Thread: Best spot in Tennessee

I plan to retire to Tenn. from Ia. in the next year or less. Where would you retire to if your main concern was catchin crappie all year, without drillin thru any ice?! I've only fished one lake in Tenn. and that was Kentucky lake near Paris a few years ago. The wife likes to fish too but her main concern is to not be "out in the sticks" (in other words she needs a Wal Mart and lots of other shoppin near by). Thanks in advance for any advise.

I live in Winchester Tennessee and it is centrally located for shopping and fishing. There are several great fishing areas within driving distance and the same goes for shopping. It is an hour drive to Huntsville, Al which has several nice malls and alot of other shopping. It is the rocket city and has the redtone arsenal and NASA space flight center. Then an hour and a half the other way you have Nashville, TN which is the country music capitol. Winchester is a small town, but not in the sticks. It has all the essentials nearby. Wal-Mart included. As far as fishing goes. Within an hours drive you have some very well known fishing areas. There is Tims Ford, Woods Res, Normandy, Percy Priest, Guntersville, Wheeler, Tennessee River and a few others.

I vote Cookeville, Tn. several lakes within a stones throw and enough shopping for most.

Don't you like Kentucky Lake near Paris? It has some very good fishing in the winter months. I live in the Big Sandy area of Kentucky Lake and we do have a Wal-Mart.

Fishawk:

I guess all of us Volunteers love the fishing and beauty of TN....as evidenced by the places mentioned above. But I would suggest Eastern TN...probably one of
the smaller towns around Knoxville. From my home, I can be on any of at least 8 large impoundments on the Tenn River or its tributaries...in less than an hour. Thats really hard to beat....and theres a BassProShop in Sevier Co...a Gander MT coming to West Knoxville in the fall...and more Wal-Marts than fish in a Crappie limit. (Don't mention the big Outlet Malls in Pigeon Forge to your wife!) Oh yeah...throw in the Smoky Mt Natl Park if you like hiking or trout fishing. If you have any questions about this area, feel free to pm me.

tnvol

Around Paris Tn or Dyersburg with dyersburg your within 25 miles of Reel foot lake.
Pete

I agree with tnvol. I live in Blount County. Just outside of Knox County. It is a quiet county, and we are soon to have TWO supercenter Wal-Marts here:D . The new one is to open this spring. Shopping in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. And some great fishing in some big lakes. If you fish for trout, walleye, smallmouth head up into the mountains.(Calderwood, Chilhowee, Tellico river, etc...) crappie, walleyeye, bass, etc.. you have Tellico Fort Loudon, & etc... Other great lakes withing a hours drive from here. It is a quiet place that is starting to grow.

I live here in Byrdstown on Dale hollow-30 minutes to Cumberland,2 hours from lots of other great Crappie Fishing! the lake never freezes-lots of Crappie year round. Its a great central location to some of the finest Crappie Waters around the country!! Small town life with lots of big Citys within easy driving distance[1/2 to 1 hr].

I also agree with tnvol...I live in Campbell County, about 25 miles north of Knoxville, on the shores of the deepest, cleanest, least-fished lake in Eastern TN-Norris Reservoir-Walmart Supercenter 12 miles away in Jacksboro...still less than an hour away from all the "hey-Joe" stuff in Sevier County....and real estate prices are extremely reasonable (but with all the Ohio yankees coming in, they won't be for long-lol)...

Bushrod:-)

I agree on the East TN boys. I live in lower East Tn. I can be on several lakes within least than a hour. I can be in Gatlinburg in about 1 hr 45 min. , Nashville in 2 hr 30min, and Atlanta in 3 hrs. 8 Lakes within a hour or so of the house and main major rivers/streams in about the same time. If you go out to 2 to 3 hours you can get to the ones like Dale Hollow or Tim Fords in mid and mid upper TN.