I am now retired and looking to move back to Texas after many years. My question is where would you move to if you could start over again and just LOVED CRAPPIE FISHING ?? I will be selling my home in Birmingham, Alabama this year and want to buy a place on the water of the best crappie lake. SO--if you could choose a lake that has great crappie fishing, which would it be. I am going to be around San Marcos for a family wedding the first week in May and plan on spending a few weeks to scout out places and lake real estate while there. Born in a small town near Abilene many years ago and don't really want to live in that area even though I have spent many a great weekend on Lake Leon. PLease take the time and give me some ideas. Thanks in advance for your time, Randy in Alabama

I would look at Lake Fork. Lake levels stay pretty constant for North Texas. Close enough to big city if you are inclined to go and a great fishing lake.

Only advice I can give is keep an eye on the forum and see who's giving reports of tearing them up and on what lake.

Cedar Creek, LOP, Fork, Rayburn

ANYWHERE north of I20. a tad north or east of Dallas would be ideal

I wouldnt put all my money on one lake, I would move close to a good group of lakes. north texas has some very good ones. also take lake level fluctuations into consideration when u buy , because u might be living in a 150.000 lake house and fishing off the bank because you can get your boat out of the lift.

I understand Leanin Post !! I want a place that is on fairly stable water level with a nice dock and boathouse. That way I can fish even later when I am too old to take a boat out.

Navarro Mills or Richland chambers .

My vote is Cedar Creek

For what your asking I would go with Cedar Creek. If you like to catch fish of all species I would go with Tawakoni. Knowing that Fork is just down the road would be a added bonus.

Reggie

Richland has the best of all .. Go fish it sometime ..
Do a guided trip .. U will see .. Beautiful lake ..
Big barn door crappie .. Huge sand bass ..
Huge hybirds .. Oh yea plenty of catfish ..

can we be PALS?

Gilmer, TX or somewhere around there would be a good start. You have a plethora of lakes within an hour of there. Fork. Pines, Bob sandlin, cypress springs, wright Patman, gilmer, gladewater, lone star, perky, welsh, Monticello, and caddo lake to just name a few off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more. I'm sure there might be a lake or two better than those near DFW but as a collective group I would think it would be hard to beat.

If it were me I would pick a small rural lake I don't do the crowded very well. Lots of smaller lakes with 99 year leases and pretty good fishing. Like some big lakes roll like the ocean every summer holiday and weekend. But then again your looking for best crappie fishing LOL I have spent lots of money on fishing but when it come to that large of an investment not sure I would base mine solely on Crappie. I live in Graham and I go to some houses on PK that cost on the low end of 2-300000 that would be 150-200000 on smaller lake but my 2cents is worth lots less than 2cents
PS I have personally known several people hooked on the love of fishing and after several years of living on the water never wet a line anymore. Not saying happens to everyone but it does happen to some.

Cedar Creek is a good choice. Main body of water runs north/south. Three major creeks run east/west. You can get out of the wind most of the time. Lots of houses (over 400) for sale on CC, many with good docks. Very crowded on summer weekends.

Palestine next choice. Major lake runs north/south and wind can be a problem. But there are feeder creeks that you can fish out of the wind. There are plenty of houses on the water with good docks.

Lake O Pines is a COE lake and no houses or docks on the water.

With the population increase in Texas, predicted to double in next 30 years, water is becoming a scarce commodity. Major pipelines will be pumping water from Cedar Creek, Palestine, Richland Chambers, Fork, to the DFW area. These constant level lakes are not constant any more.