Woodbury's climate and fishing (Chattanooga, Greeneville: low crime, houses, school)

[Jim Mac]

My wife and I are considering retiring in Woodbury in the future. We have never been there, but have read about it. Are there many lakes in the area, and how far from town? What I read about the weather said the average snowfall is 8" per year, and the average January high temp is 48 degrees. Do these stats sound right? Is it feasible to fish year round? A big concern of mine is humidityin the summer. Is Woodbury a high humidity area? Thanks, sorry about all the questions.

[alleycat]

I don't think there's much in the way of fishing right around Woodbury, but within an hours drive is two large TVA lakes: Priest and Center Hill. Further south and northwest are some additional large lakes.

A long-term average of about 8" sounds about right, but it doesn't really tell the story. Some years there might be very little snow, and some years there might be considerably more than 8". For the past few years we haven't had much snow, but I remember some years from when I was young when snows stayed on the ground for perhaps a month.

Some people do fish year-round (or close to it), but I personally wouldn't want to be out of the lakes much from December to February, although we can occasionally have some warm days even in January.

Yes, it will be very hot and humid in summer, especially from about mid-June through most of August.

[Jim Mac]

I'd have to drive an hour to fish? That's not good. The high humidity is also bad. Is the whole state high humidity? Thanks.

[alleycat]

It's probably somewhat less than an hour from Woodbury to Center Hill (I'm not exactly sure); I said "within an hours drive" to be on the safe side.

I'm not sure why you chose Woodbury, but if I were an avid fisherman I believe I would look somewhere else. There are many small towns near the many lakes and rivers. Woodbury just happens to be in an area where there's not much water nearby.

Not just the whole state, but most of the southern half of the United States east of the Rockies is going to be hot and humid in the summer. In Tennessee the heat and humidity is a little less in the east part of the state in the mountainous areas, but even there you don't escape it completely.

[mrs1885]

Woodbury is gorgeous, but if you're looking for places to fish, I'm guessing it's not your place. Up toward Celina would probably be better, or out by Chattanooga. Chatt has lots of water.

Weather
Yes, summers are hot and humid, but it's all relative to what you're used to. I've never been in Wisconsin, but I'd guess they'll be very long, hot summers for you. I'm from SW FL and when summer rolls around we laugh through it. Yep, hot and uncomfy (and we don't have heat and air in our house either), but compared to SW FL it's a breeze.

Winters to me are cold, but tolerable. Keep in mind, I"m from SW FL, so if I can handle them, you'll do just fine. This will be my third winter in TN. The first year I got a few inches a couple times in the winter. Last year was barely dustings. Woodbury does get an inch or so more than where I am (about half an hour SE of Woodbury).

If you go to maps.google.com and only put in TN it will bring up the entire state. You can zoom in and then move it around to see the rivers and lakes in the state. I personally like the middle and east part of the state much, much more. The west is more flat and from what I've heard has a much higher crime rate (generally speaking) than middle and east TN.

Good luck!

[Jim Mac]

Thanks guys. I first learned of Woodbury when I took a quiz at ****.com. WE want a small town, low crime, affordable housing, lakes to fish, pretty, scenic area. It sounds like I should stick with the eastern half of the state? Any other town suggestions?

[Ridgerunner]

I think you should check out Greeneville and Elizabethton.

[RS-1080]

Small towns? Houses are spaced out here in DeKalb, and nice deep creeks that in alot of places, you can mount up on an atv from your drive way and ride them to a water hole. Plus, the lake is only 15 minutes away down the backroads. Liberty and Dowelltown has a poulation of just over 300 each and Alexandria was just over 800 last I looked it up.All three are in DeKalb county with Alexandria being the farthest from the two others that are nearly side by side.Three towns share the only grade school here and theres only 532 kids there from k- through 8'th grade total. Son moved on up to our only highschool 20 miles away and our daughter is still in the grade school down here, it's all they have ever known and know everyone in school. Alot of parents know each other as well by name and can tell you where just about anyone lives in most of the county if they have a kid in school. Smithville is way bigger but still not big to most folks not from around here,and is close to the lake as well.Small enough fer ya?

Oh yes, before I forget. It don't matter if your in Cannon county or DeKalb either one,, folks will wave at you when you pass by their house, or when you pass them by in another car


These are backroads for miles,, not drive ways.