Lake Mary Questions......

1155 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by JeffinFlag, Aug 2, 2009

Turtle Soup

Discussion Starter · Aug 1, 2009

OK,

The wife said she wants to go north next weekend and I talked her into camping at Lake Mary.
( gonna try for some of those tooth bags too !)
I need some help finding a good (tent) camping site before I go there.
I have driven by this lake , but have not really looked at the camping sites.

-Can you guys recommend a particular site ?
We will be taking the boat up there so I prefer to be able to leave it in the water and camp near it.

-Also, is this lake warm enough to swim in ?

Thanks in advance.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

nolord

· #2 · Aug 1, 2009

First of all , what up with the new avy:shock:, I say you bring back the toe hole dude....
No camping on marry, you gotta go across the road,...
Are you still hitten Plez sunday?

Jimmyvogs

· #3 · Aug 1, 2009

I have seen people take their boats and camp on the far side of the lake from the freeway. that would be the way i would do it. I'm not sure about the rules that go along with that. i have seen it done a lot and there are always forest service guys up there so i think that they would probably put an end to it if it wasn't allowed.

Dave N

· #4 · Aug 2, 2009

Bite is dead a mary - don't even bother...

Turtle Soup

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 2, 2009

nolord said:
First of all , what up with the new avy:shock:, I say you bring back the toe hole dude....
No camping on marry, you gotta go across the road,...
Are you still hitten Plez sunday?

Yeah, Sunday, going out around sundown

Dave N said:
Bite is dead a mary - don't even bother...

Thats fine, just want to get out of the heat and get on the water too.

The Lite

· #6 · Aug 2, 2009

OK....AZBZ code breaker.

The bite is dead = The bite is ON, must try and keep as many people away as possible

Turtle Soup

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 2, 2009

The Lite said:
OK....AZBZ code breaker.

Turtle Soup

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 2, 2009

nolord said:
First of all , what up with the new avy:shock:, I say you bring back the toe hole dude....
No camping on marry, you gotta go across the road,...
Are you still hitten Plez sunday?

is it safe to leave yer boat on the water if yer camping across the road ?

Fishless

· #9 · Aug 2, 2009

Turtle, there are low life imbreds up there just like everywhere else? and the lake mary road is literally right next to the lake (within easy walking distance) so you might have someone park their boat for a week and no problems or you might beach yours and come back the next morning and they have stolen everything? The lake is not that big, probably would be better to trailer it. If you don't like the campgrounds there are two right next to the lake within 1/2 mile there is lots of places on forest service roads up there where you can pitch a tent and enjoy it.

Fishman420

· #10 · Aug 2, 2009

There is camping right across the road, and some spots have access to other lakes as well, like Kinnicinick & Ashurst. Both are right next to MAry and have camping areas.

OR

You can park you truck and trailer, pack all your camping gear in your boat and head across the lake, you can camp anywhere you want there along the shoreline. I think you have to pay a fee to the rangers though.

There is no docking at the devloped part of the lake and since there is no camping on that side, (the shorefisherman's side) then I wouldn't leave it there.

Dave N

· #11 · Aug 2, 2009

Turtle Soup said:
Yeah, Sunday, going out around sundown

Thats fine, just want to get out of the heat and get on the water too.

It was a very nice weekend up there, chilly at night too.

Williaaz

· #12 · Aug 2, 2009

Turtle Soup said:
is it safe to leave yer boat on the water if yer camping across the road ?

I would say no as you are far away and someone may have a field day with your boat. Acoss the street is a half mile at least and out of site. I hauled my stuff across the lake and camped there where you can beach the boat. Otherwise you will have to launch and recover evertime you want to fish.

Turtle Soup

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 2, 2009

everyone, thanks for the info so far.

any one camp there within the last week ?

what are the thunderstorms like ?

I know its kinda a
<-----------------crap shoot, but thought I'd ask anyway.

JeffinFlag

· #14 · Aug 2, 2009

Plenty of boat camping spots across the lake. Monsoon activity is supposed to pick up starting Monday. Expect a storm always when you visit the area. Recent storms have dropped hail on us. Bring some light jackets/rain gear and you will be ready. Expect lots of mud on the shoreline due to water levels being drawn down by the city since this is the primary city water supply. Find rocks or a log to help with that. You may find plywood or a pallet others have left to help with loading/unloading. Your boat is going to get muddy.

Bite is on and off. Caught a 12lb. Northern in June...she is back in the lake for someone else to catch. Trying to break into the 20lb. club! Camp fires on the far shore are ok, fire danger is listed at high but there are no restrictions currently. Nights are cool. Days without storms can be intense and hot. There are flat tent camping spots all along the western shore especially south of the narrows (up-lake)...should be quieter away from the dam area which is on the Northern end (down-lake).

Judging from the amount of traffic on Lake Mary Road and all the new trash on the shoreline (expletive)...I wouldn't leave anything on the road side of the lake...to many dirt-bags looking to take advantage of someone else.

Otherwise enjoy. Feel free to PM me if I can be of any help. I am no expert...just enjoy the lake and live close by.

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Turtle Soup

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 2, 2009

Jeff,
thanks a lot. thats great info/update on the area. much appreciated !

Oh, is it allowed to gather firewood there or should I bring my own ?

JeffinFlag

· #16 · Aug 2, 2009

Don't bother buying and hauling wood across the lake. You will have all you need around your camp site. Consider gathering up some and keeping it dry in case you get a down burst that soaks everything. Even after a storm you can find dry combustibles that will help with the camp fire.

Some anglers have been catching catfish up to about 25 lbs. fishing stink bait from shore. Check Fredo's previous post with pictures for a nice sample of what is possible. I spent a few hours on the water with one of my daughters last week and we had a heard of elk come down to water before dark. They make a lot of racket before dark.

I am usually too wiped after a long day of catching pike to go after the cat's at night!

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