Best inland (fresh water) boating lakes?
 

I have a 36' Skater with 1000sc. I am always looking for the best fresh water lakes to boat on. So far I have been on Lake Erie, Cumberland and Dale Hollow with it. Anyone know any good boating lakes (no speed limits) in the Carolina's? Where are some of the bigger cats and vees running inland?

loto you will have pletty of competition

I've never been to the Carolina's, so no help there. This summer a friend of mine bought a 311 SR-1 from the OSO Classifieds that came from the Lake of The Ozarks and I got the pleasure of going with him and picking it up. We spent about 8 hours out there on the water, VERY cool lake and very unique experience. We plan on going back again next summer. I also live next to a little lake called Lake Michigan, no speed limits out there! We saw a couple interesting "Unmarked" vessels from Skater tearin' it up this fall while we were out there.... :D

I've seen boats run 170+ at Lake Texoma. Our striper fishing is some of the best in the world.

Smith Mountain Lake in sw VA, about 1 1/2 hours from Greensboro

Lake Murray, located in the Columbia, SC area probably has the most open water in the Carolina's to open one up, but Lake Norman (just north of Charlotte) has more restaurants and party spots with a fair amount of offshore style boats. Both have OSO members that can tell you more.

Don't know about the carolinas, but lake st. clair is a good one, as well as just about all of the great lakes.

Haven't been to a lot of Lakes but I like Lake St. Clair.

LOTO for sure if you haven't been. I had a really good time at LAke Travis too a few years ago.

lake murry sc, lake hartwell sc, lake norman nc ,sometimes depends on the weekend and if all the cruisers are out but my best bet for opening it up is lake murry

Come on down to La. A unique boating expirience. Lots of rivers running into Ponchatrain and Maurepau. Bars that are boat access only and fun people. You gotta do the Tickfaw 200:evilb:

Lake Ontario...the fresh water Autobon. South shore has Rochester, Sodus Bay, Niagara River Basin, and Oswego.To the north-east Alex Bay and the Thousand Islands/St Lawrence River. To the north shore, Toronto.

Lake Lanier when it is full.

LOTO, Table Rock, GLOC, Eufaula, and Texamo.... LOTO and GLOC will have some heavy competition for you. The others are just beautiful places to boat with wide open water. Im partial to table rock.

On my to-go list....lake Murray, lake norman and lake Lanier

Lake Norman, LOTO, or the Big Pond

I second that. And LOTO rocks if you can make the haul.

The best lakes for bigger, faster boats in the carolinas is Lake Murray, Lake Hartwell, Lake Greenwood, Lake Wylie, Lake Norman, and there are several more that can handle boats that are 100 plus.

I'll add another vote for Lake Norman. I have only been here for a few months and the lake is awesome. :D

What's the nigjt life/dining sceen like around SML? Plan on taking the boat up there this coming summer to visit a friend that lives in the 'noke.

SML night life is nowhere near as fun as it used to be, won't get into all the reasons why. However the lake is still a great place to party. just seriously don't drive drunk at night, you will get caught and they are no longer letting it slide, DGIF is looking to make examples of folks.

As for running WOT, bring that Skater to VA Beach, a little salt never hurt anyone.

WILL:D

Lake Winnebago. It's plenty large enough and Mercury Racing test in it.

Lake Murray - 50,000 acres of fun, 41 miles long, and 14 miles wide at its widest point. When the lake was finished, it was the world's largest man-made reservoir.

Unfortunately, only two or three good marinas with music/nightlife. The water is down now, so do a little rain dance before you head this way.

PM me if I can answer any questions. I have lived on the lake for 16 years.

Mike

http://www.lakemurray-sc.com/lakemapa.jpg

I'll second that 25 miles by 12 miles largest inland lake in the US.

Any particular places? I am going to see people that don't boat so they won't know where to go.

No driving at night at all for me on lakes I am unfamilar with. Thanks for the heads up.:D

What about Lake Marion in SC?

Which lake in the Carolina's has the best restraunts, bars and etc?

Lake Norman.

Does anyone boat on Lake Marion? It is one of the larger lakes in the US, but no one is talking about it. Is it no good?

I am actually thinking of moving my family and business south. I have an excavating business and I am tired of the winters deciding my income. Any suggestions?

One of the best kept secrets in the Southeast is Kerr Lake a.k.a. Buggs Island, split between NC and VA. Unfortunately, it has only a few marinas and no restaurants/nightlife as it is an Army Corp Lake. However, it is the same size as Lake Murray with 300+ more miles of shoreline. Most importantly, it is empty during the week and only 'crowded' on the 3 Holidays.

Why?

Gee, I thought all our high powered MTI's, Nortechs, and Skaters down here on Texoma (Texamo???) would get us rated as more than "just a beautiful place to boat with wide open water" :eek:

Lake Marion is very shallow from what I understand. Decent fishing lake, but not easy to navigate.

As far as the Carolinas, I would recommend Norman, Wylie, Murray and Hartwell.

Any of the Great Lakes.
Champlain