Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

[markleising]

Looking for some great lakes to wakeboard and ski on. Been to somerville, lake o pines, and sam rayburn.. Where have ya'll been? Looking for any good advice

 

[tommays]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I havent been down that way in a long time BUT last time i was in DFW there were a lot of ski clubs that owned small areas that were set up just for skiing

Tommays

 

[jastacey]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I'd say go to Lake Houston, it has some good size coves and it also has about 5-7 miles of river running, and best of all it's not ever crowded, seems everyone wants to go to Lake Conroe, even when it is still 4" low and full of hydrilla and very rough all the time

 

[laurido1992]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I've used Belton lake, excellent. it's wide, big and long and has a lot of places to ski, wakeboard and tube. I now go to Canyon lake. it has spots that are great for water sports. It can get pretty crowded at times. but overall I like it. I heard Lake Travis is the best around here, followed by Marble Falls. Good luck!!!

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

Lake LBJ in Marble Falls is awesome.. Nice and cool up river even if 100 outside.. It is fed by a damn..
I no longer live up there so going to go try out lake Houston next weekend.. We went to San Jac river today.. Pretty crowded, but there was lots of shore parties.. Been to Lake Conroe plenty.. As said before it is rough.. So rough at times you cant stay on a tube in a turn to save your life..

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

Lake Stillhouse is our usual lake in Texas. It's smaller than nearby Belton, but it also has less traffic and some decent ski areas.

 

[kailec00]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I agree with stillhouse. It is a nice clear lake and the cliffs make a nice calm stretch. I have been out there on a sunny Saturday at 3:00 in the afternoon and will only see 5 boats.

Lake Travis gets busy with big speed boats that create a lot of waves. Best time to go there is early in the morning, then get off the water b 1:00

 

[lrcustom]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I agree Stillhouse is a great lake. I like Canyon and Travis but only during the week to many boats otherwise. I have a cabin on Lake Livigston and thats my home base. I know the lake well and where to ski. The trick here in Texas is to find lakes that have good structure on the shoreline to assist in breaking up the wind. Livingstons got good high hills, points, and coves that really help with the wind and waves. It gets crazy on the Holiday weekends but the rest of the time is great. If ya go, get a good map that shows the stump/fishing areas so you stay away from those. South of Hwy 190 on the Onalaska side, Indian point, and Pine Island are all good ski spots. The best is all around Cape Royal.

Runnin out of warm days so go skiin.

LR

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I agree Stillhouse is a great lake. I like Canyon and Travis but only during the week to many boats otherwise. I have a cabin on Lake Livigston and thats my home base. I know the lake well and where to ski. The trick here in Texas is to find lakes that have good structure on the shoreline to assist in breaking up the wind. Livingstons got good high hills, points, and coves that really help with the wind and waves. It gets crazy on the Holiday weekends but the rest of the time is great. If ya go, get a good map that shows the stump/fishing areas so you stay away from those. South of Hwy 190 on the Onalaska side, Indian point, and Pine Island are all good ski spots. The best is all around Cape Royal.

Runnin out of warm days so go skiin.

LR

We like Stillhouse partially because of the structure that you mentioned. The cliffs on the south side block the wind very well. And it's 120' deep through there.

There used to be a slalom course set up on the other side of the bridge. Ski/tow there at your own risk, though.

 

[lrcustom]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

DaNinja,
I am originally from St. Louis, Spent many a summer on Lake of the Ozarks. Worked a summer camp and skiied in the Grand Glaze area up in the state park arm of the lake. loved skiing up there (not Grand Glaze) and the Gravois (did I spell it right) arm was also a good spot, narrow but good. But the Niangua was the best up near the bridge near you. Great Lake I miss it, This was back in the 60's when the lake was basically quite. Now I understand the lake gets quite busy.

Latter

LR

 

[ebkolove]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I've only been in our own little Lake Waco, small but functional. I've heard that Lake Whitney is awesome

 

[lrcustom]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

Ebkolove,
It's funny I was just talking with a coworker who said that Whitney was his first choice for good skiing and boarding. Never been but think I might just check it out. Now Lake WACO is nice but it seems to fill up fast. May be just when I was there. Just 1 1/2 hour drive for me so may put it on the list for next year.

LR

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I live right off Lake Houston, and am pleasantly surprised at how many people that live right here in Houston do not even KNOW about this lake. Everyone goes to Conroe, or even Livingston, not knowing that 20 mins from downtown is a nice and uncrowded, large lake.

People ask me at work where I take my boat out, then ask "where is lake Houston?"

I grew up on this side of town out in the 'burbs and came here all my life for fishing and boating, so I am familiar with it. But most Houston natives are unaware of it. Which is odd since every flight in and out of Houston flies right over the lake

I would love to try some of the central texas lakes. Marble Falls, especially.

Possum Kingdom has been the best I have been on so far. No stumps, DEEP water, but 6 hour drive from Houston. Somerville is nice if you catch it on a quiet weekend or in off-season. But wind kills it quickly.

By the way, thread started in 2006. Is original poster still around?

 

[baylake]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

A year later - I am adding to this thread. Found this thread as I searching for good lake to boat around Houston. I am new to boating and only been to Clear Lake and Lake Conroe. Will try Lake Houston as soon as I can. Maybe scooper77515 can tell when the water is high enough for newbie to get in Lake Houston.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

http://houston.uslakes.info/Level.asp

This site show daily changes in the water level at Lake Houston. Right now, after the rain this last weekend, we are up almost 2 feet from the lowest point this year. It is still too low to launch, but another 12" and they may open the ramps back up. There is a point where you can launch, but have to row or push it out over the sandbar out past the no-wake buoys, then you can drop your engine and take off.

But, until it is back to within a foot or so of normal pool, you REALLY need to know where the channels are, because it gets shallow and full of stumps pretty quick!

I would be happy to share maps and GPS software to help you out.

 

[BassFishin42]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

I live right off Lake Houston, and am pleasantly surprised at how many people that live right here in Houston do not even KNOW about this lake. Everyone goes to Conroe, or even Livingston, not knowing that 20 mins from downtown is a nice and uncrowded, large lake.

People ask me at work where I take my boat out, then ask "where is lake Houston?"

I grew up on this side of town out in the 'burbs and came here all my life for fishing and boating, so I am familiar with it. But most Houston natives are unaware of it. Which is odd since every flight in and out of Houston flies right over the lake

I would love to try some of the central texas lakes. Marble Falls, especially.

Possum Kingdom has been the best I have been on so far. No stumps, DEEP water, but 6 hour drive from Houston. Somerville is nice if you catch it on a quiet weekend or in off-season. But wind kills it quickly.

By the way, thread started in 2006. Is original poster still around?

OMG- I to live within a few minutes of the ramp off 1960, and have lived here now (again) for 3 years. I've always looked at this lake as a shallow mudhole because of how the SanJac flows. I love to bass fish, but not knowing this lake like I do lakes in Southern Cali- it becomes a test of time trying to find a few good spots to play C&R. Hopefully after this week we will be at full pool and things can get back to a normal pace. Houston can get a bit rough if the wind kicks up a bit - but then good boater safety has to come into play.

Scooper- hope to see you one day on the lake- I'll be kicking it around in a Javelin 379 DC bass boat -I'll be the guy pulling wheelies before running out like a mad dog..

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Texas Lakes - Whats the best to ski and wakeboard at ?

Lake Houston has been up to full pool for a couple months now. It is down about a foot right now due to the lack of rain (hopefully this will change tonight!).

We have been on Livingston, Conroe, Possum Kingdom, San Jac river below the dam, Somerville, and we are JUST FINE with Lake Houston. The crowds are only stupid on holiday weekends, so we get off the water around 1 or 2pm. Otherwise, it really is deep and quiet.

My boat has a miniature boxer on board, and butterflies on the back. Approach and introduce yourself. We are pretty friendly. Most of the time...