Towing distance for fun fishing

bcklash · 03-11-10, 10:24 PM

How far will you guys tow your boat for a 1 day fishing trip? We have quite a few lakes 3 or 4 hours away and it's not always feasible to get a hotel. 6 or 8 hrs driving and 6 or 8 fishing makes for a long day. This is just for fun fishing not tournments.

TN_Bassin · 03-11-10, 10:30 PM

We took the boat to Dale hollow about a month ago for a day. That ride was around 6 hours. Made it even worse as it was cold and snowing. Longest day of fishing in a long time.

MIbasser · 03-11-10, 10:41 PM

I drove 5 hours round trip to Lake St. Clair for a day. That makes for a long day of solo fishing. Pulling a boat as well, thank God for Monster energy drink!

MallenManson · 03-11-10, 11:42 PM

I really don't have to go very far. There's probably over 20 lakes within 30 minutes from me.
Once I get a real boat though, I do plan on branching out and driving further.
If it were a 1 day trip, probably 3 hours max

bassinbob · 03-12-10, 12:25 AM

No more than an hour and a half. If I go further it's to my cabin which is a hundred miles away then I can stay overnight.

Bender · 03-12-10, 01:00 AM

Hmmm. I guess it depends on if it is a one time thing or not. I've done 2 1/2 before to hit a lake in Indiana before the Michigan season opened. Usually 3 hours I'll stay but it is such a pain to stay in a hotel and worry about your stuff in the boat all night, at least I do. Maybe try to find an economical cabin or something and go the evening before.

nofearengineer · 03-12-10, 01:51 AM

3 hours is my limit for "commuter" fishing. Anything longer, and it's motel time, which I really don't like either, since I feel like someone's going to break into my boat and can't sleep.

basstastic · 03-12-10, 02:18 AM

When I had a boat no more than an hour or two.

BigBassin144 · 03-12-10, 09:22 AM

2-1/2 to 3 hrs is about as far as I'd go. Especially with the number of lakes within an hour to an hour and a half.

BB

screwballl · 03-12-10, 01:45 PM

I do not have a boat, just a canoe, but for me, an hour is pretty much my max... if it is any longer then we have the camper handy

AbuMel · 04-29-10, 09:22 PM

I live in southern New Mexico where fishing lakes are a good distance apart. Caballo Lake is about fifty miles, or an hours drive away and I most often make that my destination for day trips. Problem is that I prefer fishing for black bass and Caballo contains mostly white bass, crappie and walleye. Along, of course, with the ever present carp and catfish.

Elephant Butte Lake is anywhere from eighty to a hundred, some odd miles depending on where I decide to launch and when I get anxious for black bass fishing I head for there. in other words from two to two and a half hours drive.

Mostly though, I use Caballo for day trips and the Butte for overnight trips.

WTL · 04-29-10, 09:39 PM

130 miles away is the limit for a round trip.

I have fished all day before, then done 200+ that night to get back home, but I don't prefer it.

nofearengineer · 04-29-10, 10:20 PM

I think having someone with me to chat with sort of extends the range a little. A 3 hour drive home by yourself after a long day of fishing and a 3 hour drive there is just a little nuts.

Rebbasser · 04-29-10, 10:44 PM

Choke Canyon is about an hour and fifteen minutes from me. That is about as far as I'll go for a day trip. I want to fish, not drive.

bamabassman · 04-29-10, 10:51 PM

1 1/2 hours, like rebb, i want to fish and not drive. Anything longer than that and it's hotel/motel/ campsite time.

Bryan · 04-30-10, 08:51 AM

About 3.5-4 hours each way for me, or more if there's traffic. I'll usually leave on a Friday afternoon straight from work, get to my spot and start fishing around 9pm, then fish all night until 2-3pm on Saturday. Get home around 6 or 7pm and fall asleep before my head hits the pillow. Then I spend all of Sunday recovering. This is just with a kayak though, I'm not sure I would want to do it if I was pulling a trailer.

Vegasspider · 04-30-10, 10:42 AM

What part of the country do you live in to have that many lakes in 30 minutes? That would be great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MallenManson

I really don't have to go very far. There's probably over 20 lakes within 30 minutes from me.
Once I get a real boat though, I do plan on branching out and driving further.
If it were a 1 day trip, probably 3 hours max

Bob Smith · 04-30-10, 12:51 PM

2-3 hours for me is about the farthest I will drive for a one day out and back fun trip. Any more than that , I will plan some lodging and stay for a couple of days.

66KingFisher · 04-30-10, 02:16 PM

When I was young and lived in Tulsa, we used to fish lakes that were an hour to two hours away regularly.....but now that i'm more seasoned in age, i'd much rather keep the trip short if were coming back the same day. In the area of Arkansas I live, we have several lakes within an hours drive...lake Ouachita being the largest and its about 45 minutes away....most of the lakes I've been fishing are only 200-300 acres, but I can be sitting on the water 15 minutes after I leave the house and seldom ever see another boat.

zooker · 04-30-10, 02:26 PM

3 hours one way....

zooker

catch2288 · 05-03-10, 03:33 PM

The county I live in has 223 lakes. As such the furthest I typically drive is 45 minutes.

MIbasser · 05-03-10, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasspider

What part of the country do you live in to have that many lakes in 30 minutes? That would be great.

Michigan my friend, Michigan! When Van Dam spends his vacation up there he'll hit 4-5 lakes a day! Fish smallies in the morning, then go for some largies in the afternoon and still have time for a couple more lakes. You could even go salmon fishing if you wanted.

tim4081 · 05-03-10, 11:05 PM

Gotta love the oppourtunities to fish in Michigan. I would probably drive an hour or two but really don't have a need to. I live 15 minutes or less from five launches on the lower Grand river system so I have quick access to miles of river, bayous and Spring Lake....a half hour drive will get to me another dozen or more lakes....some small and others quite large such as Muskegon Lake. Around here its really a choice of what species do you want to fish for....certain waters are better depending on what you're after but I can fish for bass (both large mouth and smallies), walleye, pike, muskie, brook trout, steelhead, lake and brown trout and various salmon species all within a 30 minute or less drive.

BassinNC · 05-04-10, 10:07 PM

1hour for me...

Embrey · 05-04-10, 10:40 PM

a month ago, drove 16 hours straight and jumped on okechobee and fished for 6 hrs. then went to bed and fished 9 days straight...

03-11-10, 10:24 PM	#1
bcklash BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Elliston, Va. Posts: 4,372	Towing distance for fun fishing How far will you guys tow your boat for a 1 day fishing trip? We have quite a few lakes 3 or 4 hours away and it's not always feasible to get a hotel. 6 or 8 hrs driving and 6 or 8 fishing makes for a long day. This is just for fun fishing not tournments. __________________ The soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box. keep us free:

03-11-10, 10:30 PM	#2
TN_Bassin BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bon Aqua,TN Posts: 1,013	We took the boat to Dale hollow about a month ago for a day. That ride was around 6 hours. Made it even worse as it was cold and snowing. Longest day of fishing in a long time. __________________ Other anglers are tough, but the fish are the real competition.

03-11-10, 11:42 PM	#4
MallenManson BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Beulah, Michigan Posts: 6,431	I really don't have to go very far. There's probably over 20 lakes within 30 minutes from me. Once I get a real boat though, I do plan on branching out and driving further. If it were a 1 day trip, probably 3 hours max __________________ Bass fear me. Women pepperspray me.....

03-12-10, 12:25 AM	#5
bassinbob BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pitts. Pa. Posts: 3,801	No more than an hour and a half. If I go further it's to my cabin which is a hundred miles away then I can stay overnight. __________________ you can have my fishin rod when ya take it from my cold dead hands

03-12-10, 01:51 AM	#7
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	3 hours is my limit for "commuter" fishing. Anything longer, and it's motel time, which I really don't like either, since I feel like someone's going to break into my boat and can't sleep. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

03-11-10, 10:41 PM	#3
MIbasser BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 1,447	I drove 5 hours round trip to Lake St. Clair for a day. That makes for a long day of solo fishing. Pulling a boat as well, thank God for Monster energy drink!

03-12-10, 01:00 AM	#6
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	Hmmm. I guess it depends on if it is a one time thing or not. I've done 2 1/2 before to hit a lake in Indiana before the Michigan season opened. Usually 3 hours I'll stay but it is such a pain to stay in a hotel and worry about your stuff in the boat all night, at least I do. Maybe try to find an economical cabin or something and go the evening before.

03-12-10, 02:18 AM	#8
basstastic BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 92	When I had a boat no more than an hour or two.

03-12-10, 09:22 AM	#9
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	2-1/2 to 3 hrs is about as far as I'd go. Especially with the number of lakes within an hour to an hour and a half. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

03-12-10, 01:45 PM	#10
screwballl BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NWFL Posts: 654	I do not have a boat, just a canoe, but for me, an hour is pretty much my max... if it is any longer then we have the camper handy

04-29-10, 09:22 PM	#11
AbuMel BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 8	I live in southern New Mexico where fishing lakes are a good distance apart. Caballo Lake is about fifty miles, or an hours drive away and I most often make that my destination for day trips. Problem is that I prefer fishing for black bass and Caballo contains mostly white bass, crappie and walleye. Along, of course, with the ever present carp and catfish. Elephant Butte Lake is anywhere from eighty to a hundred, some odd miles depending on where I decide to launch and when I get anxious for black bass fishing I head for there. in other words from two to two and a half hours drive. Mostly though, I use Caballo for day trips and the Butte for overnight trips.

04-29-10, 09:39 PM	#12
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	130 miles away is the limit for a round trip. I have fished all day before, then done 200+ that night to get back home, but I don't prefer it.

04-29-10, 10:20 PM	#13
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	I think having someone with me to chat with sort of extends the range a little. A 3 hour drive home by yourself after a long day of fishing and a 3 hour drive there is just a little nuts. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

04-29-10, 10:44 PM	#14
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	Choke Canyon is about an hour and fifteen minutes from me. That is about as far as I'll go for a day trip. I want to fish, not drive. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

04-29-10, 10:51 PM	#15
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	1 1/2 hours, like rebb, i want to fish and not drive. Anything longer than that and it's hotel/motel/ campsite time. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

04-30-10, 08:51 AM	#16
Bryan BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: VA Posts: 198	About 3.5-4 hours each way for me, or more if there's traffic. I'll usually leave on a Friday afternoon straight from work, get to my spot and start fishing around 9pm, then fish all night until 2-3pm on Saturday. Get home around 6 or 7pm and fall asleep before my head hits the pillow. Then I spend all of Sunday recovering. This is just with a kayak though, I'm not sure I would want to do it if I was pulling a trailer.

04-30-10, 12:51 PM	#18
Bob Smith BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 1,472	2-3 hours for me is about the farthest I will drive for a one day out and back fun trip. Any more than that , I will plan some lodging and stay for a couple of days. __________________ Bob Smith a.k.a. "Porko" (vintage Strike King variety!)

04-30-10, 02:16 PM	#19
66KingFisher BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mena,Arkansas Posts: 1,327	When I was young and lived in Tulsa, we used to fish lakes that were an hour to two hours away regularly.....but now that i'm more seasoned in age, i'd much rather keep the trip short if were coming back the same day. In the area of Arkansas I live, we have several lakes within an hours drive...lake Ouachita being the largest and its about 45 minutes away....most of the lakes I've been fishing are only 200-300 acres, but I can be sitting on the water 15 minutes after I leave the house and seldom ever see another boat.

04-30-10, 02:26 PM	#20
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	3 hours one way.... zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

05-03-10, 03:33 PM	#21
catch2288 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ironwood, MI Posts: 44	The county I live in has 223 lakes. As such the furthest I typically drive is 45 minutes.

05-03-10, 11:05 PM	#23
tim4081 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Spring Lake, Michigan Posts: 195	Gotta love the oppourtunities to fish in Michigan. I would probably drive an hour or two but really don't have a need to. I live 15 minutes or less from five launches on the lower Grand river system so I have quick access to miles of river, bayous and Spring Lake....a half hour drive will get to me another dozen or more lakes....some small and others quite large such as Muskegon Lake. Around here its really a choice of what species do you want to fish for....certain waters are better depending on what you're after but I can fish for bass (both large mouth and smallies), walleye, pike, muskie, brook trout, steelhead, lake and brown trout and various salmon species all within a 30 minute or less drive.

05-04-10, 10:07 PM	#24
BassinNC BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: albemarle, NC Posts: 788	1hour for me... __________________ 138 bass in 2K10. Biggest 4LBS 14oz.

05-04-10, 10:40 PM	#25
Embrey BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 505	a month ago, drove 16 hours straight and jumped on okechobee and fished for 6 hrs. then went to bed and fished 9 days straight...

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