Texas Lakes

[xZenxNemox]

Just spent the weekend down in Dallas/Denton area and I do believe I fell in love. Now being from Kansas, you tend to forget about the real world out there. We (wife and I) drove down to hang with my brother, his wife, and a buddy of mine for the IRL/Nascar Truck races and had a blast at night, but it had nothing on what we ended up finding during the day. Lake Louisville and Joe Pool. I think I found a new home at Sneaky Petes at Eagle Point Marina.

I am now ready to sell the 5th wheel, both SeaDoos and my left arm (need the right for the throttle) Hell, I would even sell the dog if the wife would not kill me ;) .

Now I have to ask the big question, how many of you frequent the area, A bud an I have been kicking the idea of going after a franchise in the DFW area and it really got kicking this weekend after meeting with a few potential partners. The latest word is that if financing and approval goes through in the next 90 days or so, I will be moving this early winter and would like to meet some of the crews from here for fun in the sun.

Also, I'm used to a 9000 acre lake and will need a guide for all the good spots on the area lakes. Any takers?

[BDannecker]

If you thought Lewisville and Pool were good, just wait until you get to Texoma and Travis. You WILL have died and gone to heaven! :smokin

Bruce...

[firehill19]

I'll second Travis. Just got back from 4 days there. Wished it would of been a week.

[Bottomlesspit2]

I am envious. You guys must not have the Texas fluctuating water levels in North TX lakes. Here in SW TX our lake Amistad fluctuates 30-55 feet low. This makes for some real sporty runs since the "landscape" constantly changes. Open water one day, an island the next. A lot of ruined out drives down here! I was just enjoying your descriptions of the North TX lakes. Hope to drag the boat up that way sometime. Amistad is huge, but fluctuates too much. Last summer, we got down to only 1 open boat ramp! We are right on the Mexico border...the darn Rio Grande river is drying up!
Happy boating up there.
Ken

[liquid]

We frequent several lakes and go to the coast occasionally, the closest lake being 10 minutes away and the farthest 3 and 1/2 hours includingTravis, Possum Kingdom ( awesome on the 4rth ), Texoma, Cedar Creek Lake, Eagle Mountain, and Clearlake, You'll need a guide for sure at Texoma, I beleive it is around 90,000 acres, We have a pretty big group of Baja's that get together every weekend move on down



Liquid Asset

[GottaHaveIt]

Wow, that's a lot of fluctuation!

Lake Conroe may be small, but it only fluctuates about 2-3' at the most. During the summer, evaporation and drainage for the Houston water supply bring it down but only 3' max. During the rainy season it may flood but only 3' above normal or so.

Lake Conroe water level website URL. (http://tx.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=08067600)

[firehill19]

Yes, my home lake, Lake Conroe. Not as clear and nice as Travis but great party lake. Rough on weekends. About 22,000 acres. Check out www.delllago.com for a great place to stay.

[Bottomlesspit2]

Yeah, we have some serious water level flux here! I've seen it 80 feet low at one point. I can't seem to find the acre feet of our lake, but I know it has 850 miles of shoreline. Last time on the lake it was 55 feet low but we were still seeing 180 feet in many places on the depth finder. I guess there is still plenty of water, but all contained in very steep, narrow channels. It's cool to see the old spanish and american ranch houses/mansions as they appear from the lowering water line. There were some seriously large palaces that were flooded out when the lake was built back in the 60's. BIG ranch millionairs down here!!! I'll have to try out Travis lake soon!
Ken

[firehill19]

Ken, Lake Amistad is about 66,000 acres full. Here's a link: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish...ake_id.htm (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/amistad/lake_id.htm) . Travis can fluctuate also. 2 years ago when we were there it was 45 feet below normal yearly average. Still excellant Baja'ing though.

[BDannecker]

Unless I'm going to Texoma or Travis for poker runs, I boat the E. Texas lakes of Tyler (1,700 acres) or Palastine (28,000 a). There typically aren't any problems in the summer with water level though in the 9 years I've lived here I have seen Tyler close all but 1 ramp. That same year Travis was down about 80 feet as well. Still had enough water to keep the lawn sprinklers running though. ;)

Bruce...

[ckmansell]

Any you guys from down there on Lake Texoma know a guy named BJ with a two tone purple 342 Boss "Tapped Out" ?
Curt

[Bajaman81190TC]

How do the ramps work to accomidated the water flux?

A good friend just moved to Round Rock from Fort Myers Florida. She loves it. She has been on travis onces and said it was increadable. We are thinking of taking a trip down this off season.(we live in MN) I figured we might as well bring the boat.

What is the boating season down there? We where thinking around October or April.

Brian

[BDannecker]

Brian,

The season is year round, especially compared to MN! :rollin

Check out this site for more info: www.LTPA.net

Bruce...

[firehill19]

I agree with Bruce, compared with what your used to, you could consider it a year round lake. But the water does get cool. When the lake starts going down, certain boat ramps start closing. As i mentioned, 2 years ago, only 1 ramp was open on whole lake when it dropped 45 feet. But your talking very deep lake. Last weekend i saw 112 ft. on depth before my gauge started acting up. Travis is basicly a river with cliffs. Lots of great places to dock and have your favorite beverage. Great coves with lots of rafting parties. Read up on it like the site Bruce gave you. It will be worth the drive.

[xZenxNemox]

Next year looks like it is going to be full of fun and travel. Thanks for the tips guys, I'm planning already.