Lake Mead

TheWoodCrafter

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
414
I was in Vegas over the weekend and decided to visit the lake, looking for launch sites for this summer, I had never been there before.

The lake is down about 110feet according to the park ranger. The valley of Las Vegas is draining it faster than the snow melt can keep up. Still a very large body of water but shrinking every year. I think he said they had to move the main marina 3 times over the years so the moored boat would still be in water.

Anyway looking for some advice on a good place to take my little 15ft O.B.
The ranger suggested Cottonwood Cove which is not even on Lake Mead but further south on the river.

I got a few maps from the rangers and I was surprised how much is there. One could spend an entire summer exploring all that shore line.
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Lake Mead

Yup. We spend a lot of time on Mead . . . The Lake can even be better when it is low like this as there is more sand, and some new canyons too. Our favorite spot to launch from is Temple Bar and one you should consider although it is a long ride depending on where you are coming from. Also consider Willow Beach on Mohave. The view of the dam from the bottom (my avatar) is a mind blower, and the steep walls of Black Canyon keep it reasonable for a smaller boat. Mead proper can turn from glass to a raging Ocean in 10 minutes . . .
 

TheWoodCrafter

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
414
Re: Lake Mead

Thanks QC, I was starting to think no one on this forum goes to Lake Mead.

Your right about Temple Bar being a long way. How do you go? I'm in Hesperia and would travel the same route. Do you go to Laughlin and north on 93 or up 95 through Searchlight and across to 93?

I would like to go to an area not too crowded. I plan on teaching myself how to water sky and don't need a crowd watching me make a fool out of myself.

Where do the locals go?
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Lake Mead

Well the most popular Waterskiing spot is the Hemmenway Wall, which is very close to Lake Mead Marina (LMM) and would be the most crowded. If you have never been to Mead you need to understand that things are relative. Crowded in the Boulder Basin is less so than Mohave or Havasu by a lot, and that's the busy end . . . Mead is so Big and spread out you can find coves big enough to ski in, and be alone. Many locals head to a place called Mushroom Reef. It is actually close to Temple Bar, but we cruise there if the weather is right from LMM, it's around 30 miles from there. Less than 5 from Temple Bar. It will have some traffic though.

When I have driven to Temple Bar I have always gone in from Boulder, but I believe through Kingman is the fastest way, but it is still a long ride. If you really want to get away and get some good water and wide open I'd head to the Gregg Basin from Temple Bar. That's about 10 miles. Big long stretch that glasses off often. It runs more North/South and you can't judge how good it's going to be from Temple Bar. Actually behind "The Temple" is good.

Here's a few homework assignments for you:

Boating Rules

Marinas

Map

This is Mushroom Reef:

spfbiu.jpg


This is the bottom of Bonelli Bay:

2l8xf89.jpg
 

12vMan

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2008
Messages
1,535
Re: Lake Mead

So WoodCrafter did you ever teach yourself to ski?

Just wondering how it went and where did you launch?:)
 

TheWoodCrafter

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
414
Re: Lake Mead

So WoodCrafter did you ever teach yourself to ski?

Just wondering how it went and where did you launch?:)


Not yet. That is still the plan though.
Had a few setbacks on finishing the boat.
Still working on it.
I should be on the water this summer.
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Lake Mead

Been on Havasu last three days, next two or three at Parker, and then Mead Th, Fr and Sat . . . I am really watching fuel; I figure best case for the truck and boat is $1K for the week :eek:
 

TheWoodCrafter

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
414
Re: Lake Mead

QC,
Hope you have some left for July 4th.
What's the desination for that big weekend?
 

12vMan

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2008
Messages
1,535
Re: Lake Mead

W.C. Hope you get the boat finished to be able to enjoy it this summer. Hope to see you out on the water:)
 

jaxnjil

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
1,368
Re: Lake Mead

Been on Havasu last three days, next two or three at Parker, and then Mead Th, Fr and Sat . . . I am really watching fuel; I figure best case for the truck and boat is $1K for the week :eek:




do you guys ever make it up to powell?
 

12vMan

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2008
Messages
1,535
Re: Lake Mead

QC - Man, it doesn't suck to be you - I'm jealous! :cool: Have a great time and watch for the new reefs at Mushroom. I've seen 3 boats hit the last 2 times out.

The small reefs are rearing their ugly heads as the water goes down, which is better than having them hiding a foot under the surface, but there are also new penninsula reefs just under the surface.

Mushroom has some submerged reefs on the Campanile side by the little island where you used to be able to go between it and Mushroom.

Be careful:cool:

Looks like we'll be back out the 26th and over the 4th. Maybe see you out there.:)
 

12vMan

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2008
Messages
1,535
Re: Lake Mead

do you guys ever make it up to powell?

Powell is an awesome body of water with fingers that can take you into another world and beauty beyond compare. I'll go back again someday but I actually prefer Mead. It's less than 1/2 the driving time for me so I can do short trips, and I have a place there where I can also keep my boat so I don't have to tow.
 

rad1026

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 1, 2006
Messages
443
Re: Lake Mead

My first ski trip was to Havasu with a buddy of mine's parents. They loved Black Meadow Landing. I have had some really great times there. That's a 10 hour drive for me now. If I'm going to drive that far we go to Lone Rock Beach at Powell. What an awesome place.
 

baineyg

Seaman
Joined
Feb 16, 2008
Messages
53
Re: Lake Mead

Since everyone here was helping me out through my boat ordeal I'm going to let users know of an awesome launch spot on Lake Mead.
Lake Mead marina has moved but the paved road (used in the dam construction) has created a great ramp that is still open.
The parking is close (no giant hill) and no long lines. It is shallow though, I've seen some SUV's up to the front door. Hope that helps out some of my iboat buddies.
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Lake Mead

Yeah, I launched at Hemenway yesterday and I don't like it. Is there a ramp on the LMM side of Las Vegas Boat Harbor now? Didn't see that.

I was at Mushroom yesterday too. I don't understand how some people hit stuff. All the new shallows show color at even 20 ft., so it's pretty easy to avoid. The sand is not as good at this lake level there, but still an awesome day spot.

I'll probably do a thread on this week when I get home. Boated nine days in a row at three different spots :D

We did a week long Houseboat on Powell last August. Loved it.
 

12vMan

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2008
Messages
1,535
Re: Lake Mead

I rarely venture over to Boulder Basin. No need to except to shuttle people over to see the dam. I thought it might be cool to see that road they used during the building of the dam that baineyg was talking about though.

When I saw people hit those reefs they were usually going into the sun, combined with a little wind chop and there you have it. I hit an underwater obsticle a couple of years ago going into the sun in a cove where I had been before but with the lower water, I didn't know the little devil was lurking a couple feet below the surface. No one in the boat saw it, and we were all looking straight ahead! :eek: We just looked at each other in disbelief:confused: My next door neighbor at T-Bar hit it the very next year in the same way but got more extensive damage than I did as the water was lower.

Looking forward to your thread QC. Bet it was a great time.
 

erlindbl

Seaman
Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
66
Re: Lake Mead

Woodcrafter, the ranger's advice is not bad. Cottonwood Cove is on Lake Mojave. You can launch from there and go north and find a lot of places to learn to ski with no one around. That part of Mojave is not anywhere near as crowded as the south end around the dam and Katherine's landing. As was said earlier, you can also launch at Willow Beach which is about 14 miles south of Hoover Dam and is the north end of Lake Mojave. The views in the canyon are incredible and the fishing is outstanding. You can't ski in the canyon however.

I love Lake Mead but the north end of Mojave has everything......
 
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