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Posts: 6
| A recent bout with colon cancer, and the eminent arrival of 50, have me thinking retirement. The only thing that I am interested in is a view of a lake full of toothy food chain toppers. I am hoping for non-billionaire takes on year round homes for the muskie enthusiast who has spent most of his years working and getting my goofy kids through school (only 1 more year left!) I am willing to go world wide in my search so feel free to send whatever ideas you may have. Thank you all for taking a moment to throw in an idea. Also posting this in destinations, as I think that may produce some results. |
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Posts: 152
| Buy "across the street" from the lake and have a home that's as maintenance free as it can be and not too far from medical help. |
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Posts: 1516
| Finding a lake home for a reasonable price. No an easy task. However, like Sudzee said look for one close to the lake you want but not “on the water” |
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Posts: 6
| Thanks a bunch, Sudszee. |
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Posts: 6
| Thanks much for the feedback. |
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| deeded access is something to consider and maybe look for as well.. taxes can be high on a lake and weather too at times. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I get cost wise of living just off the lake, but there is something to be said about walking out the door and hoping in the boat. I imagine I feel even stronger about this as I get older. Driving to and from the launch every day isn't the worst thing in the world, but that still takes up time and effort.
I'm nowhere near retirement age, unless I hit powerball. But I think I'd prefer being on the lake. |
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Posts: 8797
| There are advantages. I know for us there will be a LOT more recreational fishing, and a LOT more going out to cast for a few hours when all we have to do is walk down to the pier and drive away. When a bathroom break, a quick nap, or a sandwich just means driving back to the dock you're a lot more likely to actually go out there than you would be if you had to load the boat, hook it up, drive to wherever, dump the boat, etc.
On the other side of that coin, if you have to load the boat, pack a cooler, load up the truck, drive to wherever, dump the boat, etc. You'll be much more inclined to stay out there when it's hot/raining/buggy/nothing is happening. If you're on the lake? Screw it! Let's go have a sandwich or a beer for an hour or so...
All that said, what you'll pay for lakefront property/taxes vs off-water is ridiculous. A lot of guys in our area "up North" fish all the other lakes as often as their own. If you're the type to do that, you may want to consider off-water property in an area with a lot of different lakes.
For me, nothing beats being on the water. The prospect of being able to sit on the pier and drink my coffee in the morning, go for a swim, take a couple casts off the dock, knock down a few trees and make a brush pile, pile up a bunch of boulders on the ice or whatever makes it all worth the effort and money. Being able to put up an ice shack over my brush pile/rock pile, and having dinner at my fingertips with no hassle? Yeah. If I get cold, hungry, tired, bored, have to crap, whatever it is, the house is right there. The lake is right there. |
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Posts: 115
| Pointerpride102 - 1/19/2018 7:17 PM
I get cost wise of living just off the lake, but there is something to be said about walking out the door and hoping in the boat. I imagine I feel even stronger about this as I get older. Driving to and from the launch every day isn't the worst thing in the world, but that still takes up time and effort.
I'm nowhere near retirement age, unless I hit powerball. But I think I'd prefer being on the lake.
This ^^^^^^^
Only have one hour to fish????
No problem, jump in boat and cast away! |
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Posts: 1220
| I used to fish a lot of lakes with an old cranky guy, neither of us ever had a house on the water, but we had this sort of odd passtime of offering a critique on the places we passed while slowly picking apart countless shorelines. To me, one of the oddest things was that the boats were always seeming to be on the lifts while the folks always seemed to be working on the yard, painting, cleaning gutters or otherwise appearing to be wasting their good fortune. In a really queer sort of a way, we used this to justify why we were better off. After all, we were fishing and they were not. Well, it took into the late sixties (also a near life ending health scare) but I made it to the water. Guess what? It’s worth whatever it costs! My place near Eagle River has a shower I had to lose 15 pounds to use, it’s only 400 square feet, and it’s “all I need.” My advice, buy what you can afford at the first opportunity. Don’t get caught up in what you think you should save for, or (worse) take on debt that would ruin your opportunity to fully experience joy. The coolest part? Well, it’s watching those musky guys casting along “my shoreline” on “my lake” and knowing I caught the fish they are looking for Thursday afternoon while they were at work. |
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Posts: 3152
| I'd say a key point is what is the minimum amount of lake acres you would be happy with,,400 acre lake everyday might get tired. |
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Posts: 1209
| I would go insane with less than 1000 acres... that drives the price up for me. Another thing about a boat on a lift it is a pain to refuel, it's not like swinging in the gas station and filling up. As well as boats on lifts need more tlc to remain super nice. I myself am on the other side of the road crowd, if you make friends with a neighbor the extra 75 feet to walk isn't bad especially if they let you tie up to the dock randomly to grab a bite, hide from a storm or use the can, heck they may only be there every other weekend and having someone they like watching the property would be convenient.
I know some people who have let people from across the road drop a dock and lift in for less money (rent) than the tax difference |
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Posts: 1765
| I'll never be able to afford a home on the water, across the street or in the middle of the street for that matter. However something else to consider is this. Right now in International Falls Mn you can buy several houses for under $50,000 yes, they are off the water. But they are in town, full services and only a 5-10 minute drive from Rainy Lake. 1 hour drive from LOTW. You can live in town and rent a slip at a resort or marina and drive over there and hop in the boat and go. If you want to hit LOTW load the boat and take off.
I know Rainy isn't a Muskie paradise and I only used International Falls as a example. |
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Posts: 160
Location: West Central WI | I live on a 6,000 acre lake with muskies plus add two muskie rivers feeding it. Sounds like an ideal situation, BUT, that does present a weather/wind hazard unless you have a cove or protected bay you can find to live on. In my case, I have had two pontoons destroyed by weather that were on lifts in front of my house. Picture a 22' pontoon, lift, and dock, go airborne and land upside down 65' away. But, that's another story. I have kept my muskie boat on the trailer ever since I got it, for a couple reasons - for protection from weather and for security. We live a mile from the launch ramp and I'm on the water 15 minutes from when I leave home. On a nice day, I can tie up to my dock, take a break, or have lunch/dinner and go back out. Bigger lakes attract more people and presents the opportunity for them to remove things from a boat tied up on the water 24/7. It's not common, but does happen on this lake - props, electronics, gas cans, etc. By keeping my fishing boat on the trailer in my driveway, I don't have to completely remove everything for security purposes plus it's convenient to clean and work on the boat as well as gas it up on the way to the launch. Sure, it's not as convenient, but a small price to pay for knowing your boat will be safe and secure. Also, I can easily take my boat to several of the other muskie lakes in this area. If I kept my boat on the lake, I'm sure I'd be too lazy to get out to other lakes as often. That's my situation and provided for your consideration when researching what you want to do. I like someone's suggestion of finding a good home with storage off the lake, within a convenient drive distance to a good ramp, and doing it that way. Living on the lake does have advantages but I'm sure that had I made the decision to put my fishing boat on the lake, that would have been destroyed as many of my neighbor's fishing boats were when my pontoon went airborne. It's also peace of mind when a storm is heading your way. In your situation, you don't need the stress. |
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Posts: 19
Location: Buffalo, NY | I'm many decades away from retirement, but i've fantasized about buying something with a dock. A few homes have come up, but as a non-married guy, it'd be a waste of resources at the time. I'm fishing twice a week, the dock is only a 5 minute ride from my house, but it'd be outstanding to just walk out and go.
The nice thing about a home on Grand Island, in the Niagara River, is it isn't a lake house. It's a normal house, in a sub-urban area, amenities are all in a 10 minute drive. 10 minute boat ride to Lake Erie, or you can fish the Niagara all the way to the falls.
So if you're searching far and wide for that perfect home on a Musky filled waters, I'd start right there. Smallmouth bass, and Walleye keep you sane till the opener, then it's game on till ice up, in one of the highest catch rate bodies of water you'll find, with the ability to pull a 50 out every now and then too. |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | I had the pleasure of living on a musky lake during a few of my high school years. It really is a different kind of fishing when you can just walk down to the dock. It super convenient to go fishing but be warned it's also very convenient to quit fishing. If the fish don't seem to be biting an hour after sunrise it's easy to just give up fishing. Trailering to a lake is completely different story, the inconvenience of travel and launching the boat is enough stay long enough to make it worth your while and as we all know it pays off to stick it out.
I think the key with living on a lake in musky heaven is to definitely have two boats. One lake boat and another travel boat. I hope to retire in northern wisconsin some day, something about having hundreds of different lakes within an hour drive intrigues me. This way you don't have to end up on the greatest musky lake, maybe an ok musky lake with a good view/lot. You keep one ~14'er in the water that you don't care about keeping clean, something with a 25hp motor and a 12v trolling motor is all you need for the couple hours you would fish at a time, specifically sunrise and sunset or right before the storm rolls through. For the longer excursions you have a nicer travel boat. |
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Posts: 556
| I am looking for a lake home right now-- N. Wisconsin is my Target as we have family in the central part of the state... I am 100% going with the lake home---I have begun to realize the high price of the home plus the High Tax situation--- BUT--I want the boat at the pier right in front of my home... I am going to have to downsize my lake size choice--and I am also going to have to buy something that will need updating--- I am going to go that route on the lake as opposed to off water.... Just a Personal choice......... I am not ready to move south to warm weather yet so this may only be a 10 YR thing for me-- that's a big reason why I want to be right on the lake... Good Luck in you're search--- I am tired of mine already and will end it this spring.... So I can Fish |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | Why not go the route of Al Linder. Pack it up and head to north central Minnesota. You’d be right in the middle of prime waters like Leech, Cass, Vermillion, Mille Lacs, and Winni, plus hundreds of smaller lakes. You’re also close enough to Minneapolis and the airport if you like to travel. |
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Posts: 255
| I have had a cabin off the lake and on the lake. I'd go on the lake for reasons others have already stated. So easy to hop in boat and cast for a bit, then come back. boat is either in launch or on shore. Love the aesthetics you get. |
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Posts: 1516
| Ciscokid82 - 1/21/2018 2:53 PM
Why not go the route of Al Linder. Pack it up and head to north central Minnesota. You’d be right in the middle of prime waters like Leech, Cass, Vermillion, Mille Lacs, and Winni, plus hundreds of smaller lakes. You’re also close enough to Minneapolis and the airport if you like to travel.
Do you mean Al Lindner host of Lindner's Angling Edge? |
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Posts: 576
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL & Phillips, WI | I'm sure that is the Al Lindner he is talking about. Originally from Chicago and moved to God's country! |
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Posts: 213
Location: FIB land | Probably lotsa places out of IL qualify as God's country in comparison . |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | muskie-don58 - 1/22/2018 11:17 PM
Probably lotsa places out of IL qualify as God's country in comparison .
Yes, everywhere else. Lol |
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Posts: 352
| Avoid ‘small’ lakes.Small is up to you but in my case it’s a million acres.Visit the rest. |
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Posts: 229
| Avoid ‘small’ lakes.Small is up to you but in my case it’s a million acres.Visit the rest.
My thoughts exactly! |
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| I retired on a small chain, 1,200 acres, 5 small lakes. Different enough to provide variety and always have some place that is not too windy. Nice having the boat on a lift, up under the canopy, with a keyed electric lift, I don't even take the rods out a lot of times.
One thing to consider in retirement: age. I have tried to stay in shape, have lifted weights at least twice a week for many years, walk/ski/bike at least four and normally five days a week but I am not as agile at 66 as I was at 46 or 56. This past fall my lift came out the end of October, because that was when I had help. Launching the boat at the landing where the dock had been removed was work, doing it by yourself. Did it just fine the few times I went out before the lakes skimmed over, in fact I fished 24 hours before the lake completely skimmed, but I wonder if I will be doing that in five years.
I don't think there is a wrong answer, just make sure you have taken everything into consideration. Your goals, your abilities, how often you will be going out, etc. |
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Posts: 252
| Also, you want to think about who your lake neighbors are going to be. My Lake Neighbors are absolutely the best! We help each other out, loan each other tools, look after each other's places, each has a spare key to our neighbor's place and respect each other's property. Your neighbors can really add to or take away from your lake-time happiness.
When you find a place, I really recommend talking to some of your potential neighbors and finding out what they are like. And, they will most likely tell you what they think about the other neighbors in the area.
I have a place on a 10,000 acre musky lake and absolutely love it. My wife and I have absolutely no regrets in buying a lake property.
I have noticed that my fishing buddy will ALWAYS catch a nice musky when I am busy mowing my lawn. If he is having a streak of not catching fish, he will ask me when I am going to be mowing my lawn again...
Also, the musky season down here lasts from January 1 all the way through December 31 which is kinda handy.
Good luck with your plans!
Edited by KentuckyMuskie 1/23/2018 9:52 PM
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Posts: 43
| I need to stress to everyone, if this is your dream do it as soon as you can. My best friend, and fishin buddy for over 50 years will be waked on Friday. He came close a couple months ago on buying a place in Eagle River, but I think he knew there was something wrong with him and stopped his dream. We fished for carp in sub division ponds, bass at bullfrog lake, and spent time at Lac Seul and the North West angle of lake of the woods. he was never able to retire, so at the age of 63 he is gone. Life is short, live your dream while you have your health, and remember to love your family. Hank, I will miss you. |
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Posts: 1220
| I have the toys, and the water both North and South, but that didn’t happen till after 65 years old. I made a choice to be a father and husband first. There’s always a lot of talk about not putting off the things you really want to do, but that often happens at the expense of family. Nobody put a gun to my head and made me be a father (4 times) and along with that choice, I made a choice to be a provider, little league coach, and the rest. In my case, it meant selling the musky boat and motorcycle I had as a single guy, and being that family guy. Now, I look back on four great kids all married, educated doing well, and like the Indian in the Dances With Wolves movie I say, “Good Trade!” It’s a decision for each to make on his own, but when I had a health thing four years that almost ended it all, I promise you I was not questioning what was important. It’s your family. Now I can sit here when I’m not fishing and argue about why Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, and St. Croix Rods are the way to live the musky dream to the fullest, while my “friends” like to say, “Where are the trophies, old man?” The fact is, I really have the best trophy cabinet, talking trophies who call and say, “Hi Dad.” |
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Posts: 267
| Brainerd MN would be a good choice. You have two developing lakes in Gull and Roosevelt that will produce some pigs. You have developed lakes such as Cedar, Alexander and Shamineau. Mille Lacs is close if you want to torture yourself. You have other great lakes within an hour in Miltona, Leech, Little Boy/Wabedo, Plantagenet, Bemidji, etc. |
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