lake mead info

[travaler18]

Re: lake mead info

oh ,and nice family pic QC

 

[Jay-NH]

Re: lake mead info

Great write up Charlie.
Had to see if I could post a picture. Hope it comes out.
Jay

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: lake mead info

I went to your picture link. The last picture (last shot) there was in a cove that I can't name from the angle of the picture. Either that or I have never been in there which would be weird, so I wanted to know where it was so I could beat Pierutrus there on Thanksgiving . . .

Not to worry, there are plenty of places available at that time of the year.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: lake mead info

hi guys; i posted this on wayns world but didnt get much response.
we would like to spend from nov. 22 or so to the end of jan. this year on the boat in the water. when checking water data.com, both mead and havasu are warmer that time of the year than powell so we are thinking about traveling further south. we have'nt ever been south of the north end of powell so we'll be charting new water where ever we end up landing.
my question is, which lake down there would be the best to winter our boat on? it would be nice to do some swimming but can pass if to cold.
having never been south of powell, any advice you can pass on would be a big help.
it looks like havasu is the warmest but not ever being down there, you guys might be able to recomend which lake or lakes we should try and any do's and don'ts that we can plan for. stuff we might over look from lack of experance.
any opions on what where and how to do this are more than welcome.
thanks john

 

[QC]

Re: lake mead info

Would you rather have a place where you can see a few more people, along with some shopping, restaurants, grocery stores, movies etc., orrrr would you rather have more of the remote Marina experience, a few more getaway spots and some more distant cruises like Powell?

If the former (people and stuff to do), definitiely Havasu, if the latter, Mead . . . Havasu is always just a little warmer. Oh, it might be VERY tough to get a slip at Lake Havasu Marina, but there are a couple of other options though.

BTW, forget Mohave

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: lake mead info

some place where we can anchor or beach and get away. daily hikes and a swim weather permiting, and get some pictures.
some place we could get back to every 5 days or so to dump our porta-pot,we have a extra bottom for it so that gives us 10 gal. but that still is something we watch, get fresh water and fuel.
we had thought to do this at powell but it looks like the temps are nicer in the lower lakes.
we will be living on the boat. no camping.
boy your up and around early.i was hoping to catch you thanks for the quick reply. will be off till this afternoon now

 

[QC]

Re: lake mead info

Sounds like Mead to me. Havasu has that, but you really don't get the "getting away" feeling. Since you are a Powell Boater, if you like the remote feel of Bullfrog, then I am guessing you'll like Temple Bar . . .

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: lake mead info

ok; i'll be coming in from the north. it looks like we could launch at three corner hole on the overton arm and then travel down lake to temple basin around 30 miles. then we would be free to put around and explore.
does this sound ok? or am i lost on google earth?
how long can you leave tow vehicle and trailer at the ramp. the reason i ask is i was thinking i heard somewhere you could only park at the ramps at powell for 14 days at a time.
does the national park service administrate lake mead to?
is there any chance my year powell permint sticker is good at mead?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: lake mead info

Three corner hole? never heard of that one. Are you talking about Overton Beach Marina?

Overton Beach Marina has been moved since the lake is low. The launch ramp is still there, but no facilities. I launched out of Overton 1 1/2 years ago and the ramp was very shallow, truck front tires 5' out into the water. I would launch out of Echo Bay if coming from the north.

I kind of remember something about 14 days, but you would want to contact the Lake Mead National Recreation Area offices to check on their regulations. I doubt your Powell annual pass will work at Mead since it's a different park system. The last time I took the north road there was no park entrance facilities, so you will most likely need to send the park offices $40 and wait to get the truck/boat stickers in the mail. Heck, even if you hit the south entrances to the park there is no guarantee that you will be able to buy the stickers since they don't keep the entrance offices open on a regular basis from what I've seen.

One word of caution, the lake road south of Overton Beach is in pretty bad condition, narrow and very bumpy in sections, doesn't get good until you are about 10 miles past the Echo Bay turn off. I still take the road, but drive with caution.

And yeah, as QC said, I wouldn't look at Mohave as a destination. The long north-south basin can kick up some nasty swells and there isn't as much to see as compared to Mead. The best part of Mohave (from Willow Beach to Hoover Dam) has HP restrictions from Labor day to Memorial Day and completely closed to powered boats Sunday and Monday. That being said,,, I fish/camp/boat on Mohave instead of Mead...

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: lake mead info

i think we must be talking about the same place. its on the west side and near the north end of the overton arm. on google earth the only name that was close to there was three corner hole but it looked like it was south of the ramp.
if mead is a national recreation area then i have a pass that will cover entrance for pu. we get one for flaming gorge and its a nat rec area.
at powell you have to have a nat. park pass+buy either a 2 week boat permit or a 1 year boat sticker. i just re read your post and see where you have to have boat and truck stickers so i would only have 1/2 of what i need.
dan is the south road gravel and dirt? would i need to put my mud flaps on to protect our boat from chips? if its to rough we can go around but by the map it looks like another 100 mile of driving.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: lake mead info

The lake road is all paved (unless they are doing road construction), but the section I mentioned has some rough spots where I slow down to 25-30MPH. The posted speed limit is 50MPH, but there are sections (some unmarked) where 50MPH is way too fast, especially while towing.

I wouldn't avoid this section of road, just take it slow and watch for bumps and washboard areas in the pavement, especially on the corners.

 

[QC]

Re: lake mead info

Yeah, and based on dan's notes above I am thinking you should launch at Echo Bay. Also, I would be surprised if your pass would work, I have an annual Lake Mead National Recreation Area pass for the boat and the truck, but it only entitles me to Mead and Mohave (part of the LMNRA).

dan, I totally agree on your Mohave comments and I bought the current boat specifically to cross that basin and the Virgin Basin on Mead. I was comfortable everywhere else on the Colorado other than those two places with my previous boat . . Also agree on Willow to the Dam, and I also like the stretch from Willow to Cottonwood Cove. You can have the rest of it and that is the coldest of the lakes, especially above Cottonwood . . . I despise Katherine!!!

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: lake mead info

ok; i found echo bay and that looks fine. this is just what we were looking for. some first hand information from guys that have been there.
our pass is "america the beautiful" the national parks and federal recreational lands pass
valid for entrance or standard amenity fees at federal recreation sites. -u.s. fish and wildlife service-forest service-bureau of land management-national park service-bureau of reclamation-

shari my wife buys one each year for $80. we are able to use it at both nat parks in moab, yellowstone and grand teton,little sierra in utah, flaming gorge, powell, and the federal stuff down in the south west corner of colorado.
i'll check and see if its valid at mead and let you know. we use it enough that it pays us. it's only good for entrance fees though so. powell is the only place we have had to buy another permit for the boat. when my mother in law is with us we only have to pay 1/2 price for required fees and camp grounds. she has the golden age pass. 2years ago we got our powell year sticker for 1/2 price. TRUST ME its better to leave her home and pay full price. she just dosnt get the whole boat thing.

thanks very much. we will plan around this and keep you posted as nov. gets closer. if you think of anything else please post and i'll keep an eye out on this thread

 

[QC]

Re: lake mead info

I agree, that pass should get you in, but not the boat . . . I think my annual for both was only $40, so it shouldn't hurt too much for the boat only.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: lake mead info

jaxnjil,

Depending on the size of your boat.....Are you in need of a deep launch?
From the friends I talked to, Echo is really shallow and you basically have to run an obstacle course to get out from the marina to the lake.
You might want to call ahead first and ask.
If your 24' or bigger, I would recommend Calville to put in at because they constantly are digging out the launch area to accommodate the larger vessels.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: lake mead info

thanks for the heads up. our boat 24 ft with the swim platform and draws three and a half feet of water.
most likely wont be going down till the first of nov. but i'll be sure to keep a eye on the lake elevation on water-data.com
i did notice in some of the earlyer post that you have to watch out for mud with the lower lake levels.
at powell and flaming gorge we like to come right up to the shore and beach.
if we can find shallow spot,25 ft or so and half way even bottom, we dont mind anchoring. most of the time the sides of the lake are steep and it gets to deep. we have two 150 ft rodes and one 300 ft.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: lake mead info

I beach at Mead/Mohave all the time, but pull the boat out to anchor if leaving it for a long time so the bow doesn't get chewed up. You shouldn't have a problem finding a nice bay that drops off deep enough to beach your boat.

Mud isn't too much of a problem,,, as long as you check before hopping off the boat. It might look nice and solid on top, but that 1" crust is hiding a 2' layer of goop. Test the shore with a pole or paddle to make sure it's sandy or solid ground, not a crust covered mud hole. Once you see it for the first time you will know what to avoid.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: lake mead info

i'll do like travaler18 and let my wife sound the beach shore line first.

well on second thought the pole idea might be a better choice;thanks