it is also close to Lake Livingston, Lake Nacogdoches and Lake Pinkston. Lake Nac and Pinkston are two of the most underated lakes in Tx. Pinkston held the state record for awhile.

WINNSBORO,TX


------------------
rangerkev

Just got my new Bassmasters in, it listed Tyler as a good fishing place to retire. Hard to disagree, Fork and RC so close. Living between Sam Rayburn and Toledo would also be nice. Then theres Sulpher Springs or Commerce too.

Slew

[This message has been edited by Slewfoot (edited 02-28-2003).]

I would choose Mt.pleasant-Mt.Veron area- Year round fishing w/2 power plant lakes,30 mins from Fork , Minutes from Bob Sandlin , Cypress Springs. I've got some retired friends who live on Bob Sandlin & love it, Real estate there is not too bad.My.02

If it were me, and it will one of these days, Canton would be my choice. Half hour to 45 minutes any direction to the best fishing/hunting/camping on earth. Texas is earth, right!!

Lunker Luck - Billy

Early, your within a 60 mile radius of O.H. Ivie,Brownwood,Proctor,Coleman,Leon,Brady Creek and Hoards Creek. And its not much further to Hubbard Creek,Nasworthy,Possum Kingdom,Whitney,and Aquilla Creek.It is also about 25 miles from the geographical center of Texas.-----gozzie

I appreciate all the responses. On a nice spring weekend I'm going to take a drive thru east Texas and check out some of these towns. Athens, Tyler, Nacadoches, etc. sound like nice spots. East Texas just has a different feel to it when compared to other parts of Texas. It appeals to me.

------------------
Ed Utley

"Catch and Reheat" - Don't Let A Nice Piece Of Bass Go To Waste"

Don't pass up Mineola. Wet a line in less than an hour in any direction, much less usually. Large enough to have all the services, but has its own identity. Drop dead gorgeous country filled with deer and hogs. Check out Lake Brenda Estates, or just go out a mile or so and buy a small chunk.

ED,

MY WIFE'S REQUIREMENTS WERE: NO MORE THAN 10 MIN FROM SHOPING (WAL MART), NO MORE THAN 1 1/2 HRS FROM OUR GRANDKIDS, GOOD HOSPITAL WITHIN 30 MIN.

MY CRITERIA: GREAT FISHING WITHIN 5 MIN., NO MORE THAN 1 1/2 HRS FROM BASS PRO SHOP, MY OWN DOCK, GREAT FISHING WITHIN 5 MIN.,
LOW MAINT. YARD, GREAT FISHING WITHIN 5 MIN.

WE FOUND IT ALL IN GUN BARRELL CITY ON CEDAR CREEK LAKE.

------------------
GOOD FISHING.


ERNEST
"I LIVE FOR THE THUMP"

[This message has been edited by ERNEST PATY (edited 03-01-2003).]

Ed,

I would have said where I live but I saw your tag line about catch and reheat. I don't want another meat hunter fishing the awesome private lake that I live on. So sorry.