BEST OVERALL TOWN for fishing....

[ksdog]

In your travels, have you run across a town that would be great to live in and one that offers excellent year round fishing for multi species of fish ? Starting to do my research.

[Schnauzer]

You are asking this question on "Fishing Minnesota" so I'm assuming many of your answers (like mine) will have a Minnesota flavor. There are so many variables that go into answering a question like this. Is fishing 100% of the consideration, or are their other things like amenities, schools, etc.? If fishing is 100% of the equation, I would just look at the town closest to my favorite lake to fish.

But, there is more to life. Personally, I would like Brainerd, Nisswa, or Pequot Lakes. You would have easy access to everything from Leech to Mille Lacs, plus a billion good lakes in between. Some small, some bigger. Plus being near Brainerd would allow you to go to a movie, pick up some tools at Home Depot, or buy a new home theater at Best Buy.

That's my vote.

[ozzie]

I second that choice!!!!! Brainerd area has it all!! And like a 2.5 hour drive to the cities or hour or so to saint cloud.

[ND Jig Head]

Bismarck, ND but don't tell everyone!

[fisherman]

I'd recommend Grand Rapids. Brainerd & Alexandria areas wouldnt be all that bad either.

[jerkin'm]

Brainerd would be my last choice, too much development and cost of living increases to follow. My choice would be (is) in the Western Ottertail County area. Tons of lakes and much more reasonable property. Decent sized towns available also.

[hoggs222]

Alexandria for me. You've got the chain, plus Reno, Miltona, Minnewaska, etc.

[msm1018]

kinda biased to it, but Duluth is kind of in a sweet spot. walleyes in town, trout in the pond, and bass all around, it is in a central area for all species of fish.

[Fisher Dave]

I dont know.. I have 7 lakes within 2 miles of me that offer everything from trophy size bass to huge muskies.. I rarely have a problem coming up with a meal of walleyes.. as a bonus, I have the mississippi river 3 miles away form me, and the Minnesota river about 10 miles.. these rivers are excellent fisheries also.

Why go to a tourist loaded town when I have all I need right in town?

Minneapolis.

[kevfish]

How about Webster SD- Numerouse great fishing lakes, including waubay and no state income tax

[The_Duckslayer]

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Fisher Dave wrote: Why go to a tourist loaded town when I have all I need right in town?

Minneapolis.

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So what r U saying? Minneapolis is not a tourist town? Having been in the military for 20 years, having traveled to 13 different countries and every state of the nation, I would go for any small town that you come into. The folks there just seem to be nicer! They are not out to impress you. They will wave at you on the road. They will stop and chit chat when they see you in the store rather than snub you. They know directions to the next town. They are honest people. Best over all town? Small town USA gets my vote. Have a good one and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Borch]

I'd vote for Bemidji(or any of the small towns in the area). If you can't find it(fishing) within a 45 minute drive you don't need it. I'd love to settle down in that area someday.

[John Mickish]

Detroit Lakes, hands down. Ottertail County holds 1/12 of the states named lakes. Great summer and winter fishing with a multitude of great lakes to choose from, and cheaper than the "big lake areas" I might be biased, I grew up in that area.

[Mark Christianson]

Battle Lake

Hands down.

Ottertail County has more lakes than any other county in the United States. Now how can you lose with that?

[Tom Linderholm]

I've gotta second Duluth, so much to offer in such a small area. River fishing, inland lake, BWCA trips, then my fave Lake Superior trolling. Small city with everything the big city has. When you hit the burbs here its also referred to as the "woods" and thats not a name of a developement.

[Dan Thiem]

Park Rapids, Nevis, Akeley, Hackensack. Nuff said.

[vern]

If you look at excellent multi-species fishing alone, I have to agree with Fisher Dave. Not necessarily Mpls. but I think anywhere within 30 min. of the Twin Cities will provide more species & big fish opportunities than anywhere else in the state. We have 3 major river systems, numbers of small rivers & streams & hundreds of lakes. Just about every MN species is represented here with plenty of trophy sized fish. Monster flatheads, channel cats, sturgeon, muskies, large & smallmouth bass, big walleyes, pike, trout etc. I grew up in Mpls. but my opinion is based on fishing only. It's hard to beat the Twin Cities for it's year-round multi-species opportunities. Vern

[PERCHJR]

Hey KEVFISH, Isn't Waubay a secret??? Anyways that was going to be my choice also!!!

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!!!

[The Yeti]

Brainerd, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Cross Lake, McGregor, Two Harbors and Ely

[HoleHopper]

I am with Borch on this one. Bemidji, Blackduck, Waskish

[Jarrod32]

When I started thinking about this, the Otter Tail/Dent area keeps coming up in my mind. Otter Tail and Rush lakes are right there, the Pine lakes by Perham, and numerous smaller lakes that offer excellent fishing without all the pressure that you will find in the Brainerd or Twin Cities area.

I like my location in Wadena...while there isn't a lake right next door, I'm a half-hour away from Park Rapids and Otter Tail, within an hour of Alex, Brainerd, and DL, Leech Lake (Walker) is an hour away, Mille Lacs (Garrison) is just over an hour...

And I used to live in Aberdeen, so I am well aware of the benefits of the Webster, SD area...and I was an hour and a half away from Oahe, too...I could easily recommend that area.

There are a lot of places in Minnesota that you can find yourself within a half hour of many, many lakes...that would be my top criteria for a "Best Fishing Town"...the number of good and varied opportunities nearby. And you can find that in a large, growing community like Brainerd or Alex...or smaller communities like Park Rapids or even smaller.

[FOOT]

This question certainly makes one think.

I guess my first choice would be the Grand Rapids area. You've got Winnie and other local lakes plus you're an hour away from Red, Cass and Leech and 2 hours from LOW. Besides the fishing there is a casino close by. 2 out of the past 3 years my son and I have been lucky enough to win enouch at the Blackjack tables to pay for the entire opening weekend including cabin, gas, food etc: The one year we didn't win that much we did come home with $65 of winnings.

My second choice is Brainerd/Pequot Lakes area. Lots of good lakes and I know the area. Problem is this area is really developed and has a tremendous Summer crowd.

My third would be Ottertail County. I have 2 brothers that have land/cabins in Ottertail and it's a nice area with lots of lakes.

[Fisher Dave]

Duckslayer...

I have lived in a few different small town Minnesota's.. including Black Duck, Minneota(Marshall area), and the Merrifield area(Brainerd), Floodwood (Duluth/Grand Rapids area)... the same area's many here say they would want to live...

Yes, the smallest towns people will wave at you going by.. if your a local. Many of these towns arent *locals* anymore.. they turned into locations filled with 5 star resorts and the lakes of 10,000 jet-ski's and Bayliners.. it doesnt differ much from Lake Minnetonka, and is just about as neighborly during the summer months.. the winter.. you dont see the real neighbors because they are indoors to avoid the -30 temps... trying to conserve all the heat they can to compensate for the ever increasing property taxes when their wages dont go up and the property value triples about every 5 years due to the demand for the land.

Wave at you by day, break into the garage, or steal anything not bolted down by night... I know better.

But that is not what this thread was started for .. off subject.

[The_Duckslayer]

Maybe our definition of small town is not the same, Hooterville’s population when we moved in was less that a thousand.. We moved out here from Apple Valley 5 years ago and have never encountered any of the problems you speak of. They maybe kept an eye on us when we first got there but they have ALWAYS been friendly from the very start. I have left a lot of stuff laying about over the years and nothing has ever gone missing. In Apple Valley though anything that was not screwed sown was gone in less than a half hour.

I like fishing lakes near small towns, lots of times they are little hole in the wall places but then again there are not near as many folks on them, and those that are will chat with you all day long. Don’t get me wrong, the chat part will happen between fishermen a lot, just look at this page. Have a good one and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[WAG416]

Warren Is not a good place to live if you love to fish. NOTHING, within a half hour drive, absolutly nothing.

GAS GETS EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!

WAG

[Jackpine Rob]

Ely was a great place to be a kid who liked to fish. Within easy walking or biking distance we had walleyes, northerns, brook trout (stream or stocked lake). Someone always knew someone with a boat on any given lake, or we fished off shorelines or bridges. We would hop on the bikes with our backpacks and fishing poles after breakfast, and return at suppertime.

As I got older we got into overnight trips, lake trout, and all manner of good outdoor fun. The town has changed quite a bit since that time, but for me it will always be home, and my favorite area to fish.

[iland99]

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Wave at you by day, break into the garage, or steal anything not bolted down by night... I know better.

But that is not what this thread was started for .. off subject.

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.....As opposed to folks in the cities, who flip you off by day, break into the garage, or steal anything not bolted down by night... I know better too

I'm biased, but my vote goes for the Bemidji area too.

[Rost]

Hey Dave-

You mentioned that you lived in Minneota before. What did you do there? I grew up in Ivanhoe and know quite a few Minneota people.

To answer the "Best Town" question, I'd have to say Devils Lake, ND. Believe it or not, I have never been there. But every one of my friends that have been there say it is top notch fishing and hunting.

[Farley]

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Wave at you by day, break into the garage, or steal anything not bolted down by night... I know better.

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come on Dave, this comming from a guy who lives in Minneapolis?

Pot calling the kettle black if you ask me.

As far as towns that I've been to,

1. Brainerd\Crosslake

2. Grand Rapids

3. Duluth (mostly for the scenery, never fished much around Duluth)

4. Annandale area

[CrappieJohn]

Any town in Minnesota that has water to fish in.