Table Rock Wind

[Sore Thumbs]

I have no problem with anyone stating their opion, that is the great pleasure we all enjoy in this country. And yes, I do like fishing Bull Shoals a lot more than I do TR but it is double the road miles to the areas I like. I also try to avoid TR from mid May thru October 1st to eliminate frustration with pleasure boaters. With that said, the only things I had hoped to convey with my comments were 1) I don't see the need for all the "no wake" buoys when mother nature often creates more havoc than any boats can 2) I think the landscape of a lake is far more appealing without all of the metal, styrofoam, and hanging boats all over the lake and 3) it is frustrating to try and run up some creek arms on the lake (ie: Aunts Creek, Indian Creek and others) and be required to idle the last quater mile due to no wake signs. As to lowering the speed we can run, I can only say that most boats traveling at 30mph throw more wake than the same boat does at higher speeds. That doesn't answer the issue of safety and I do agree that a lot of boats are running faster than they probably should, but I doubt any speed limits are going to be placed on lakes.

I almost forgot, I do try and launch close to where I want to fish, not only to save fuel but to reduce time running the boat and maximize fishing time. As I stated above, my complaint is the reduced speed up the creek arms causing significant delays in getting to the backs of them. We accept that in lakes like Toledo Bend and Lake Fork because running far up their creek arms usually means you will need a new lower unit, not the case up here.

Do you have to go slow in Aunts Creek? I always thought that the channel was open all the way back. That you couldn't go fast inside the bouys(from shoreline to bouys) Do you guys know what the rules are?

[Wesley]

Your all full of crap, it is a big lake, those big boats have just as much right to go on table rock as any other boat. Go during a weekday and there are few boats out there. Big lake, find a cove and catch all the fish you want. we do it every weekend, 800 miles of shoreline, you can surely find a place to fish without the BIG BOATS bothering you. By the way I do not have a big boat, I just enjoy the lake and do not COMPLAIN.

[Stump bumper]

Your all full of crap, it is a big lake, those big boats have just as much right to go on table rock as any other boat. Go during a weekday and there are few boats out there. Big lake, find a cove and catch all the fish you want. we do it every weekend, 800 miles of shoreline, you can surely find a place to fish without the BIG BOATS bothering you. By the way I do not have a big boat, I just enjoy the lake and do not COMPLAIN.

That was not very nice and this is getting way off topic from wind to boat wakes and I am not helping but here I go again. We were just pointing out how great the Ozarks are were you can run around with big ski boats on one lake or take a short drive and fish a lake were you might not see another boat all day. To each his own and no one was bad mouthing anyone until your post.

I do enjoy Table Rock, Beaver and Bull Shoals but I do try to avoid Table Rock in the hotter months when it gets busy, I am glad you find it enjoyable year around and just hope we can all get along nicely.

[Sam]

I am glad you find it enjoyable year around and just hope we can all get along nicely.

I started a controversy with my comments, but I sure agree with what you said there.

A few weeks ago on one of my Bull Shoals trips I went a lot farther than usual and ended up at Horseshoe Bend. From there I ran straight back to my truck at K Dock at my blistering top speed of 30 mph with my four-stroke 50 hp motor. That's gotta be 10 miles or more I guess, and I saw only ONE other boat on the way - he was trolling for walleyes, I think, on Mincy Flat. I passed him on the far side of the lake so he wouldn't catch much of a wake, I waved, he waved, and that was it.

So I can't complain. I've got a place where I can fish all day and get away from big wakes if I want to. If I choose to fish the busy parts of Tablerock instead, I know there's gonna be boats big enough to sail to Japan, pontoons, party boats going around in circles, jet skis, overpowered bass boats throwing 20' roostertails ('cause they don't know how to set the trim), and the water's going to be churning. Back to the original subject, I think a lot of that commotion is unneccesary and it damages the fishing, the banks, and the docks. As you say, though, the weather hits those docks with waves too - and a fisherman trying to get up Aunt's Creek isn't hurting anything as long as he's not being reckless about it, and I know you're not.

You'll find me on Bull Shoals, mostly.

[glennL]

Can't beat em... Join em.

I found that fishing right before sun up until about 9-10am is the best fishing time on the Rock anyway. Just in time for me to head home, nice breakfast, nap, take the boat out for a cruise or swim with the family, home for dinner and back out around sunrise for about 2 hours. Trying to fish sometimes from Memorial Day until Labor Day any other times is non-productive anyways. If the lake was only good for fishing, I wouldn't have bought there. It's great to have a lake one can fish, swim, boat, cruise and find a few place to eat along the way. It's incredibly clean, very few days you can't boat on it, not crowded, crowded and within driving distance of plenty to do, between Eureka Springs, Branson and Springfield, which makes this the perfect lake.

[Billfo]

Sorry this post got off on a tangent..I am ONLY concerned with the high winds- not boat wakes. I have not owned property on a lake before so naturally when I hear winds in the upper 40s w/ gusts in the 50s, I am concerned. Thats all I was asking.

I see from weather reports that the wind on Table Rock is 48mph.. Can someone please post a picture of the white caps so I can see what I am missing ? Also what does this type of weather do to boat docks ? My boat is up on a lift- I assume the wind is rocking the entire structure and slammig boats in slips not on lifts..

Thanks,

Bill

[Billfo]

Glenn, Perfect post- perfect lake.. As you said- lots of things nearby thats why we bought here as well. I WAS concerned about boat wakes, so we EXCLUDED all homes on the main lake. Dont want to worry about unnecessary things. Just found a place off on a quiet cove. In the summer, occasional jet skis or water skiers for a couple of hours & they are generally done. Home is far enough from the water where the noise does not bother us- close enough to watch the people have fun. Hop in the Ezgo & down to the dock- out on the water for a couple of houses- return relax- head into town, nhave a beer with a neighbor, repeat as necessary

Can't beat em... Join em.

I found that fishing right before sun up until about 9-10am is the best fishing time on the Rock anyway. Just in time for me to head home, nice breakfast, nap, take the boat out for a cruise or swim with the family, home for dinner and back out around sunrise for about 2 hours. Trying to fish sometimes from Memorial Day until Labor Day any other times is non-productive anyways. If the lake was only good for fishing, I wouldn't have bought there. It's great to have a lake one can fish, swim, boat, cruise and find a few place to eat along the way. It's incredibly clean, very few days you can't boat on it, not crowded, crowded and within driving distance of plenty to do, between Eureka Springs, Branson and Springfield, which makes this the perfect lake.

[Billfo]

When we take up full time residence there, "I" will set up 24/7 webcams. Then I can see where yall are catchen fish

Nobody has any pix?!??!?!

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I'm with you Bill, I'd love for someone who lives on the water to setup a 24 webcam out their window. It would be cool to see how things look down on the water when we're away.

[motoman]

When we take up full time residence there, "I" will set up 24/7 webcams. Then I can see where yall are catchen fish

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Hopefully that'll be in the next few weeks?

[Martin]

You can run as fast as you want as long as you are between the buoys. (I'm talking Aunts Creek because it's got docks with buoys on both sides)......Any similar areas would be the same. As long as don't leave a big wake INSIDE the no wake buoy, you are not breaking any law or regulations. You don't have to stay "a certain distance" from the no wake buoys. Just don't go between the buoy and the dock it's for..I deal with both sides of this issue. The main thing / complaint is that it's usually not the 30 footers that cause the damage and problems. It's the 40, 50, & 60 footers that really wreck the docks. Bass boats are way down the list and sea doo's, as irritating as they may be, don't hurt docks, unless, of course, they crash into it......lol.....Wind really is a whole different deal. The dock roofs and structure are like a big sail...It's not so much the waves as it is the lateral pressure put on the dock cables that do the most wind damage.....How much pressure can a 5/8 dia cable take when it's been under water for three, four, five years or more ?? Nobody knows....Wish I did. Might make some money.....lol