tawcat
New Member
we slip at mtn harbor, anyone else?
Lake Ouachita Arkansas
- Thread starter tawcat
- Start date
gbolton
New Member
Hello Tawcat,
We have not been to Lake Ouachita yet, but want to go this year. We bought our boat in Hot Springs and have been the Lake Hamilton a few times since. We live in Memphis, so we hall our boat to the lake.
We have heard great things about Lake Ouachita and we really want to experience it.
Hope to see you around sometime.
Any advice/information on Lake Ouachita would be great.
tawcat
New Member
yikes, Hamilton is like dropping a pebble in a coffee cup. rough rough water. too much activity for a small lake.
you will love ouachita! hope to see you.
you will love ouachita! hope to see you.
gbolton
New Member
That is funny you say that because that is exactly what we thought when we were there. The only break from the rough water was the ride up to the Ouachita dam, which was beautiful.
tawcat
New Member
ouachita is a super clean lake as well. approximately 40,000 acres with almost 1,000 miles of shoreline. the lake is spotted with some 50 marked islands and an abundance of unmarked islands. it is filled with niches. most of the time we motor out, find us a spot and drop the hook and stay there all day. and many times never see another boat!
many campers camp out on the islands. houseboats have their special little places to tie off too. and it is a great fishing lake as well. there are maybe 10 marinas, i've never counted them. shangra la i believe is the oldest marina. and let me tell you they have a restaurant to die for. if you like down home fried chicken and home made pie, this is your place. many times we motor over there for sunday lunch. gotta get there early so as to beat the church crowd!!!! after about 12:30 or 1:00 on sunday, the pie choices get real limited!!!!! other marinas include, moutain harbor, probably the best known, crystal springs, brady mountain, ouachita shores and navy landing.
the lake is located within the ouachita state forest and many state camp grounds are scattered about. and it being a corp lake it cannot be developed.
i am sure can google lake ouachita, but if you'd like for me to pick up some info and mail it to you, let me know. anyone coming to this lake falls in love with it.
our first boat, a rinker FV265, was purchased at lake of the ozarks missouri which is much like lake hamilton. when the delivery guy splashed the boat, he asked, "is the lake always this calm?"
we've seen the lake get nasty during a storm, but for the most part it is a very calm lake.
many campers camp out on the islands. houseboats have their special little places to tie off too. and it is a great fishing lake as well. there are maybe 10 marinas, i've never counted them. shangra la i believe is the oldest marina. and let me tell you they have a restaurant to die for. if you like down home fried chicken and home made pie, this is your place. many times we motor over there for sunday lunch. gotta get there early so as to beat the church crowd!!!! after about 12:30 or 1:00 on sunday, the pie choices get real limited!!!!! other marinas include, moutain harbor, probably the best known, crystal springs, brady mountain, ouachita shores and navy landing.
the lake is located within the ouachita state forest and many state camp grounds are scattered about. and it being a corp lake it cannot be developed.
i am sure can google lake ouachita, but if you'd like for me to pick up some info and mail it to you, let me know. anyone coming to this lake falls in love with it.
our first boat, a rinker FV265, was purchased at lake of the ozarks missouri which is much like lake hamilton. when the delivery guy splashed the boat, he asked, "is the lake always this calm?"
we've seen the lake get nasty during a storm, but for the most part it is a very calm lake.
gbolton
New Member
Tawcat,
Thanks for the information. We are definitely going to go there this summer.
That would be great if you could send me some info on the lake. That would be highly appreciated. I will send you a PM with my address and definitely look you up when we go out there.
One of the web pages on Lake Ouachita says there are several underwater islands just below the surface. Have you encountered this? Do I need to know where they are so I dont destroy my lower end? I had talked to another person and they stated that they have never seen that, but what is funny, is this web site states that pretty clearly:
http://www.lakeouachita.org/
Being a boater, that comment does concern me, especially not knowing the lake. I would like to hear from someone who boats there frequently if this is the case and if these low areas are marked.
Thanks again
Thanks for the information. We are definitely going to go there this summer.
That would be great if you could send me some info on the lake. That would be highly appreciated. I will send you a PM with my address and definitely look you up when we go out there.
One of the web pages on Lake Ouachita says there are several underwater islands just below the surface. Have you encountered this? Do I need to know where they are so I dont destroy my lower end? I had talked to another person and they stated that they have never seen that, but what is funny, is this web site states that pretty clearly:
http://www.lakeouachita.org/
Being a boater, that comment does concern me, especially not knowing the lake. I would like to hear from someone who boats there frequently if this is the case and if these low areas are marked.
Thanks again
tawcat
New Member
gbolton,
well i won't ever say "you will never hit one" but its not very common unless you are not paying attention, going too fast at night, or one of those guys that says, "that'll never happen to me."
i would say the majority of the hidden islands are off the main lake, but then i'd really give you a false sense of the seriousness. the corp takes care of the lake pretty good, so anything that can/could present a normal depth hazard is marked. this past summer we were on our friends 320 just cruising the lake. came through a pass that we've been through a hundred times, the lake was down a bit and we probably navigated a bit closer to the island than normal, and sure enough he kicked up bottom!!! no damage, but here again, we were cruising along bs'ing and not paying attention to instruments!!!
you'll love ouachita, your family will love ouachita. nothing like stopping in the middle and jumping in. the water is normally so clear, almost gives you an eery feeling sometimes. you know like out of nowhere you hear echoes of the "jaws" theme!!!!!
very safe lake and a very enjoyable lake. if you are coming for the weekend, the best place to stay if you don't have an rv/camper is mtn harbor resort.
link to the harbor: http://www.mountainharborresort.com/ need to book early as they fill up fast. and in season i think you have to book for 2 nights minimum. a bit pricey, but great!
anyway i'll get some info for ya. heading to the boat show today and i will pickup some phamplets and stuff and get them mailed.
well i won't ever say "you will never hit one" but its not very common unless you are not paying attention, going too fast at night, or one of those guys that says, "that'll never happen to me."
i would say the majority of the hidden islands are off the main lake, but then i'd really give you a false sense of the seriousness. the corp takes care of the lake pretty good, so anything that can/could present a normal depth hazard is marked. this past summer we were on our friends 320 just cruising the lake. came through a pass that we've been through a hundred times, the lake was down a bit and we probably navigated a bit closer to the island than normal, and sure enough he kicked up bottom!!! no damage, but here again, we were cruising along bs'ing and not paying attention to instruments!!!
you'll love ouachita, your family will love ouachita. nothing like stopping in the middle and jumping in. the water is normally so clear, almost gives you an eery feeling sometimes. you know like out of nowhere you hear echoes of the "jaws" theme!!!!!
very safe lake and a very enjoyable lake. if you are coming for the weekend, the best place to stay if you don't have an rv/camper is mtn harbor resort.
link to the harbor: http://www.mountainharborresort.com/ need to book early as they fill up fast. and in season i think you have to book for 2 nights minimum. a bit pricey, but great!
anyway i'll get some info for ya. heading to the boat show today and i will pickup some phamplets and stuff and get them mailed.