Worst Boat Traffic Lake In State 2024
livetofish28 reply :
We all know how how bad boat traffic can be on some of our favorite fisheries especially with those jet skis that seem to have no respect for anybody. Anyway inspired by best lake in your state, What's the worst lake for boat traffic in your state?
Smith mountain lake would be my choice for Va on a summer day that place is like a major highway on Memorial Day weekend during rush hour with construction
Tight lines
Andrew
Jeff H reply :
Overall, I'm gonna pick Minnetonka.
Christian M reply :
In Jersey, you can take your pick. Lake Hopatcong has to be the worst as far as gas powered watercraft, but most of our lakes are electric only. Any lake that has decent fishing is a nightmare on the weekends, so much so that unless im fishing a tournament, ill just go during the week. It's just not worth being on a 750 square acre electric only lake with 40 bass boats, 2 dozen sail boats, and 10-20 kayaks. Honestly theres no way to enjoy it.
plumworm reply :
Try the Mississippi River pools #9 and #10 on a summer day. I would be willing to bet that there are 1000+ boats from 10' to 50'. Cigar boats that come within a few feet of you if you are fishing and absolutely no law enforcement. Not fun.
Bluebasser86 reply :
In Kansas it has to be Perry or Hillsdale. Neither of those even come close to LOZ on an average summer weekend though, lots of people with the money to buy a boat who have no idea how to operate one.
slonezp reply :
Quitcherbitchin, My home water is, on record, THE busiest fresh water waterway per acre in the U.S. The Fox Chain in Lake County IL. Roughly 9000 acres of water and 25,000+ boats registered annually (we have a annual user fee)
The Fox Waterway Agency
is a regional body of government created by the State of Illinois in 1984 to specifically manage the waterways of the Chain O’Lakes and the Illinois Fox River. Since it is a multi-jurisdictional Federal and State public waterway, we are funded entirely by boating fees, grants, and legislative funding. Those funds support the FWA’s main mission of dredging and maintaining public safety through our buoy and debris program to address the needs of our 3.5 million visitors per year.
jhoffman reply :
Raystown, by far. Its well known if you wanna fish, you better be there at the break of day and ready to leave by noon mid summer. Its not impossible to find calm water though, its got a lot of fingers that are no wake.
boostr reply :
I'm glad I have every other Friday off, that way I avoid the weekend warriors on the lakes
Hi Salenity reply :
On 4/7/2014 at 1:10 PM, Bluebasser86 said:In Kansas it has to be Perry or Hillsdale. Neither of those even come close to LOZ on an average summer weekend though, lots of people with the money to buy a boat who have no idea how to operate one.
Hillsdale is not only the busiest lake but it's also the #1 tourist destination in the state.
How sad is that.
BrianinMD reply :
In Maryland....its Deep Creek Lake. Can't fish it during the summer.
Master Bait'r reply :
Ugh. These lakes sound like my worst nightmare. I think I'm allergic to being around that many other people. I'd go nuts.
Bassintheweeds reply :
Sebago by far. But even then its not terrible unless its a holiday. Im very glad to live in a state with such few people.
I learned to fish in Arizona and that was some crazy stuff. Every holiday was packed to the point you couldnt fish any cove because most had parties going on....
ksboy reply :
OK, I feel sorry for you guys in the KC area having that great big lake to have so many people visiting. Down south here, we have mostly the 50-150 acre lakes that, when ten boats are there, it makes the fishing more like riding a merry-go-round. The GOOD thing is, all the State fishing lakes are "no wake". If we choose to go to Winfield city lake, it's about 800 acres and you get your 9 million+ jet skiers doin their thang.
AIN'T FISHIN' FUN??????????????
Mr_Scrogg reply :
Love the leap frogging at McPherson!!! Ontop of that the catfishing at the feeders makes it an obstacle course!!
J Francho reply :
Funny, the worst traffic lake is where my PB largemouth from NY cones from: Irondequoit Bay, or the City Dump, as I affectionately call it.
daiwaguy reply :
Lake of The Ozarks is crazy in the summer. If you are not running atleast a 20' boat you should really not go out and try to fight it. Just wait till 7pm and catch a night tourney. Our club stops fishing Day Tourneys at LOZ at the end of April, maybe catch one the first weekend of May after that it is a no go. We will do 1 night tourney in June and one in July. Other than that we go to different lakes around the state.
MO_LMB reply :
On 4/7/2014 at 9:44 PM, daiwaguy said:Lake of The Ozarks is crazy in the summer. If you are not running atleast a 20' boat you should really not go out and try to fight it. Just wait till 7pm and catch a night tourney. Our club stops fishing Day Tourneys at LOZ at the end of April, maybe catch one the first weekend of May after that it is a no go. We will do 1 night tourney in June and one in July. Other than that we go to different lakes around the state.
Obviously statistics change each year, but regularly the Lake of the Ozarks is rated the 3rd most dangerous body of water in the US, behind the Atlantic Ocean and Colorado River.
Booze + Cigarette Boats + Barges + Jetskis are not a good combination.
bigbill reply :
Recently I fish the smaller bodies were no motors are allowed even more.
But my buddies change from the larger bodies of water to river bass fishing because of the many boaters.
tatertester reply :
Lake Minnetonka , metro Mpls/St.Paul area. Boats, skiers, sail boats , fisherman, swimmers, speed boats, cabin cruisers, multiple boats tied together to form a giant raft of beer guzzling partiers.........Looks like a giant traffic jam or demolition derby...Very scary.
Brian Needham reply :
Pickwick gets fairly busy too..... when trying to fish a main river ledge there is nothing like a 38 foot Fountian rolling by you, or even a 40+ foot Sea Ray.
I swear the heat must make people stupid..... last year I saw a mastercraft pulling a tube full of kids swing right in front of a 3 deep, 2 wide barge.
.ghoti. reply :
Lake Shelbyville in central Ilinois is the worst in my area. Lake of the Ozarks has to be the all-time worst I've ever been on. We no longer go there.
Hyrule Bass reply :
while i currently reside in WV, i grew up most my life in VA so ill go with VA, and give another vote to Smith Mountain Lake. also consdering ive never fished any WV lakes. in the summer on a 4th of july weekend, ive seen SML so rough from boat traffic that it appeared that the water was boiling as boat/jetski wakes converged from all different directions
retiredbosn reply :
SC I'm going to say Murray, any lake that requires police presence to direct traffic at the launch is busy.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
I've been to some bad lakes but I've never seen one as bad as lake of the ozarks.
Nice_Bass reply :
On 4/7/2014 at 10:21 PM, MO_LMB said:Obviously statistics change each year, but regularly the Lake of the Ozarks is rated the 3rd most dangerous body of water in the US, behind the Atlantic Ocean and Colorado River.
Booze + Cigarette Boats + Barges + Jetskis are not a good combination.
and lake of the Ozarks is my favorite lake!!! lol.
usually stop fishing there after the 2nd or 3rd week of May and start again in September.
I did go in july last year, and honestly it was not that bad- fished from before sunrise to around 10ish- and then again in the evening.
Weekends whole different story though.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
On 4/8/2014 at 2:37 AM, Nice_Bass said:usually stop fishing there after the 2nd or 3rd week of May and start again in September.
I did go in july last year, and honestly it was not that bad- fished from before sunrise to around 10ish- and then again in the evening.
Weekends whole different story though.
When I have fished it I've found that is key. Get off the lake the week before memorial weekend and get back on the lake the week after labor day weekend. If you dont go in that time frame its not bad at all. If you do. You will need to be on the Enterprise.
Oregon Native reply :
I will pick Norris here in east tenn. Since moving here I tried going up there once in early summer. OMG. I really believe pontoon boats and beer put a target on bass boats trying to fish a bank. And boat ramps are a joke...why why why do people wait and load picnic baskets and blankeys in the middle of the ramp when attempting to launch.
Loved it back in Oregon on the Columbia from Hood River up. Very little boat traffic...river to intimidating to most and the wind keeps the rest home. Fishing.....awesome.
Tight Lines
wnybassman reply :
On 4/7/2014 at 9:32 PM, J Francho said:Funny, the worst traffic lake is where my PB largemouth from NY cones from: Irondequoit Bay, or the City Dump, as I affectionately call it.
I was tossing different waters around but once I saw your choice I knew that was mine also. I remember a calm sunny hot summer day years ago there when the whole valley the bay is in was a complete blue haze from the 2 cycle exhaust, and you could just taste it in your mouth. John and I have had the discussion before how bass even survive in that place without being washed up onto the bank at a young age. lol We always pray for crappy weather there for a tournament to keep the crowds at a manageable level.
mjseverson24 reply :
try the rainy river when its first ice out or when its about to freeze... can be up to 4+ hour of waiting just to launch the boat... The mississippi river pool by red wing MN is also terrible in the cold months as it is about the only open water in the state... literally thousands of boats within the first 2 miles of the river on nice days...
Mitch
papajoe222 reply :
Unlike slonezp, I don't fish the Fox chain in IL. The worst lake that I do fish is Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin. There are likely more boating accidents on one week-end than most lakes have in a year. I fish it in the spring and fall when it's to cold for the pleasure boaters, or at night during the week. I don't even think about venturing out there any other time.
jhoffman reply :
Ill be brutally honest, if you cant back up a trailer you should go take a course on it. If it takes you more than 3 mins from the time that boat hits the water, you start it, pull it over and get back in the truck you have issues and need to prepare better. I can do it in three mins without a partner easy, add someone to dump it and or get the truck, thirty seconds at best.
IF youre off the trailer and the motor wont crank, get on the trolling motor and move over. Problem is, no one cares about anyone elses time. Once they hit the ramp common sense and courtosy go right out the window.
I also think lakes should have a loading and unloading ramp. Rules enforced only when theres boats waiting to come out at the same time going in.
FishinDaddy reply :
Luckily for me, most of central Florida lakes are inhabited by large, toothy, lizards. 
I have seen maybe 5 total jet skis and 1 water skier in the last 10 years on the 80,000 acre Kissimmee chain. If you venture into the bay or intracoastal waterway to do a little salt water fishing, that is a zoo.
fish365 reply :
I have to vote for Boone Lake here in East Tennessee. 5000 acres, 10,000 jet skis and pontoon boats.
d3bf48 reply :
Moved from Northern Illinois to Northern WI. No longer deal with crowds. Nothing better than having a class A musky lake to yourself on a summer evening.
flyingmonkie reply :
My hometown lake! Lake Thunderbird (or Dirtybird as we affectionately call it) is the busiest state park in Oklahoma. Typical summer weekend is a madhouse - 30 minute waits at the boat ramps, and no less thna 50 boats in eyesight at any given time. We're also pretty big into water skiing, and we wouldn't think of dropping a skiier in the water when it's like this.
Brian Needham reply :
we wouldn't think of dropping a skiier in the water when it's like this.
^^^^ that's always my deal...... I don't ski but I would NEVER want to just be bobbing up and down out in the middle of a busy lake with a bunch of crazy non driving half drunks. LOL
shimmy reply :
Hmm, impossible to determine given my limited experience in Virginia, but based off of what i have experienced and heard, I would say Briery Creek in southern VA and Lake Frederick in northern VA. Boats per acre, i think Frederick might take the cake. 117 acre lake with nearly 15-20 boats each time i use to go there. That's why i fish a lake with smaller fish but at least get the piece of mind.
Montanaro reply :
I haven't fished the larger southern lakes on wv but Cheat and tygart can be bad. 2x on deep Creek of maryland.
MacP reply :
Dale Hollow is the busiest lake in TN. Fortunately, it's huge.
roadwarrior reply :
On 4/8/2014 at 10:25 PM, MacP said:Dale Hollow is the busiest lake in TN. Fortunately, it's huge.
I don't know, Pickwickwick gets pretty busy in the summertime.
However, I generally fish the river and that is an entirely different
story.
ww2farmer reply :
Pick a lake in WNY, and you can bet that on any nice weekend from Memorial day to Labor day it will be a zoo. BUT, it really dosen't bother the fish, some of my best days in the summer are during insane boat traffic. Now does it bother me....................yes, but there is nothing I can do about it, so I just deal with it.
Munkin reply :
On 4/7/2014 at 8:45 PM, BrianinMD said:In Maryland....its Deep Creek Lake. Can't fish it during the summer.
The only time I have quit a tournament early was on Deep Creek in the summer. Big boats on the main lake, skiers in the front of coves, swimmers in the back of coves and no where to fish unless you like waves.
That tournament was so bad I finally decided to fish in this tiny creek that lets into the lake. When I say tiny I mean this thing is maybe 20' wide which gets skinnier as you go in. I figured that is the one place I could find some peace, Wrong! I made it about 50 yards into the creek and her e come 3 kayaks down it. Said f**k it and but the boat on the trailer after sitting beside the ramp for 15minutes because I was sea sick from the waves.
Allen
Jar11591 reply :
I would say Saratoga Lake or Lake George.
200racing reply :
i don't have much time on north alabama lakes to judge them. in the central part lake martin is bad.
i have seen the lake white capping from boat wake.
the clear water on the south end makes it a pleasure boat destination.
lots of house boats,20'-50' cabin cruisers, cigarettes boats, pontoons and wake boats.
skeeter1980 reply :
Here in Delaware our lakes and ponds are small.They all have a no wake,and not real croweded.Now the bay and rivers,well that's another story.
The Commodore reply :
On 4/8/2014 at 6:29 AM, FishinDaddy said:Luckily for me, most of central Florida lakes are inhabited by large, toothy, lizards.
I have seen maybe 5 total jet skis and 1 water skier in the last 10 years on the 80,000 acre Kissimmee chain. If you venture into the bay or intracoastal waterway to do a little salt water fishing, that is a zoo.
Only lakes in central Florida with jet skis and skiers are the urban lakes in Orlando.
And yeah the inlets in Florida on a weekend are a mess.
Bankbeater reply :
I like LOZ, but not from April to Sept.
whitwolf reply :
In NC It's Lake Norman and It's not even close.
buzzed bait reply :
On 4/9/2014 at 7:26 AM, whitwolf said:In NC It's Lake Norman and It's not even close.
fishing there in a kayak is downright dangerous…. had to go all the way north to the state park to feel like i had a fighting chance of not being run over….. i used to live about 1/4 mile from blythe landing and that area is crowded all the time
CDMeyer reply :
The mississippi is pretty bad by the city park in La Crosse Wisconsin
Shane J reply :
In N.H., it's gotta be Winnepesaukee, you know, the one that was listed in the top 100 lakes thing? The exact reason I don't even fish it. The traffic is stupid, with a huge mix of college dudes that probably don't even have their driver's licenses due to D.U.I's, and a ridiculous amount of tournaments each year. You can catch 4lb smallies till you're blue in the face, but the aggravation is not worth it to me.
senile1 reply :
Here is another vote for Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. One can still catch fish on a busy lake, but if your boat is in danger of capsizing much of the time that you are on the water it makes for a harrowing day of fishing. Another lake that is very bad between Memorial Day and Labor Day is Smithville Lake. I have heard it dubbed Little Lake Ozark. I fish Smithville a lot and it isn't uncommon to catch big air on a busy summer weekend if you aren't extremely careful.
everythingthatswims reply :
Try lake anna in the summer, get out in the big open areas and you're the only one there, but as soon as the banks get closer together, you are surrounded by water skiers, tubers, and pleasure boaters. Doesn't make a bit of sense. And I fish from a kayak so I always go during the week. One of my pet peeves is when a boat enters a no wake zone right next to me and comes about 1/2 off plane and ends up making a much bigger wake then he/she would have made by staying on plane, slowing down for 50 yards can't be that much of a burden can it?
BigPharma reply :
Lake Wallenpaupack in PA
Tartan34 reply :
I fished in a tourney last weekend on Lake Butler. It was jet ski and ski boat misery. The worst I've ever experienced, and that was before pulling out at the ramp.
I was really tempted to throw my single hook swimbait at the one who buzzed us at about 15 yards...but resisted. It was an older couple with their lap dog on a jet ski....I was truly amazed.
On 4/9/2014 at 6:16 AM, The Commodore said:Only lakes in central Florida with jet skis and skiers are the urban lakes in Orlando.
And yeah the inlets in Florida on a weekend are a mess.
mattbbassin reply :
I think in Texas in the Houston area that Lake Conroe has the worst traffic because of the jet skiers and the wakeboarders and skiers plus there aint great fishin out there so it is kinda hard to have an extravagant fishing population
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
Raystown, between the two summer holidays and a little beyond, is absolutely atrocious.
I dont really like the lake to begin with but when you factor these knuckleheads in it makes the decision to fish elsewhere fairly simple.
paangler13 reply :
I agree Raystown in Pa. You have to fish it during the week. If I go on the weekend it's till 10:00am max.
In 2004 I think, we were fishing when a skier went down about 50 yards ahead of us. we fished up to and past this guy. The boat just keeps going around the bend and out of sight. He told us they were all drunk, but they'd be back eventually! They did come back about 15 minutes later. Gotta love it.
Jim
buzzed bait reply :
Back in NC it would have been Lake Norman, party boat central.....
in GA i've found way too many electric only or HP restricted lakes to get onto the big ones.....
NathanW reply :
Western Washington, pick a lake. Samamish, Whatcom (Just while launching at bleodel), Lake Washington, all bad.
Eastern WA, probably Chelan or Wallula.
I really cannot complain about fishing pressure becasue aside from big bass tourney weekends the lakes I regularly fish have relatively no bass fishing pressure whatsoever. If I was chasing Salmon it would be a different deal to speak of. I get excited when I see other bass boats out.
Also, you cannot blame jetskiers, they dont know any better. Its just folks trying to have a good time with their kids usually. Its ironic because I used to be a wakeboarder and I hated when bass boats would ruin our water, now I am a bass fisherman and I hate it when wakeboard boats attempt to capsize me.
DILLY07 reply :
Lake of the Ozarks can be horrible. I just ignore it and go on fishing.
Nick49 reply :
I fish Lake of the Ozarks regularly, but on summer weekends it is all but impossible to fish between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm.
hookset on 3 reply :
On 4/12/2014 at 1:55 AM, Shane J said:In N.H., it's gotta be Winnepesaukee, you know, the one that was listed in the top 100 lakes thing? The exact reason I don't even fish it. The traffic is stupid, with a huge mix of college dudes that probably don't even have their driver's licenses due to D.U.I's, and a ridiculous amount of tournaments each year. You can catch 4lb smallies till you're blue in the face, but the aggravation is not worth it to me.
Yeah, I got your back on that, Shane. The last time I fished it, we were sticking 2 to 4 lb smallmouth around most of the mid lake islands. Then around noon time the Cabin cruisers and Cigarettes Racing boats invaded the lake. It was treacherous!
I've not been back in about 6 years.
Alpha Male reply :
On 4/7/2014 at 9:41 AM, Jeff H said:Overall, I'm gonna pick Minnetonka.
Opening weekend would be lake mille lacs as fas as quantity. Everyone is out there to fish so noone is to disrespectful.
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