best lake/ reservoir for family vacation??

Bartman · 03-29-2006, 05:18 PM

we're planning our summer vacation and we want to find a good lake/reservoir for a 10 day trip this summer.we'd be fishing and playing with the boat, we also would be taking the camp trailer.any ideas on spots that would fit the bill???
thanks
Bartman

BigFishFever · 03-29-2006, 05:37 PM

If you want a drive...a beautiful spot is up in North Washington...Twin Lakes...beautiful place...cant remember if they have Camper trailer parking...but really cheap cabins!
Great Bass fishing till late in the night...and great warm water for swimming/ski'ng during the day!

Hope this link is OK

Twin Lakes

Draggin' Bait · 03-29-2006, 05:52 PM

You could also try Diamond Lake. It will be eight feet low this summer in preparation for poisoning the lake and starting fresh (no trash fish). So, it won't be quite its usual beautiful self. However, no bag limit on trout this year -- you catch it and you keep it. They figure anything left at the end of the summer is toast anyway, so go ahead and eat it. Also, the eleven mile bike ride around the lake (paved trail) is a must! We do it every morning and every evening when we're there.

Trick · 03-29-2006, 06:35 PM

How big is the boat?

pugetplunker · 03-29-2006, 06:52 PM

lake chelan at 25 mile state park lots to do in a boat,nice camp sites and it is very warm.

swampy · 03-29-2006, 07:06 PM

I've heard chelan is cool and that ya gotta take your bike to Diamond.....

Bartman · 03-29-2006, 07:26 PM

the boat is 18'
where is lake chelan??

98ramtough · 03-29-2006, 07:29 PM

I would say Lake Roosevelt or Lake Chelan. Lake Chelan is in Chelan, Washington. Lake Roosevelt is basically the columbia river above grand coulee dam. Big deep clean lake. Lake Chelan is very nice, the water will be a little colder than Lake Roosevelt. Both lakes are big deep lakes.

happybrew · 03-29-2006, 07:34 PM

I have to agree on Diamond Lake. The lodge at Diamond Lake is top notch. The bike trail around the lake is awesome. You can never get bored there. There are other fine lakes in the area, like Toketee and Lemolo. The hike down to Lemolo Falls is nice. The falls themselves are beautiful, and the trout in there are very pretty. The hike out is a bit of a chore, though. Crater Lake is nearby. Climbing Mt. Thielson is a popular activity. There is so much both at Diamond Lake and within a half hour drive of there that I think it's truly the gem of Southern Oregon. It's a shame what some thoughtless person did to the fishing there.

happybrew

ICHTHYDEMON · 03-29-2006, 07:56 PM

Lake Roosevelt is a blast. My family has spent two weeks a summer there for the last 30+ years.

lentz · 03-29-2006, 08:00 PM

If you want to travel a little bit you can go to Wallowa Lake in N.E. Oregon. Absolutly beautiful, lots of hiking trails, marina with boat ramp, wildreness camping or state park, great fishing, go carts, bumperboats, mini-golf. Lots of things to do. Joesph is a small town with lots of things to do, its just a mile or two from the lake. Me and a couple of fishing friends are going to go Kokanee fishing in early May.

goodkarma · 03-30-2006, 06:17 AM

Lake Billy Chinook, nice facilities, great lake, close to allot of central oregon activities

zipper · 03-30-2006, 06:35 AM

Depends on what kind of experience you want. Sunnyside park at Foster Lake (outside of Sweet Home) is a great family oriented camp ground - with lots of nice amenities. Just up the road is Green Peter lake. Many nice family vacations for my family over the years. good luck. zip

MacFish · 03-30-2006, 10:37 AM

I would consider basing out of a cabin at either East, Elk, Crescent, Twin or Cultus lake resorts and having the rest of the central Oregon high cascade lakes and rivers at my doorstep. If you are tent or trailer camping, than you have even more options.

TheCamel · 03-30-2006, 11:56 AM

Been there, done that, will do it again!

fishloader · 03-30-2006, 03:05 PM

we go up to jp stewart, lost creek res. top of the rouge. up toward crater lake. good place to fish trout, ski, bike, go up to crater and hang around. girls love it. stewarts a great campground. but don't go out in the evening and get those small mouths. save em for me.

Bartman · 03-30-2006, 03:10 PM

we're narrowing it down to lakes with warm water fishing, that way my daugther can have a good time bobber fishing for crappie, perch, etc. I grew up a few miles from lake billy chinook and spent many a day on it,prineville res, ochoco res,haystack res,antelope res and all of the C.O. rivers,as much as I love them we're looking for something new.foster&green peter,wallowa, and chelan lakes all look great( did a little net surfing).It looks like wallowa&chelan would be trout fishing,so we wouldnt get the bobber fishing action for my daughter.anther couple lakes that sound good are brownlee and owyhee,I've heard alot about brownlee of the bass&panfish board but nada about owyhee,anybody fished it?? thanks for all the great info guys.

Bart

wind troller · 03-30-2006, 04:24 PM

Your going to have a tough choice with all the great recommendations so far. I thought I'd add another one in Eastern Oregon on the Cascade loop. Crane Praire is great fun, super campground at the lodge (they even have showers) or Quinn River (sp), great for trailers, easy boat launch, lots of bike riding, and many other lakes close by to fish.
Good luck on your choice!

wind troller · 03-30-2006, 05:04 PM

Oh yea, I forgot to add that this is my favorite lake to motor upwind and do the wind troll back to camp in the evening, very fun!
:smile:

MOLDY · 03-30-2006, 07:12 PM

I always liked Suttle Lake. Thompson Res is a nice place too, usually not too packed, but take the bug spray.

foxer · 03-30-2006, 07:39 PM

Lake Shasta?

diamondfish · 03-30-2006, 07:48 PM

I will always say Lake Owyhee, especially the Dry Creek arm. There is free camping there, although there are no sites and the trek out there is on gravel, it is still my favorite place. The best part is you can fish there for a week and you may see half a dozen people the entire time you are there. The bass fishing there is awesome, especially in May, during the pre spawn they are so aggresive.

Just_learning · 03-30-2006, 07:50 PM

Detroit Lake. Hands down my favorite place.

Bartman · 03-30-2006, 08:23 PM

thanks for all of the help guys

we're definately getting some great ideas.

Bartman

Snapset · 03-30-2006, 09:48 PM

Brownlee is a no go during July and August for the water skiing. The fishing can be fantastic but the heat is truly oppressive and the smell is worse. Owyhee is better but it too can have a pretty massive July Carp hatch and the spent carp get ripe in a hurry.

Bartman · 03-31-2006, 04:13 PM

thanks again for all of the great suggestions

we've pretty mucn narrowed it down to brownlee and owyhee.leaning towards owyhee,but may actually hit them both.we're bumping the trip up to early to mid june.
thanks again everybody

Bart

Lepper · 03-31-2006, 07:20 PM

hands down. wallowa lake. problem solved.

dave

fergy61 · 04-01-2006, 07:14 PM

Potholes res?

geterdone · 04-01-2006, 07:33 PM

detroit lake hands down. very good family lake, large with good fishing and lots of room to boat. i like to stay at cove creek campground.

Headhunter · 04-04-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

If you want to travel a little bit you can go to Wallowa Lake in N.E. Oregon. Absolutly beautiful, lots of hiking trails, marina with boat ramp, wildreness camping or state park, great fishing, go carts, bumperboats, mini-golf. Lots of things to do. Joesph is a small town with lots of things to do, its just a mile or two from the lake. Me and a couple of fishing friends are going to go Kokanee fishing in early May.

Another vote for Wallawa Lake. We stayed there for a week a few summers ago...it is so beautiful. Take the tram up Mt. Baker, go into Joseph and see how they cast a statue out of bronze, and fish...fish...fish!

PS: Don't hand feed the deer...even if they look tame!

Kootenay · 04-05-2006, 06:45 AM

Lake of the Woods, east of Medford, lots of perch, bass and rainbows. Great campgrounds and a nice marina, warm water and blue skies.