Anyone ever been to Lake Lure?

[brian2001ss]

Thought I would ask if any of you boaters have ever driven through the town of Lake Lure and had a chance to check out my local lake. I will be the first to say, its a small lake. It costs me, as a non lake lure resident, $600 a year to put the boat on the water(yes you read that $$$$ right :smt101 :smt009 :smt013 ). The water is very deep. It averages in the 50-100ft plus ranges. Has the most senic views as it was voted one of the top 10 most beutiful man made lakes in the US. The sunsets are priceless. The sport boating is great and its not a extremely crowded lake except during the week of the 4th. Its costs us a load, but the ramp is less than a mile away, and I have never had to wait for another boat to load or launch. We are always by ourselves and can take our time.

I just wanted to let you know where we boat, and ask what other lakes we should look into for a future boat trip.

[chuck1]

Ok, just have to ask why does it cost you $600 to us it? Who owns it?

[brian2001ss]

Ok, just have to ask why does it cost you $600 to us it? Who owns it?

The town of Lake Lure owns it and controls all the rules :smt013 Only advantage with them owning the lake is that they maintain the lake level with in inches. They make power only if they can and lake levels allow it. On the other hand, Duke power lakes make power regardless of levels. Reasons that some lakes in the area are very low during low rain times. Other reasons for the cost, town residence pay $150 for their yearly permit, and out of the town limits pay the $600. This is to keep the traffic down as much as possible since it is a rather smal lake. I live right on the border, so I don't pay all the town taxes, but is pratically bordered by the limits. Either way, its a price you pay to boat at Lake Lure. :huh:

[First Born]

Chuck,

I may be wrong but I think Lake Lure is a permit only lake and they do not offer daily permits. I may be wrong about this....but I do recall hearing something about that. Matter of fact I think even residents have to buy permits each year although they are cheaper than non-resident permits. :huh:

Wesley

Edit: Looks like it has already been confirmed. I did find this article which was pretty interesting seems like the premit issue has been around for a while.

http://www.townoflakelure.com/lake_lure_marine_commission/2006/Lake%20Lure%20Boating%20Management%20Plan.pdf

[brian2001ss]

Chuck,

I may be wrong but I think Lake Lure is a permit only lake and they do not offer daily permits. I may be wrong about this....but I do recall hearing something about that. Matter of fact I think even residents have to buy permits each year although they are cheaper than non-resident permits. :huh:

Wesley

Edit: Looks like it has already been confirmed. I did find this article which was pretty interesting seems like the premit issue has been around for a while.

http://www.townoflakelure.com/lake_lure_marine_commission/2006/Lake%20Lure%20Boating%20Management%20Plan.pdf

Thats true Wesley. Even the residents on the lake front must buy yearly permits. They do offer daily, but its on the pricey side as well.

[Dave S]

Brian

Try Lake James on one of your outings. It's the most pristine lake on the Catawba with clear deep blue water. The scenery is fantastic too since it's in the foothills. Plus it's a very deep lake.

[First Born]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have had three people this week ask me have I ever taken my boat to Mountain Island Lake. According to the people that are asking the water is beautiful vs lake wylie / norman. It supplies the water for the city of Charlotte. We were thinking about trying it out in a couple of weeks. Anybody been there.

Brian, there are a couple of people on the board that boat at Lake Wylie. We also spend alot of time at High Rock Lake which is in Salisbury. We had hoped to make it to visit some friends at Lake Hickory last year but did not make it up there. Lake James is suppose to be really nice one of my co-workers lives there and keeps telling me I need to come up there and visit. You have plenty of beautiful lakes around you. Hopefully we will do a get together sometime this year at Lake Wylie for all the people in the area. Hope to see you there. :thumbsup:

Wesley

[brian2001ss]

Brian

Try Lake James on one of your outings. It's the most pristine lake on the Catawba with clear deep blue water. The scenery is fantastic too since it's in the foothills. Plus it's a very deep lake.

I have had some locals tell me I should. Only thing, one person said it was hard trying to find a beach to have a cookout or a place to swim since most of the lakefront is state owned. Does this make any sense? It didn't to me. Its probibly much cheaper to boat on Lake James. :lol:

[First Born]

I have had some locals tell me I should. Only thing, one person said it was hard trying to find a beach to have a cookout or a place to swim since most of the lakefront is state owned. Does this make any sense? It didn't to me.

You may want to check out this website for some information:

http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/laja/home.html

Good luck :thumbsup:

Wesley

[brian2001ss]

Brian, there are a couple of people on the board that boat at Lake Wylie. We also spend alot of time at High Rock Lake which is in Salisbury. We had hoped to make it to visit some friends at Lake Hickory last year but did not make it up there. Lake James is suppose to be really nice one of my co-workers lives there and keeps telling me I need to come up there and visit. You have plenty of beautiful lakes around you. Hopefully we will do a get together sometime this year at Lake Wylie for all the people in the area. Hope to see you there. :thumbsup:

Wesley

Agree there. We must get together with the rest of our Carolina friends and either pick a lake one weekend or I will make the cruise to Lake Wylie. Nother better than having other Sea Ray owners give me pointers in person. That would be a blast.

One thing I will have to do is get out more and drive to some of these lakes and get an idea where you launch and rules..ect. I am one, as a new boat owner, I get nervous in new areas I am unsure of. Oh well, as time goes by, so will the nerves.
Better yet, I will just trailer with you guys one weekend which would make it much easier.

[First Born]

Sounds great, the reason why I say Lake Wylie is Dave S keeps his boat in the lake and he did not get to make it to the Panama City Beach trip so I am determined I am going to get to see his boat one way or another.

Dave let us know a "weekend" where you will venture out on the lake and we will make it happen. The weekend prior and after the 4th are out; we already have boating plans :smt038

Hopefully we can get our SC and GA boys to make the trip. We can't offer dolphins on the way through the cove but if you are lucky you may get to see a big ole dead catfish. :smt043 (if you missed it this will explain... http://www.byowneryachts.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3549&highlight=

It would be a great time... :thumbsup:

Wesley

[OneMoreHour]

Brian,

Another lake that you should visit is Lake Jocassee which is not too far from you. Its a beautiful man-made lake right on the edge of the mountains on the NC/SC border in northwest SC.

The water is very clean and clear, you can sometimes see down through 10' of water. The lake is fed by mountian streams and rivers, and several of these empty into the lake by way of waterfalls into the lake.

The water is deep, 380' in a couple of spots, but most areas are 70'-200' deep. And there is very little development on the lake since most of the land surrounding it is state park or nature preserve land. There are miles and miles of natural shoreline and private mountian coves to explore.

We are frequently on Jocassee, so if you or anyone else would like like to visit, let me know and we'll try to meet up. Here are a few photos of Jocassee:

[brian2001ss]

Brian,

Another lake that you should visit is Lake Jocassee which is not too far from you. Its a beautiful man-made lake right on the edge of the mountains on the NC/SC border in northwest SC.

The water is very clean and clear, you can sometimes see down through 10' of water. The lake is fed by mountian streams and rivers, and several of these empty into the lake by way of waterfalls into the lake.

The water is deep, 380' in a couple of spots, but most areas are 70'-200' deep. And there is very little development on the lake since most of the land surrounding it is state park or nature preserve land. There are miles and miles of natural shoreline and private mountian coves to explore.

We are frequently on Jocassee, so if you or anyone else would like like to visit, let me know and we'll try to meet up. Here are a few photos of Jocassee:

WOW, I will definetly have to try that lake. It looks beutiful. :grin:
By the way, it was terrible what happened to that family on there sail boat.

[OneMoreHour]

Yes, what happened to the young boy and his father is really a tragic story. Its been 13 days now, and they are still searching for the boy. Here's a link to a very moving story about what happened: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2007/jun/11/i-feel-my-heart-has-been-ripped-out/

[chuck1]

Lake Jocassee, Lake Hartwell, Lake Wylie they all sound good to me. Not sure about that $600 a year lake :lol: :smt043 :lol: So much free water not ready to pay the Government yet :smt021

[brian2001ss]

Lake Jocassee, Lake Hartwell, Lake Wylie they all sound good to me. Not sure about that $600 a year lake :lol: :smt043 :lol: So much free water not ready to pay the Government yet :smt021

We feel the same way......$600 hits hard when you are ready to get the summer going. :smt009

[cr0ck1]

Thought I would ask if any of you boaters have ever driven through the town of Lake Lure and had a chance to check out my local lake. I will be the first to say, its a small lake. It costs me, as a non lake lure resident, $600 a year to put the boat on the water(yes you read that $$$$ right :smt101 :smt009 :smt013 ). The water is very deep. It averages in the 50-100ft plus ranges. Has the most senic views as it was voted one of the top 10 most beutiful man made lakes in the US. The sunsets are priceless. The sport boating is great and its not a extremely crowded lake except during the week of the 4th. Its costs us a load, but the ramp is less than a mile away, and I have never had to wait for another boat to load or launch. We are always by ourselves and can take our time.

I just wanted to let you know where we boat, and ask what other lakes we should look into for a future boat trip.


NIce looking lake.. BUT unless there is a naked party of chicks on every rock butt naked i will never pay 600 bucks to put a boat in the water.. But it sounds like a great looking location. have fun man :thumbsup:

[brian2001ss]

Thought I would ask if any of you boaters have ever driven through the town of Lake Lure and had a chance to check out my local lake. I will be the first to say, its a small lake. It costs me, as a non lake lure resident, $600 a year to put the boat on the water(yes you read that $$$$ right :smt101 :smt009 :smt013 ). The water is very deep. It averages in the 50-100ft plus ranges. Has the most senic views as it was voted one of the top 10 most beutiful man made lakes in the US. The sunsets are priceless. The sport boating is great and its not a extremely crowded lake except during the week of the 4th. Its costs us a load, but the ramp is less than a mile away, and I have never had to wait for another boat to load or launch. We are always by ourselves and can take our time.

I just wanted to let you know where we boat, and ask what other lakes we should look into for a future boat trip.


NIce looking lake.. BUT unless there is a naked party of chicks on every rock butt naked i will never pay 600 bucks to put a boat in the water.. But it sounds like a great looking location. have fun man :thumbsup:

No naked ladies, but its so close :smt013 Ya just don't know what to do???

[cr0ck1]

man cruise the gulf in fl.. those little islands ... need i say more! :cool:

[GJarrett]

Lake Jocassee, Lake Hartwell, Lake Wylie they all sound good to me.

Don't forget Lake Keowee, between Jocassee and Hartwell. Keowee is almost as gorgeous as Jocassee but it's getting very built up now with a whole bunch of gazillion-dollar homes. We usually splash at Keowee.

[Firefly]

Are any of these lakes open to the ICW or ocean? My boat isn't trailerable.

[OneMoreHour]

Unfortunately, none of these lakes have ocean access. They are all man made resevoirs with dams seperating them from river/ocean access.

The only lakes in SC that have ocean access are Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie. These lakes have access by way of a lock to the Cooper River that will take you to Charleston. But, I don't these lakes would be a good fit for your cruiser. They are shallow in most places with lots of stumps and trees very close to the surface.

Here's a link to a map of lakes in SC:
http://www.sciway.net/maps/south-carolina-lakes-rivers.html

[Firefly]

Thanks for the map and the info. I was figuring that most of the lakes wouldn't have access, but I had to ask when everyone was telling how beautiful they are.

Too bad the other two lakes are too shallow. It sounds like it would be nice trip.

[OneMoreHour]

Firefly,

Althought lakes Moultrie and Marion are pretty shallow, there is a marked channel and a few deeper areas that would allow you to make a trip up from Charleston. I have seen a couple of larger cruisers on these lakes, but not many. They're just not the type of lakes that you would be able to freely cruise around on. Pontoon and bass boats are the most common boats on these two lakes.

If you're going to be in the area for awhile, definitely try to make a trip up the Cooper River from Charleston, its a very nice trip. I have made this trip several times, and there is a thread or two on this site about a trip several other CSR members have made.

Bill

[Firefly]

I'll look for that thread. Do you remember what the depth is up the Cooper River? Or in the marked channel part of the lakes?

[OneMoreHour]

You wouldn't have any problems with water depth if you stay in the channels. The Cooper River depth ranges from about 50' in Charleston where the ports are, to about 8'-10' deep in a few places further up the river closer to the lock. I recall that I was seeing depths of 10'-30' in most of the river.

But, the upper part of the Cooper River is not well marked since there is almost no commercial traffic up there. If you are not very careful about looking out for the few markers that are there, or don't have some local knowledge or a good GPS track to follow, it would be very easy to end up in old rice fields that border the river in many places which are only 1-3' deep. This is especially true at high tide when many of the old rice fields are underwater and you can't differentiate them from the river channel. It would probably be best to get a GPS track from someone or follow someone the first time or two.

The channels in the lakes also had plenty of water. I don't remember exactly what they were, but I think they ranged from 10' to 30' or maybe 40'. Kingfisher Maps has a chart of the lakes that you can purchase. Just look for the Santee Cooper Lakes map.

[SearayPaul]

There is a low railbridge a fair way up the Cooper River that you might have trouble getting under. I do not remember the clearance. You can call ahead and they will open it for you.