My parents grew up on farms in Dawson. I’d spend half of my summer vacation every year working in the fields with my grandpa. I was driving the pickup in the fields at age 12. He taught me a lot about responsibility and hard work!
I’ll always view Nebraska as a second home, however I love all that Minnesota has to offer.
I live in White Bear Lake, a great community with great fishing opportunities.
I’m pretty sure you could throw a dart at a map of Minnesota and be closer to some pretty good walleye water than just about anywhere in Nebraska.
Keep us posted!
Very cool belletaine it’s a small world. Yes Nebraska really is a great state with lots of hard working folks.
I agree with you about al that minnesota has to offer. I live in eastern Nebraska and walleye are pretty scarce. We have a few good reservoirs in western Nebraska but by the time I drove out there I’m better off driving to Minnesota!
Thanks for the info white bear lake seems like a good area we will be sure to check it out.
I assume it depends on certain roads, but for us the 5.5 mile commute from south Minneapolis to downtown Minneapolis took the same or longer than the 13 mile commute to the northern suburbs – especially when the snow hits. And again, just going off rankings and anecdotal stories, the schools are great – which isn’t a deal breaker with MN open enrollment if you can transport your own child(ren) and the district isn’t at capacity.
I live in Eagan, just south of the airport. Great location, awesome schools and easy access to Pool 2, not too bad from Pool 4 of the Mississippi and close to both downtowns.
I would be happy to get you on the water too.
If it were me I would live north and be closer to Mille Lacs. It also saves a lot of drive time if you decide to head up to Northern MN for a weekend.
I grew up in small town Iowa and South Dakota. Moved to the south metro in my early 20s and I was genuinely excited for the change. Lived there for about 3 years before moving an hour out of the metro onto a few acres in the country.
Living in the cities is certainly a change, and it all depends on who you are and what you are looking for. At first I loved it, and being able to go places and do things. But I quickly got tired of dealing with the traffic and didn’t do much of anything besides stay home. Obviously people love living in the city, or else there wouldn’t be millions that do and they wouldn’t be growing nationwide. It just simply wasn’t for me, and there’s no right or wrong with that.
My job requires me to drive all over the metro area. Traffic is pretty similar everywhere with some notable exceptions like 494 through Bloomington, the “Fish Lake interchange” in Maple Grove and 62 from Edina to the airport. From my experience the east west routes seem to be the worst and timing is everything. The earlier the better. It sounds like your wife has to do her own driving so public transportation seems out.
Don’t forget about your own job/commute. Also you didn’t mention kids. Some areas are better than others for schools. Just a few more things to think about.
This is exactly it for me, pick a location where you can have easy commutes anywhere in the metro – have heard too many stories with layoffs/relocations like this: someone living in Stillwater had their job move from Woodbury to Eden Prairie with no ability to work from home, which would be a less than pleasant commute.
For reference, I grew up in western MN, currently live in St. Louis Park and to me the exurb communities feel like purgatory – I’m neither in the city nor out of the city, just somewhere and I’d rather have the advantages of living close to the city (concerts, sporting events, shorter commutes, transportation options) vs those that come with living 30-50 miles out. It’s all personal preference so be patient when looking and keep asking questions. Good luck with what you decide.
Thank you guys I really do appreciate all the information! Hope to meet some of you guys on the water someday!
The good thing about living 50 minutes north is I can start my dirt bikes and RIP down the road any time. Me and the kids can take wheelers right from the driveway all over town and then the atv trail is 1 mile from home. To me I’d rather drive to work and live where I can play.
We tried the living in the suburbs deal. And after the 15th time the neighbors called the cops due to dirt bikes wheelers, harleys, and other fun toys I got sick of it and moved back north where I originally came from. I work all over the metro so I’m always prepared for at least a hour commute but that’s fine with my company truck.
Bearcats Nashinal Anthim
Welcome back to Minnesota! 
If you’re into fly fishing, there’s some great oppurtunities just south of you in the driftless region.
Don’t rule out the east metro. Puts you closer to Pool 2 & the St. Croix. IMHO (with the exception of Woodbury) the SE quadrant of 494 from 35E to 94 is best kept traffic secret in the metro. Living in western Wi I always curse the traffic in Mpls compared to the St Paul side.
The redneckerest 
I’d look at the north metro or better yet…..north of the metro.
Just my humble biased opinion
It would blow having to drive through the entire metro to head up to Mille Lacs or farther for the day/week/weekend.
The Forest Lake and Hugo area are 30-35 minutes from the airport (with light traffic), and also that much closer to Mille Lacs and Lake Superior
X2. Moved near Hugo a year ago and love it. Easy access to 35E, I can be to either major city in a half hour or less, and heading north is a breeze. We’re only 20 minutes from the St Croix, and there’s a pile of nice lakes within a 10-20 minute drive. We left Blaine and are very happy we did.
Not to hate on the other guys areas but ne metro is the best!! St croix and pool 2 are the best walleye fisheries in the metro and only 1hr 15 to mille lacs. Plus you are far enough from the city. Just my 2 cents
I prefer the east side as long as you stay away from woodbury 
From the St.Croix (Minesota/Wisconsin border) its a 15 20 minute drive to st.paul and extra 15 minutes to downtown Minneapolis drive to the airport 30 35 minutes. Western Wisconsin towns
on the border are nice also. Some nice lakes in the north east area to commute to.
Oh! along with a great fishery like the St.Croix there is 2 FleetFarms on the east side. You gotta live close to a fleetfarm!
I’ve lived and worked all over, 5 different states, both rural and metro areas. Couldn’t pay me to live in the twin cities again. You could live 45 minutes south of the metro (Red Wing). Close enough to the city if you have to work there but 1/10th of the hassle. Better fishing, cheaper living & taxes the further south of the metro too.
I’m no lake fisherman so I’m gonna say that the Mississippi River, pools 4 & 5 are the best fisheries I know of. We smash walleye, perch, crappie, bluegills, sturgeon, catfish, white bass, Northern Pike, even large & small mouth bass.
X2 on the political cesspool. MN is a great place. I don’t believe most of us consider Minneapolis/St Paul to be a place that reflects the true Minnesota.
Welcome to MN!
Think daily convenience-I talked to a guy who bragged to me that he lives just a few miles from the lakes I drive 40 miles to fish. But he drove 40 miles to get to work! I fish once a week and a bit more in the summer. I would rather be close to work-also trading time in your car for a bigger house or property is a bad exchange-NOTHING is more valuable than your time.
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