Boat ramps closed

[jasonh]

I feel like I'm living in some alternative universe here in Texas where it's the middle of July and we've yet to hit 100 degrees and all the boat ramps are closed due to epic flooding. My wife is absolutely delighted that I have nothing to do on the weekends. Instead of fishing, I've been relegated to performing countless household chores, trips to the mall (shudder), and holding yarn on my outstretched arms as my wife knits drink coasters and watches What Not to Wear. Well, not really, but that's how it feels. If the water doesn't recede here soon, I'm going to lose my mind.


In the immortal words of Frank Costanza, Serenity now!

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Yup Jasonh, we don't have the actual volume of rain you do there but we do have it. Last summer was very nice in July n' August and this one is more typical of the Seattle area drip drip drip. JR ps: It doesn't stop us web foots (with moss 'tween the webs) from havin' fun anyway!

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Boat ramps closed

... holding yarn on my outstretched arms as my wife knits drink coasters and watches What Not to Wear.

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

And we just know that she's looking over your shoulder carrying a nice big frying pan


Mrs RF, ya want to have seen what he said about you last week!!!

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Boat ramps closed

I guess y'all don't have high water ramps huh? Maybe the Texas DNR and corp of engineer need to be lookin into them rarely use things, in your neck of the woods that is.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Boat ramps closed

I guess y'all don't have high water ramps huh? Maybe the Texas DNR and corp of engineer need to be lookin into them rarely use things, in your neck of the woods that is.

The natural Lake that RR island is in averages about 100 inches of rainfall per year, (sometimes it is 80 and sometimes 150). The dock I have on the mainland where I tie me old boats n' black anchors when I'm not playin' is 5 feet out of the water this time of year, (except the concrete pier at the end where I moor me old 'rat' boats to). In the winter that dock is under water at times. The gravel public boat launch is such that a person can launch all year long regardless of the surface height of the Lake. Most Lakes in Western Washington where the rain fall is 30 to 40 inches on average don't have the change in surface level we experience at RR island, but their ramps are designed with lots of potential liquid sunshine in mind. JR

 

[salty87]

Re: Boat ramps closed

lake travis was opened yesterday, lake austin will be soon.

hang in there jasonh, what lake are you on?

gonefishie, most lakes in central texas are into their flood pools with floodgates open, water over the spillway, and water in some people's houses. some ramps would work but your boat will be impounded if they catch ya out there.

 

[jasonh]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Our ramps are designed to absorb maybe 5ft of varying water levels. Last year was a drought and the level was low. The end of the ramp was visible and big boat trailers would hang when the wheels rolled off into the clay muck that Lake Lewisville is surrounded by. I think I posted last year about some guy practically ripping the transmission out of his Escalade trying to haul his cruiser out.

Another wonderful side effect of all this flooding is the displaced wildlife swarming our neighborhoods. Snakes, possums, skunks, raccoons.....you name it and I've seen 5 dead ones on our main street.

 

[jasonh]

Re: Boat ramps closed

RE - Salty 87

I'm on Lake Lewisville, just north of Dallas. I want to fish, but I ain't driving to Austin!

There are some lakes around here I could get on (Lavon, Hubbard), but I just don't want to drive and then try to fish an unfamiliar lake that's real high. Probably just wind up catching a submerged picnic table with my prop.

 

[chuck_050382]

Re: Boat ramps closed

A submerged picnic table would make pretty good structure for the fish.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Luckily most of our ramps can accomidate up to 15 feet of change. But, some are out of the water in the winter draw down, but when the lake floods its banks by 10 feet, those are still usable. Others are usable during draw down, but submerged during flooding. Makes boating a possibility all year. We even have a few that are really long, and practical for all year. We even have a couple that have an elavation change of 40 feet from the top to the bottom. Accomidates more than 35 feet of change, and still have ample room to get trailer in and not fall off the back.

But, in your situation, just use an exit ramp as a launch ramp. When I was coming back to GA from Philmont scout ranch two weeks ago, I saw 2 fellers in a 12ish foot jonboat powered by an older merc tiller heading under the overpass.

A submerged picnic table would make pretty good structure for the fish.

Actually last year, (maybe year before) when Allatoona really flooded its banks, a guy in an overloaded deck boat hit a picnic table at a high rate of speed. How much of an idiot does one have to be to going on plane within the tree line?! Scares the he!! out of me to think that I boat in the same place as these idiots, in a boat 3 times as small as theirs.

 

[dhath]

Re: Boat ramps closed

RE - Salty 87

I'm on Lake Lewisville, just north of Dallas. I want to fish, but I ain't driving to Austin!

I have been launching my boat at Hidden Cove.... It gets very busy since it is one of the only ramps open. It is off of FM423 Between The Colony and Little Elm.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Boat ramps closed

A submerged picnic table would make pretty good structure for the fish.

Hell yeah it does! and flooded brush too. A long time ago, our biggest reservoir in the state was flooded so high that only the roof of the shelter house, where pre-tournament meetings normally take place, was showing. I can remember flipping a jig at that shelter house. We went so far off the main lake itself, I was flipping at an old tractor parked in somebody corn field. We launched from the road that lead to the ramp.

some ramps would work but your boat will be impounded if they catch ya out there.

WHY?

 

[Windykid]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Picnic tables are the least of the worrys here, The roofs of the pavillions are as bad. Last year the docks were sitting 10 feet from any water and on rocks. This year the roads to the ramps are flooded. Is amazing how much debree is out there.

 

[Windykid]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Its raining here again!

 

[57whitehouse]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Hello jasonh and dhath. i've been trying to get my boat in the water as well. i've launched twice at hidden cove. about 2 feet of ramp left above water. it flows real well and i've never waited for the ramp more than 5-10 min. if you ever see me out there, i have the old yellow boat with fins (the one in the pic). hope to see you there if i ever get my motor running smooth.

ps welcome to iboats dhath.

 

[dhath]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Thanks for the welcome!!! I try to get out at least once a week. I would go out every night until the flooding, now the ramp is too far away to get to after work. Had the DT's for a couple of weeks. 4th of July wife and I drove around to every lake from Ray Roberts to Lavon trying to find a place to launch.

1991 Wellcraft 233 Eclpise Blue and White. Haven't figured out a name yet..... But I will

 

[i386]

Re: Boat ramps closed

Our lake is down about 9 feet. Many of our boat ramps don't even reach the water. So I've been spending my free time riding dirt bikes in the woods and seeing how many bug bites I can get.

 

[jasonh]

Re: Boat ramps closed

I appreciate the tip on Hidden Cove; I know exactly where that's at.


It's good to hear from local members, hope to see ya'll out on the water sometime!

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Boat ramps closed

When i fished lake Lewisville, i used the Hickory Creek boat ramps off of I-35, i'm surprised to hear that those ramps may be closed due to the heavy rains and flooding, because do descend from quite high ground.