Midwestern Lakes
 

Does anyone have any suggestions on good lakes around the midwest where we can rent a condo or hotel and a slip for a week? We primarily boat on the great lakes and LOTO, but always looking for a new, FUN spot.

Has anyone heard of Lake Shelbyville in Illinois???

Lake Shelbyville is a nice clean pretty big lake. Have alot of buddies that go there to go bass fishin.
Don't know if there are any rental accomodations tho.

Try callin the Ill DNR, I'm sure they would be able to tell you where to go for what you're lookin to do.
They're # for that area is Reginal office # 3 in Champaign ph# 217-278-5773
the main office in Springfield is #217-7826384, either one of those # will get you started. Good luck

We used to camp out at Lake Shelbyville at the state park cap grounds when we were into jetskiing.......great place with lots of coves to explore.......only thing we were warned about was that there are alot of trees under the surface of the water looking to take off a drive if you go where you not supposed to! :eek: Back then i didnt pay attention to the size of the boats on the lake (like 10+yrs ago) but there was alot of them there and lots of water to boat on.

Check into Lake Okaboji(sp) in northern IA. I haven't been there yet. But those that have, say it's great. It's also very touristy, so lodging and what not should be easy to come by.

IMO one of the best bodies of water in the Midwest is the Mississippi river. But then again I am a bit biased.:)

Brian

Thanks for the info guys. You got me scared about Lake Shelbyville and those submerged stumps. I grew up near a lake like that and know how bad those can be.

I've heard of Lake Okaboji, I think that Trailer Boats Mag did a story on that lake last summer/fall. It sounds like a decent lake.

Ive heard Oshkosh in Wiscinsin is nice. It would be fun to go for the big air show.

yes , lake cumberland looks like an awesome lake!
one of these days..........

We hit Lake Shelbyville three or four weekends a year. It is a long, winding lake. Campgrounds with ramps are located all around the lake. There is an excellent resort, Eagle Creek, located near the middle of the lake. The resort has it's own docks - you can reserve a slip when you check in.

On the South end, near the dam, you will find cabins and another campground near Lithia Springs Marina. You can call ahead and reserve a slip for your boat. The marina is about 1/2 mile away from the cabins. There is a Subway restaurant on the water.

You will find stumps back in the coves, but don't let that keep you from checking the lake out. Plenty of water to run in without worry. Three marina's on the lake with a restaurant at the far North end make for great runs.

Check out www.eaglecreekresort.com

:)

The resort at Shelbyville looks nice. I think that we may have to check that out this year. It's close enough to us for a long weekend.

Hey Wild Willy, what type of accomodations do you recomend at Lake Cumberland? At this point, I would prefer not to do the houseboat thing, would prefer a condo with a slip or a hotel with a slip.

Thanks for all of the input...can never have too many options for boating spots, besides with Cabin fever at an all time high, it's nice to start making plans.

Jamestown Marina @ Cumberland...It is about the nicest
Slip with room overlooking.......or
Grider hill, Not as Fancy, but, still nice & very close to 76 Falls

Re Midwestern Lakes
 

I dont want to start any rumors,,,,, However ,, I have heard that there is a certain CULT like following that goes to the famous ALUM CREEK late in the fall.... Maybe some of those wannabees will check in

:D :D :D ;) RHC

Alum Creek?????

i go to lake shelbyville all summer unless i'm at loto or lake michigan.

Don

just add water,
I go to Shelbyville about every weekend. Eagle Creek is very nice and has slips available. Never had a problem with stumps. Party Cove is going on every weekend. Let me know when you are coming for a weekend and will be glad to show you around.

Lake Winnebago
 

The lake is Huge...runs about 35 miles in length and about 15 miles in width at the maximum points. There are a lot of shallow sandy areas closer to shore to anchor and stand in water waist deep (or deeper). The lake connect to river that will take you to other lakes as well, but you will want a guide on these as they are really shallow. Oshkosh is where the river cuts in and would be a good place to check for a place to rent. Fond Du Lac and Menasha are a couple other ones. Depending on when you want to go, water is usally very warm in July. Hope this helps. Me mail if you want more information.

Yeah, you gotta do Cumberland. Kind looks like an 8hr drive from where you are. We try to hit it a few times a year. Otherwise we are in Bloomington every weekend starting 4/1. The above posted picture looks like it's from one of the slower weekends. Holiday weekends it's packed!

Lake Shelbyville is an O.K. lake. It is not a lake you can spend an entire week on. A weekend, yes. A week, no.

Do not, I repeat, do not go to lake Cumberland. You will just keep going back....again.......and again......and again.:mad: :mad: And I would prefer to keep it just the way it is.:D :D

Dale Hollow is also a very nice lake.

Well, I would say the the Cumberland fans have come out strong on this one. So much so that I may cancel a week at LOTO and change it to Cumberland. Don't get me wrong, LOTO is a great time/place, but always up for a change of scenery.

h20warrior, don't worry, you won't even know that I am there...;);)

Re: Re Midwestern Lakes
 

SOMEBODY was a "No Show" last year !!!:D :D

Cumberland is nice...We are heading to LOTO over the 4th..But....Lake ERIE is the place !!

Although I'm farther south than Caincando, I'll agree.
I haven't been to Kentucky Lakes, but everyone I know that has says it's worth it.
With Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River an hour away, we don't seem to have the need to go to many other places.:)

The land between the lakes in Western KY is also nice, though not as fast-paced as LOTO or Cumberland. KY has very nice state park lodges with slips available, and numerous activities for the whole family, including horses, playgrounds, planned activities for the kids supervised by staffers, restaurants, etc.

I agree with that...only the river for me is about 2.5 hours away but still worth it. Once a river rat, always a river rat :)

Re: Midwestern Lakes
 

just add water try Lake Geneva in Wisconsin and also search Castle Rock in Wisconsin.
Both fun places, although I've only been to Castle Rock I know Lake Geneva has great resorts!

Re: Midwestern Lakes
 

There's always Torch and Elk Lakes in the Traverse City, MI area. Crystal clear water, long lakes, and rentals on the lakes. Then there's Burt and Mullet lakes a bit further north... connected by what is called around here "the inland waterway" that eventually ends up in Lake Huron with in a short boat ride of Macinaw Island. This place is on my "must do" list. Lived in Michigan all my life... had a boat most of my life, never been on the Inland Waterway. I suck!!!!!!!

Re: Midwestern Lakes
 

Lake Geneva is great. Also try the Chain of Lakes in Northern Illinois tons of bars restaurants and sandbars, there is always a party somewhere.

Re: Midwestern Lakes
 

Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin is a pretty lake. I believe that they now have a 45mph speed limit on it though.

Lake Winnebago in east central Wisconsin used to be gathering place for some really big iron. The DNR has been really hard on noise lately and that has killed the market. If you're quiet, you may enjoy it.

The Mississippi is great boating! You can go for several days. Every bend is something new. From Debuque north the river has some high banks that are very picturesque. Just be sure you stay in the channel. You'll run aground or hit a wing dam if you don't. Often the river will appear to empty, when in fact the activity is occuring in sheltered coves and bays that are off the channel. The opening for these are just about impossible to find if you don't know where they are.

Lake Michigan on the east shore is very nice boating. Sandy beaches and friendly people make the trip worth while. Their towns also seem to be closer together making for shorter hops.

The Door County finger to Lake Michigan is also very picturesque. Please get some charts and study them. It can be very shallow in places and if you are not paying attention you can get in trouble. Beautiful country.

Although, I have never been boating up there, I beleive that Lake Michigan up by the Mac would make for some great boating.

The Chain of Lakes in Illinoise is also very popular. As strange as it may be, there is some big iron on the river. There is always something happening. Busy place. Be sure to stop by the Blarney's Island on thursday nights.