Heading to Kentucky Lake

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brianD
Posts: 121
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2011 2:17 pm
Location: Live in STL, Boat wherever there's enough water to not mess up a prop.

Heading to Kentucky Lake

#1 Post by brianD » Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:11 pm

Hello all,
Packing up the beast and heading to Kentucky Lake in Aug for a long weekend with family. any "do not miss" or "definitely don't go there" places I should know about? Will be staying near MM31 at Big Bear Resort

b
b

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2006 Landau Excalibur 2700
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2011 Bear tandem trailer
2011 3/4 ton Suburban

Bamaman
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Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#2 Post by Bamaman » Thu Jul 28, 2016 8:41 pm

I'm really unfamiliar with the second lake below mine. I understand the Eddyville, KY area really has some incredible residences on the water.

And at 185 miles long, I doubt anyone has ever seen the whole lake. It's the start of 650 miles of the premier inland cruising in the U.S.--navigable all the way to Knoxville, TN.

Have a great trip.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

bradm
Posts: 114
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:09 pm
Location: Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#3 Post by bradm » Fri Jul 29, 2016 1:48 pm

Rock Quarry (party spot) is across main lake from Big Bear. Also is a nice Sandy cove across main lake. Depending on how late in August would start staying in the marked channel when crossing from Big Bear and Moors Resort Area to those spots.

Lots of nice bays close by. The eastern shore of lake is undeveloped (Land between the Lakes) so no houses etc

We are on Barkley which is connected to Kentucky Lake by a canal near the dam.
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Brad M.
2019 Manitou Legacy with 350 Suzuki
2016 South Bay 523 Arch. 250 Suzuki SS (sold)

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brianD
Posts: 121
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2011 2:17 pm
Location: Live in STL, Boat wherever there's enough water to not mess up a prop.

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#4 Post by brianD » Sat Jul 30, 2016 6:27 am

One of the days we will likely go through the canal to Barkley, just to say we were there. Anything tricky about that?
b

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2006 Landau Excalibur 2700
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2011 Bear tandem trailer
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chopper6358
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Location: paducah ky

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#5 Post by chopper6358 » Mon Aug 01, 2016 7:14 pm

the rock quarry is a nice cruise thru unless you want to jump off the cliffs. pisgah bay is pretty nice for pulling tubers , the water is fairly smooth there. around the point from that is a nice party hang out called the sands,{old Birmingham} pretty smooth sandy beach. then up from that smith bay then duncan bay.
1998 Crest 25' Tritoon,115 Johnson 2 stroke. 13x11 4 blade spitfire prop, pulled with 2007 GMC sierra classic 2500hd 4x4. ky lake :nutkick :thumbsup :eviltaunt

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landlockedsailor
Posts: 492
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:29 am
Location: KY Lake MM 57.8

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#6 Post by landlockedsailor » Thu Aug 04, 2016 5:29 am

brianD wrote:One of the days we will likely go through the canal to Barkley, just to say we were there. Anything tricky about that?
The canal is a piece of cake. No issues and fun to say you did two lakes in the same day, heck, in the same 10 minutes!

Next trip, come down to MM 58-60. Lots of resorts, camping spots, fun dining and live entertainment dockside. Also, hardly any boat traffic so you OWN the lake and can tube, swim, fish anywhere without fear of being run over by the hoards of rental boaters headed across the lake to Party Cove from the Moors (right next door to Big Bear).

I'm a transplant from STL, and for a little bit longer drive you can enjoy the best of KY Lake down here.

Have fun, KY Lake anywhere is not congested like LOTO.
Landlocked Sailor
2011 SunTracker 21' Fishin' Barge
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2014 Never-Been-in-the-Water Suntracker Trailer

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brianD
Posts: 121
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2011 2:17 pm
Location: Live in STL, Boat wherever there's enough water to not mess up a prop.

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#7 Post by brianD » Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:38 pm

What a blast! Great lake, lots of coves to hang out in. Must have been the time of year, but we had the lake almost completely to ourselves.

Being used to the nuns and cans on the Mississippi, the little markers were a little hard to see (especially on the night ride) but otherwise we had a great time!

and yes we went into Barkley just to say we did it.

thanks for the charts and tips!
b

======================
2006 Landau Excalibur 2700
225 Suzuki 4 stroke
2011 Bear tandem trailer
2011 3/4 ton Suburban

bradm
Posts: 114
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:09 pm
Location: Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#8 Post by bradm » Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:45 pm

Glad u had a good trip. The different coves and bays are really nice on both lakes. With a few exceptions (holiday weekends) most of Kentucky and Barkley are not too crowded.

Just keep that quiet so it stays that way :biggrin2
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2019 Manitou Legacy with 350 Suzuki
2016 South Bay 523 Arch. 250 Suzuki SS (sold)

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landlockedsailor
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Location: KY Lake MM 57.8

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#9 Post by landlockedsailor » Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:22 am

bradm wrote: Just keep that quiet so it stays that way :biggrin2
Yes! We tell everybody from LOTO that the fishing sucks here, the wind blows your sailboat in circles, the barges are non-stop, and you can walk across the lake on all the boats that are here even during the week!

We love it here especially after having had a boat at LOTO and on the Mighty Mississippi in years past. Glad you had a great time! Come back!
Landlocked Sailor
2011 SunTracker 21' Fishin' Barge
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JLester273
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Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 10:23 am
Location: Cincinnati Ohio

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#10 Post by JLester273 » Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:36 am

I know this is an older thread but KY lake is the first real trip we took with our pontoon. I bought it after a earlier trip here when we rented one. We stayed at Sportsman's Campground on Johnathan creek. I actually grew up on my Grandpa's boat heading out of this marina. It is an older place but the people running it are nice and are fixing things up as they can. Not that it is bad. They are just trying to make it nicer.

I'm going to have to check out some of the other places you mention. We never ventured out of Johnathan creek while we were there this time.
My rebuild thread.
http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24807

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landlockedsailor
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Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#11 Post by landlockedsailor » Thu Jun 22, 2017 9:48 am

[quote="JLester273"]. I'm going to have to check out some of the other places you mention. We never ventured out of Johnathan creek while we were there this time.[/quote]

Jonathan Creek huge. Don't have to leave it to have fun fishing, tubing, swimmng, etc. Plus, some nightlife nearby in Aurora, with restaurants, ice cream, every-kind-of-fudge and tourist stuff.

For a little quieter water (literally, the wind/waves bigger than other places), head out either way and hit a nearby cove. Sunset cruises are GREAT!
Landlocked Sailor
2011 SunTracker 21' Fishin' Barge
2007 Mercury 60 HP EFI Four-Stroke BigFoot
2014 Never-Been-in-the-Water Suntracker Trailer

Bamaman
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Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#12 Post by Bamaman » Thu Jun 22, 2017 11:20 am

I was out on the Tennessee River the last few days--staying at our fish camp. My wife went home to look at her Tyler Perry television shows on OWN.

Went out into the middle of the 1.5 mile wide lake and floated from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The sunset was like a big orange ball going down--just beautiful.

Best part was there were only two boats within eyesight--and that's on a lake with wall to wall houses and boathouses. We're actually an underutilized lake surrounded by 140,000 people.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

JLester273
Posts: 241
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Location: Cincinnati Ohio

Re: Heading to Kentucky Lake

#13 Post by JLester273 » Mon Jul 17, 2017 5:36 am

[quote="landlockedsailor"][quote="JLester273"]. I'm going to have to check out some of the other places you mention. We never ventured out of Johnathan creek while we were there this time.[/quote]

Jonathan Creek huge. Don't have to leave it to have fun fishing, tubing, swimmng, etc. Plus, some nightlife nearby in Aurora, with restaurants, ice cream, every-kind-of-fudge and tourist stuff.

For a little quieter water (literally, the wind/waves bigger than other places), head out either way and hit a nearby cove. Sunset cruises are GREAT![/quote]

Gonna do this next time. I grew up going to Johnathan creek with my Grandpa. I really like KY lake. And that whole area. But I wouldn't mind doing some exploring around the main lake and see some of the places I have never seen. I'm sure there is lots to see. My boat should be good as long as it isn't terribly rough out.
My rebuild thread.
http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24807

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