Good Bass Lakes close to Dallas and Austin TX?

[RandyL]

I currently live in Kansas City and like to Bass fish but I am not a tournament guy. I'm considering moving to either Dallas or Austin TX for job reasons and was wondering about Bass lakes within say a 30 min to 1 hr drive of each city for casual Bass fishing. I'm well aware of Lake Fork North of Dallas but what other options do you have and how is the Austin area different than the Dallas area? I've never fished in Texas before. I have a 1850 Ranger Reata so bigger lakes aren't a problem.

Thanks

[MaverickPro201]

1- Austin a lot warmer, Lots of lakes, we have a chain of lakes that run into Austin, 13 or more lakes with in a 1 to 1 1/2 hour trip. Best bet is to come down and visit. I'll try and make some time to show you around. let me know. When you thinking about the move?

[SkeeterMark]

Dallas, you're in the top of the state. Austin, you're in the middle of the state. In Austin you're 4 hours from Amistad, 5 1/2 from Falcon, 2 1/2 from Choke. All big bass lakes. Less than an hour from numorous lakes with great potential for big fish.

[Fishless-N-Austin]

Dallas---Polo shirts with flipped up collars, khakis all the time

Austin---T-shirt, shorts, flip flops

We are just a little more laid back. Now if you do decide on Austin, then you got to pick north of the river or south. And that is a whole other topic.

[MaverickPro201]

He'll pick the south over you northerns

[Fishless-N-Austin]

WTH Les? You dont even live in the city limits. You are in the boonies.

[MaverickPro201]

Ya! But I am South of the River We are not in the boonies anymore they are building a Home Depot as we speak, in Dripping, and I am only 15 miles west of Austin man.

[fishergal]

Not to interrupt your argument, but to answer the man's question more politely.....Austin is MUCH better than Dallas. Now Dallas is fine if you like city living - BIG city living, but Austin has all the benefits of a city and you can still be in the country in 10 minutes -- as long as you stay off I-35! The traffic is as bad as Dallas, I suppose, but the people are really great (except for Jeremy-Fishless that is)

Austin is a nice small-town atmosphere in a city. It's a lot easier to get around than in Dallas and as far as fishing goes, lots of lakes nearby. I would chose Austin, but then I'm prejudiced.

[Fishless-N-Austin]

Les...I hear the Jefferson's tune..."Movin on up..."

Toni...ouch! That hurt.

Unfortunately Austin wont be small for much longer. I have been here since Dec 2001 and LOTS of commercial spaces have gone in. And now we have a tollway where cattle fields use to be. As long as you aint from California, we will accept you.

[RandyL]

I live on the Western side on Kansas City. 2 miles West of my house is the Country side. Having a fairly large city but the county near by sounds nice. What are some good sites to read about the fishing opportunities in and around Austin?

[MaverickPro201]

Ya that is what has happened all over Texas, them darn folks from California keep coming, because they have ruined everything out there . Now I cannot even have a Smoke in a pool hall.
We, the folks on the South end of the River are not nearly as full of it as them folks NORTH of the River.
The Lakes close by to fish are, Lake Travis, Buchanan, LBJ, Bastrop, Fayette, Lake Austin, Town Lake/Lady Bird Johnson, Canyon Lake, 2 and a half hours to Choke Canyon, 3 and half to 4 hours to Amistad, 4 to 4 and 1/2 hours to Sam Rayburn and Falcon and so on. Best place for info is Texas Parks and Wildlife web site.

[Fishless-N-Austin]

PM sent to you Randy.

[TBASSYATES]

Wow, I feel like I need to give at least one opinion of the Dallas area. I work in the far Northwest part of Dallas but I live Southeast of Dallas in the small town of Scurry out in the country. It actually only takes me about 45 minuites to get to and from work most days which is only about 15 minuites more than when I used to live in the lower Greenville Ave. area right in the middle of town. Not only do I get to live away from the city but I am 30 minuites from Cedar Creek Lake, 45 minuites from Richland Chambers, Joe Poole, Purtis Creek, 1 hour from Fairfield, Ray Hubbard, Tawakoni, Lewisville, Grapevine, Palestine, 1 1/2 hours from Fork, Tyler, Lavon, Texoma, Ray Roberts and many others. I am within 15 minuites of towns like Kaufman, Ennis, Crandall as well as Dallas and others so I am close enough to just about anything I need and I am able to be away from the city where I am lucky enough to not have the sound of sirens going on every night. Only the great sounds of the lions that roar at dusk on the ranch across the street and the ability to go next door to my neighbors house to harrass his bass in his pond when I am not at one of the lakes fishing.

[Bobs21X]

What Tommy said

[MaverickPro201]

But we are much nicer folks down here. And when we are wearing shorts you folks up the Dallas way are still in jackets.

[kebbasstex]

Hey there....I am from Shawnee, Ks. My parents still live there but I have been in the Houston area for 15 years. My brother lives in Dallas. Knowing where you are now, you would like the Austin area better, in my opinion. The hill country outside Austin and the lakes a short drive Northwest are really pretty areas.

[TBASSYATES]

debbasstex,
You got that right about the area. I love where I live and the lakes around here but I also think it is a treat when I go to visit the realatives in San Antonio because when we leave we always go up I think it is 287 for the trip back home. Last time we made a 2 hour stop to hike around the Perdnales River. What a blast and definitely great scenery. I have fond memories of Austin back in the 80's and 90's playing fast pitch softball tournaments there and eating at my favorite Mexican restaurant, which name escapes me now , near the ball field.
Also when Stevie Ray left us in Oak Cliff where I grew up and headed Austin way the music scene sure got better. I even drove down to Austin one year to spend New Years Eve on 6th St.

[MaverickPro201]

It is 281 highway, And yes it is beautiful around here.

[katyag]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaverickPro201 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But we are much nicer folks down here. </TD></TR></TABLE>
If you can ignore all the weirdos over on the 40 acres.

[MaverickPro201]

You must be talking about those on the back 40. We ignore them they are from DALLAS.