Worst Boat Traffic Lake In State

[Siebert Outdoors]

usually stop fishing there after the 2nd or 3rd week of May and start again in September.

I did go in july last year, and honestly it was not that bad- fished from before sunrise to around 10ish- and then again in the evening. 

Weekends whole different story though.

 

 

When I have fished it I've found that is key.  Get off the lake the week before memorial weekend and get back on the lake the week after labor day weekend.  If you dont go in that time frame its not bad at all.  If you do. You will need to be on the Enterprise.

[Oregon Native]

I will pick Norris here in east tenn.  Since moving here I tried going up there once in early summer.  OMG.  I really believe pontoon boats and beer put a target on bass boats trying to fish a bank.  And boat ramps are a joke...why why why do people wait and load picnic baskets and blankeys in the middle of the ramp when attempting to launch.

Loved it back in Oregon on the Columbia from Hood River up.  Very little boat traffic...river to intimidating to most and the wind keeps the rest home.  Fishing.....awesome.

Tight Lines

[wnybassman]

Funny, the worst traffic lake is where my PB largemouth from NY cones from: Irondequoit Bay, or the City Dump, as I affectionately call it.

 

 

I was tossing different waters around but once I saw your choice I knew that was mine also.   I remember a calm sunny hot summer day years ago there when the whole valley the bay is in was a complete blue haze from the 2 cycle exhaust, and you could just taste it in your mouth.  John and I have had the discussion before how bass even survive in that place without being washed up onto the bank at a young age.   lol    We always pray for crappy weather there for a tournament to keep the crowds at a manageable level.  

[mjseverson24]

try the rainy river when its first ice out or when its about to freeze... can be up to 4+ hour of waiting just to launch the boat... The mississippi river pool by red wing MN is also terrible in the cold months as it is about the only open water in the state... literally thousands of boats within the first 2 miles of the river on nice days... 

 

Mitch

[papajoe222]

Unlike slonezp, I don't fish the Fox chain in IL. The worst lake that I do fish is Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin. There are likely more boating accidents on one week-end than most lakes have in a year.  I fish it in the spring and fall when it's to cold for  the pleasure boaters, or at night during the week.  I don't  even think about venturing out there any other time.

[jhoffman]

Ill be brutally honest, if you cant back up a trailer you should go take a course on it. If it takes you more than 3 mins from the time that boat hits the water, you start it, pull it over and get back in the truck you have issues and need to prepare better. I can do it in three mins without a partner easy, add someone to dump it and or get the truck, thirty seconds at best.

 

IF youre off the trailer and the motor wont crank, get on the trolling motor and move over. Problem is, no one cares about anyone elses time. Once they hit the ramp common sense and courtosy go right out the window.

 

I also think lakes should have a loading and unloading ramp. Rules enforced only when theres boats waiting to come out at the same time going in.

[FD.]

Luckily for me, most of central Florida lakes are inhabited by large, toothy, lizards.   

 

I have seen maybe 5 total jet skis and 1 water skier in the last 10 years on the 80,000 acre Kissimmee chain.  If you venture into the bay or intracoastal waterway to do a little salt water fishing, that is a zoo.

[fish365]

I have to vote for Boone Lake here in East Tennessee. 5000 acres, 10,000 jet skis and pontoon boats.

[d3bf48]

Moved from Northern Illinois to Northern WI. No longer deal with crowds. Nothing better than having a class A musky lake to yourself on a summer evening.

[flyingmonkie]

My hometown lake!  Lake Thunderbird (or Dirtybird as we affectionately call it) is the busiest state park in Oklahoma.  Typical summer weekend is a madhouse - 30 minute waits at the boat ramps, and no less thna 50 boats in eyesight at any given time.  We're also pretty big into water skiing, and we wouldn't think of dropping a skiier in the water when it's like this.

[Brian Needham]

 we wouldn't think of dropping a skiier in the water when it's like this.

 

 

 

^^^^ that's always my deal...... I don't ski but I would NEVER want to just be bobbing up and down out in the middle of a busy lake with a bunch of crazy non driving half drunks. LOL

[shimmy]

Hmm, impossible to determine given my limited experience in Virginia, but based off of what i have experienced and heard, I would say Briery Creek in southern VA and Lake Frederick in northern VA. Boats per acre, i think Frederick might take the cake. 117 acre lake with nearly 15-20 boats each time i use to go there. That's why i fish a lake with smaller fish but at least get the piece of mind. 

[Montanaro]

I haven't fished the larger southern lakes on wv but Cheat and tygart can be bad. 2x on deep Creek of maryland.

[MacP]

Dale Hollow is the busiest lake in TN.  Fortunately, it's huge. 

[roadwarrior]

Dale Hollow is the busiest lake in TN.  Fortunately, it's huge. 

 

I don't know, Pickwickwick gets pretty busy in the summertime.

However, I generally fish the river and that is an entirely different 

story.  

[ww2farmer]

Pick a lake in WNY, and you can bet that on any nice weekend from Memorial day to Labor day it will be a zoo. BUT, it really dosen't bother the fish, some of my best days in the summer are during insane boat traffic. Now does it bother me....................yes, but there is nothing I can do about it, so I just deal with it.

[Munkin]

In Maryland....its Deep Creek Lake. Can't fish it during the summer.

 

The only time I have quit a tournament early was on Deep Creek in the summer. Big boats on the main lake, skiers in the front of coves, swimmers in the back of coves and no where to fish unless you like waves.

 

That tournament was so bad I finally decided to fish in this tiny creek that lets into the lake. When I say tiny I mean this thing is maybe 20' wide which gets skinnier as you go in. I figured that is the one place I could find some peace, Wrong! I made it about 50 yards into the creek and her e come 3 kayaks down it. Said f**k it and but the boat on the trailer after sitting beside the ramp for 15minutes because I was sea sick from the waves.

 

Allen

[Jar11591]

I would say Saratoga Lake or Lake George.

[200racing]

i don't have much time on  north alabama lakes to judge them. in the central part lake martin is bad.

i have seen the lake white capping from boat wake.

the clear water on the south end makes it a pleasure boat destination.

lots of house boats,20'-50' cabin cruisers, cigarettes boats, pontoons and wake boats.

[skeeter1980]

Here in Delaware our lakes and ponds are small.They all have a no wake,and not real croweded.Now the bay and rivers,well that's another story.

[The Commodore]

Luckily for me, most of central Florida lakes are inhabited by large, toothy, lizards.   

 

I have seen maybe 5 total jet skis and 1 water skier in the last 10 years on the 80,000 acre Kissimmee chain.  If you venture into the bay or intracoastal waterway to do a little salt water fishing, that is a zoo.

Only lakes in central Florida with jet skis and skiers are the urban lakes in Orlando.  

 

And yeah the inlets in Florida on a weekend are a mess. 

[Bankbeater]

I like LOZ, but not from April to Sept.

[whitwolf]

In NC It's Lake Norman and It's not even close.

[buzzed bait]

In NC It's Lake Norman and It's not even close.

 

fishing there in a kayak is downright dangerous….  had to go all the way north to the state park to feel like i had a fighting chance of not being run over…..  i used to live about 1/4 mile from blythe landing and that area is crowded all the time

[CDMeyer]

The mississippi is pretty bad by the city park in La Crosse Wisconsin