Looking for a lake to retire on.

First time posting here. I’m from Kansas and primarily fish Glen Elder Reservior which has great crappie and walleye fishing but a short to nonexistent ice fishing season. I’m trying to find a lake to buy a cabin on for retirement. Number one requirement is a state with low taxes and cost of living. Must have a hard water season and obviously good numbers of quality fish.

I’ve been looking hard at South Dakota, lake Oahe and also the lakes around Webster. North Dakota’s Devils Lake, but I’m not sure if I can hack that much snow? I lived near Minneapolis one year and spent ten years there that winter! Montana and Wyoming are possibilities also.

Any ideas or suggestions…opinions welcome!

Thanks!

South Dakota Brookings area.

Low taxes? Not in minnesota!!! Lots of great lakes here and in Wisconsin but taxes are pretty high compared to south Dakota or montana etc…

If you didn’t like the winter in Minnesota, you won’t like it in the Dakotas, Montana or Wyoming either.

You might like the area around Eden, SD. They get snow but about half of what we do in the Minneapolis area… it’s a bit drier there. But still can get quite cold. WIND is the factor in the Dakotas. But no state tax, good fishing in about 40 different lakes in that area. Hard water, soft water. Walleyes, perch, smallmouth, crappies, pike, etc and pheasant hunting too nearby if you enjoy that. Go spend a couple nights at Hidden Hill Lodge and scope out the variety of year round outdoor activities. Or, there’s a fishing/hunting guide in that area – Joe Honer. Good guy, he moved there about 10 years ago after retiring early. Wanted to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities… and low taxes/cost of living.

FryDog62 wrote:

WIND is the factor in the Dakotas.

x2 I grew up in Bismarck, Fargo for 6 years, and now Minneapolis for 18. Minneapolis seems tropical compared to Fargo and Devils Lake is even colder. Here’s the crux, if you want hardwater fishing then you’re going to have real winter.

Do you have an option to try before you buy? Maybe rent a month on the summer/fall and again during the hard water season? If you buy can you get away for a month or better during the winter?

There’s other things besides weather and fishing that are of differing importance. Shopping, restaurants, entertainment, access to health care or airports, etc. If you hate what an areas has for these things you can always bail if you’re renting.

Of the options listed, the NE South Dakota might be the best of many worlds.

in considering trying to avoid winter weather maybe look into an area with mountains? My cousin lives in Bozeman MT. He says that due to the geographical nature of that town all the weather goes around the town. He says its the craziest thing, you can see a storm circle the town and its storming all around them but never comes into the town. Anyway, being in MT he has plenty of hunting and fishing opportunities. Mountain weather may offer a way to enjoy the winter activities without being buried in snow.

Thanks for the help guys!

I’m not opposed to winter cold, it’s getting 6′ of snow I didn’t like. I love cold weather and hibernate during our KS summers. Anything above 80 is too hot for me.

I’ve looked at the Billings area as I Elk hunt the Crazy Mountains each year. Just not close enough to a lake. I’m looking to drive minutes not hours to get to water.

Can anyone tell me specifics on Oahe or Waubay?

Please keep the ideas coming!

We don’t get 6′ of snow EVERY year…

The winter I lived in MN it did! A wall of snow down the drive.

The snow intel I gathered on Oahe and Waubay didn’t look that bad. Pierre showed dryer than Webster.

patk wrote:

There’s other things besides weather and fishing that are of differing importance. Shopping

By shopping you mean proximity to your local sporting goods store right

I grew up in ND and for retirement I won’t be going back, at least not in the winter. It’s pretty desolate with the wind out there.

But to each their own, I’d also look to a mountain climate that offers access to hard water. Perhaps that lake in ID that kicks out the perch. You can head into the high altitude for hard water fishing then back down to the prairie and generally the mountains protect you from terribly high amounts of snow and wind.

I’d also consider some of the things said above. Sure you can get away from many things in the Dakotas, but can you live with that? My parents drive 90 -120 miles each way to see good doctors and specialists and they still come to Rochester if they can’t figure it out. They have really poor grocery stores, no access to good cultural events/sporting events. They went 2-3 days on multiple occasions last year homebound until the snow plows reached them.

All said, I’d consider places like Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Alexandria, etc and pay the extra 10% in income taxes.

Eric

we do get over 6′ of taxes though….

All I can say on the tax end is be aware that you get what you pay for.

My parents tried a “low tax state” and they quickly realized the reason the taxes are low is because everything is sh!t. Sh!tty roads, sh!tty parks, crappy government services, etc. Yes, we have taxes in MN and we can argue all day about what they get spent on, but at the end of the day the do buy stuff and some of that stuff is pretty awesome compared to what I see in other states. Yeah, we pay taxes for pro sports team stadiums, but at least we HAVE teams to go see.

And add on to that the fact that EVERYTHING ELSE is taxed in these “no tax” states. Yes, income and/or sales may not be taxed, but then my parent’s trash service cost $300 a month and half of that was tax. The money has to come from somewhere.

Know before you move.

Grouse

“but then my parent’s trash service cost $300 a month and half of that was tax. The money has to come from somewhere.”

Holy B-Jesus!!! No wonder country folk burn it in 55 G drums

If you’re looking at the moving up north for hard water, the best investment you can possibly make is a warm ice suit and a nice pair of boots. All the other fancy stuff in the world is useless if you’re freezing your rear end off.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

All I can say on the tax end is be aware that you get what you pay for.

My parents tried a “low tax state” and they quickly realized the reason the taxes are low is because everything is sh!t. Sh!tty roads, sh!tty parks, crappy government services, etc. Yes, we have taxes in MN and we can argue all day about what they get spent on, but at the end of the day the do buy stuff and some of that stuff is pretty awesome compared to what I see in other states. Yeah, we pay taxes for pro sports team stadiums, but at least we HAVE teams to go see.

And add on to that the fact that EVERYTHING ELSE is taxed in these “no tax” states. Yes, income and/or sales may not be taxed, but then my parent’s trash service cost $300 a month and half of that was tax. The money has to come from somewhere.

Know before you move.

Grouse

Right on TFG. I’ve said it before. All states HAVE to have tax money. One way or another they get it. WI is property tax hell. Iowa is sales tax and car registration fees. Some states brag about low taxes but check out what some of the fees for different things cost. In my mind a fee is the same as a tax.

John I’m in the same boat as you with the same thoughts. But sometimes I think just stay put in NE Kansas and just go to SD for a week or so each ice season. Should be retired by the end of this year.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

All I can say on the tax end is be aware that you get what you pay for.

My parents tried a “low tax state” and they quickly realized the reason the taxes are low is because everything is sh!t. Sh!tty roads, sh!tty parks, crappy government services, etc. Yes, we have taxes in MN and we can argue all day about what they get spent on, but at the end of the day the do buy stuff and some of that stuff is pretty awesome compared to what I see in other states. Yeah, we pay taxes for pro sports team stadiums, but at least we HAVE teams to go see.

And add on to that the fact that EVERYTHING ELSE is taxed in these “no tax” states. Yes, income and/or sales may not be taxed, but then my parent’s trash service cost $300 a month and half of that was tax. The money has to come from somewhere.

Know before you move.

Grouse

Jeez Grouse…
Everything is SH!T…??? Theres alot of negativity coming at the Dakotas and an awful lot of chatter on how much you guys enjoy yourselves coming out here on trips….
If you are with in a reasonable distance to Sioux Falls.. they have a Nationally Recognized Hospital system that Rivals that of “Mayo Health Systems” in many areas..

Sure there isnt a little lake chock full of Milfoil and regulations out everyones doorstep out here. But there are “plenty” of opportunities with in an Hours drive of Sioux Falls.
There is an World class event center that hosts all the big names and tours that that stop at the cities.
We host NCAA basketball tournaments in March.

So I wouldnt say its SH!T.. for me you can keep your Black lives matter movements laying on the road on your way to work.. your over the top liberal government, violent crime rate, your crazy governors, and hotbed of ISIS recruiting, grid locked traffic everyday.. ect ect ect.. These are some of the reasons why I left 8 years ago..
I live 30 miles away from work, and it takes me 15 minutes to get there… Im not gridlocked half my life.. I can leave my cars unlocked and my belongings outside if I wish, there is no securtiy system, and Im not laying awake at night worrying about getting robbed, and I dont go to bed to sound of sirens, gas is on average .30 cheaper per gallon, and I got an AWESOME grocery store just 15 min from my house..

I can shoot 4 bucks a year, I can shoot World class elk in my own state, and I dont pay any Income taxes.. but watch out for that pothole everynow and again. ( our roads are just fine)

I wouldnt be so quick to cast your “everything is Sh!t” net over 2 entire states.

Ps. My trash gets picked up for $55/mo.. and there is no tax on that.

sktrwx2200 wrote:

I live 30 miles away from work, and it takes me 15 minutes to get there…

Are you flying to work, or actually driving 120 mph? Either way, that’s pretty neat.

haha..Private jet (with all the tax money im not paying)..just kidding… I drive about 83 on the interstate.. maybe its a little less than 30 miles, I better google it.

sktrwx2200 wrote:

So I wouldnt say its SH!T.. for me you can keep your Black lives matter movements laying on the road on your way to work.. your over the top liberal government, violent crime rate, your crazy governors, and hotbed of ISIS recruiting, grid locked traffic everyday.. ect ect ect.. These are some of the reasons why I left 8 years ago..

And things just haven’t been the same since you left. The entire state of terrorist, traffic-bound liberals are begging you to come back.

Fool,

I am just defending calling a entire state SH!T… I never said Minnesota was SH!T.. sure I listed a few unfavorable well documented things about the state in defense.. but there still is plenty there still to like. I still enjoy the state.. in fact I just spent the holiday there. Spending my money that I am not paying for inheritance tax, income tax, or personal property tax. (joke)

Not trying to get into a fishing pole measuring contest here.. just struck a nerve when the usually level headed Grouse said that, ” the reason the taxes are low is because everything is sh!t.”

Obviously that is a ridiculous comment.

sktrwx2200 wrote:

Fool,

I am just defending calling a entire state SH!T… I never said Minnesota was SH!T.. sure I listed a few unfavorable well documented things about the state in defense.. but there still is plenty there still to like. I still enjoy the state.. in fact I just spent the holiday there. Spending my money that I am not paying for inheritance tax, income tax, or personal property tax.

Not trying to get into a fishing pole measuring contest here.. just struck a nerve when the usually level headed Grouse said that, ” the reason the taxes are low is because everything is sh!t.”

Obviously that is a ridiculous comment.

I didn’t necessarily agree with Grouse’s comments, either — but you certainly took a hard right turn into racial/political stuff.

Sportsmen are not a homogenous bunch, we come from all walks of life. I feel it’s a shame not to embrace that.

Just my 2 cents.

pool2fool wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>sktrwx2100 wrote:</div>
Fool,

I am just defending calling a entire state SH!T… I never said Minnesota was SH!T.. sure I listed a few unfavorable well documented things about the state in defense.. but there still is plenty there still to like. I still enjoy the state.. in fact I just spent the holiday there. Spending my money that I am not paying for inheritance tax, income tax, or personal property tax.

Not trying to get into a fishing pole measuring contest here.. just struck a nerve when the usually level headed Grouse said that, ” the reason the taxes are low is because everything is sh!t.”

Obviously that is a ridiculous comment.

I didn’t necessarily agree with Grouse’s comments, either — but you certainly took a hard right turn into racial/political stuff.

Sportsmen are not a homogenous bunch, we come from all walks of life. I feel it’s a shame not to embrace that.

Just my 2 cents.

well said

John Ingalls wrote:

The snow intel I gathered on Oahe and Waubay didn’t look that bad. Pierre showed dryer than Webster.

You’re correct and there’s an easy guide. The closer west to the Rockies will be drier. It will also have more variability in the winter. ex. Fargo has -20 and rarely ever breaks freezing. While Billings can have -20 they will also have 50 degree breaks in January.

The other thing I had to get used to. 6″ is snow is a huge deal in the middle of the Dakotas. The wind blows it sideways and only collects in a few places. 6″ in northern MN is not a big deal because it falls straight down.

Other food for thought, draw a circle or two around the town. Say what is within three hours drive. Do you care about what is or is not in that circle? Waybay/Webster can get you to Sioux Falls, Fargo, or the Twin Cities. Pierre/Oahe is pretty lonely out there. Again, different strokes, different folks.

cougareye wrote:

I’d also consider some of the things said above. Sure you can get away from many things in the Dakotas, but can you live with that?

My folks don’t have a ND address anymore. Neither do my aunt and uncle on my dad’s side. All were originally ND farm kids and then lived in towns for their careers.

Both split time between florida(tax purposes and no shoveling) and MN lake country.

I would love to retire in the area out from Reno/Carson City. Nevada doesn’t have state income tax because of the legal gambling.

From the looking I’ve done the NE South Dakota area was/is my pick for my favorite fish and some ringneck pheasant. Leaving for my summer trip soon to WY MT and ID. Escaping the heat to the mountains. First stop is Encampment WY then La Barge, from there to Butte MT then down the Salmon river in ID. Already tired of cutting the crabgrass in KS.

sktrwx2200 wrote:

I am just defending calling a entire state SH!T… I never said Minnesota was SH!T.. sure I listed a few unfavorable well documented things about the state in defense.. but there still is plenty there still to like. I still enjoy the state.. in fact I just spent the holiday there. Spending my money that I am not paying for inheritance tax, income tax, or personal property tax. (joke)

Ummm, I wasn’t referring to SD. I never even mentioned it. My parents tried a state considerably farther south. Sorry, you felt my comments were about SD, but they were not.

But I apologize, I changed discussion gears without a clutch and my comment was poorly stated and unduly harsh. Well, maybe not unduly, the state my parents tried WAS… well anyway, but it was not any of the states mentioned and I should have made that clear.

Agree absolutely SD would be among the best if wind and winter aren’t an issue and if moving to an area where you sure you are happy with the services offered. My advice was not on location, only to consider carefully factors beyond taxes, recreation, and weather before committing.

Grouse