We are tossing around the idea of moving from the Grand Rapids area to Midland or Bay City to get closer to family Wondering what I’m going to run up against when trying to find new fishing spots.
I’m a multi-species, multi-technique Fisherman. Spinning, baitcasting, fly fishing, pier fishing, surf fishing, ice fishing, from shore, wading, or boating. I’ve already started Google mapping any lake and river accesses I will likely try, but the pickings seem quite a bit thinner than my current area. In the Grand Rapids area I have MANY lakes I can quickly and easily take my 14” aluminum to looking for panfish, bass, and pike. The countryside is littered with them, just need to choose and explore. Quick and easy access to rivers and streams for trout and catfish, also steelhead and salmon if timed right. Close to a pier town where I can target salmon, steelhead, and whitefish.
Am I in for a rude awaking when we move? Looks like I’ll be driving a bit, compared to what I’m used to, to find a nice small to medium sized lake to use my boat, or to wade for trout. May need to travel a distance to find some edible catfish? Saginaw river is all “beware, don’t put that in your mouth”. The Tittabawassee in the same condition?
Or will moving to this area, if I want to fish locally that is, mean I just need to simply upgrade to a much bigger boat and start eye’n the bay?
I have my tried and true distant spots that won’t change, distant now, similar distance after the move. But it’s the local fishing I’m mostly worried about. Right now I have my pick of quick and easy spots to get to... a dock on a great largemouth lake, or an easy ramp that’s rarely packed on a lake. A nice balance between “honey, I’m going to run to the lake for a few” and of course the full blow day events. I’m a little worried about losing the quick next door fishing trips... that ALL of my future trips will need to be full blown day long productions due to distance (which would surely cut down on how often I’m afforded to go out).
I’m a multi-species, multi-technique Fisherman. Spinning, baitcasting, fly fishing, pier fishing, surf fishing, ice fishing, from shore, wading, or boating. I’ve already started Google mapping any lake and river accesses I will likely try, but the pickings seem quite a bit thinner than my current area. In the Grand Rapids area I have MANY lakes I can quickly and easily take my 14” aluminum to looking for panfish, bass, and pike. The countryside is littered with them, just need to choose and explore. Quick and easy access to rivers and streams for trout and catfish, also steelhead and salmon if timed right. Close to a pier town where I can target salmon, steelhead, and whitefish.
Am I in for a rude awaking when we move? Looks like I’ll be driving a bit, compared to what I’m used to, to find a nice small to medium sized lake to use my boat, or to wade for trout. May need to travel a distance to find some edible catfish? Saginaw river is all “beware, don’t put that in your mouth”. The Tittabawassee in the same condition?
Or will moving to this area, if I want to fish locally that is, mean I just need to simply upgrade to a much bigger boat and start eye’n the bay?
I have my tried and true distant spots that won’t change, distant now, similar distance after the move. But it’s the local fishing I’m mostly worried about. Right now I have my pick of quick and easy spots to get to... a dock on a great largemouth lake, or an easy ramp that’s rarely packed on a lake. A nice balance between “honey, I’m going to run to the lake for a few” and of course the full blow day events. I’m a little worried about losing the quick next door fishing trips... that ALL of my future trips will need to be full blown day long productions due to distance (which would surely cut down on how often I’m afforded to go out).