WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST LAKES IN CALIFORNIA???

mike_rennie 07-23-2003, 12:07 AM

Hey....I was just wanting to get people's opinions on what they think the best Lake's are in California. Taking in to account the size, water temperature, location, beaches, facilities, crowds, and of course the GLASS FACTOR, ETC......
!!!Thanks!!!

(skerzz) · (skerzz) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 07-23-2003, 12:43 AM

Bass Lake near Yosemite National Park..........

xtremebordgurl 07-23-2003, 3:31 AM

Never been but from what I've heard Shasta is the sh*t. Of course there's Lake Powel and Lake Meade (I'm pretty sure those are both in cali). Are you doing a road trip?

(jarrod) · (jarrod) **Join Date: May 2003** 07-23-2003, 6:36 AM

Shasta, Oroville, and Bullards Bar are the best. You can always find good water. They don't get the Don Pedro / New Melones afternoon wind every day.

buttacup 07-23-2003, 8:07 AM

Powell is in Utah and Mead is in Nevada. I've heard Shasta, Bullards and the delta are the best. There's another thread about the delta.

(psych3060) · (psych3060) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 07-23-2003, 8:41 AM

I hope that face means you are joking about Bass. There are some decent lakes in the central valley, but to name them could be the death of me...so just know that they exist.

(rock_n_boardin)

Bass is a cool lake, I have been going up there to visit good friends in Oakhurst for 20 years. It is a pretty lake, but very crowded.

(psych3060) · (psych3060) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 07-23-2003, 9:12 AM

Thats what I meant....CROWDED. It is great for the hang out factor, but that is about it.

(barry) · (barry) **Join Date: Apr 2002** 07-23-2003, 9:27 AM

lol@Mel!

They've re-opened the smaller lake nearby, so, we pretty much have the lake back to ourselves.The green is coming!

B-

norcal_99 07-23-2003, 11:08 AM

I'd say the delta, but it's not a lake it's a river.

If you're in Nor-Cal there are so many good lakes, but definitely check out Bullards, Shasta, and Orville. They're the three best.

If you're in Central CA check out Redinger. It's 3 miles long and 1/4 mile wide. It has numerous sandy beaches and is a remote pretty lake that doesn't see much traffic.

If you're in So-Cal you're better off selling your house and moving to Nor-Cal because So-Cal lakes suck @ss after 9am.

(Message edited by norcal_99 on July 23, 2003)

ltlbill 07-23-2003, 12:06 PM

Rene DON'T SAY THE "R" WORD,water is so low you can't launch as of the 4th of july

(socalrider) · (socalrider) **Join Date: May 2002** 07-23-2003, 12:14 PM

elsinore

mike_rennie 07-23-2003, 1:56 PM

Yeah, I've been to Bullards and I love it it wasn't that crowded at all and the scenery was nice. I have also been to Oroville and I would say that is my favorite lake so far. I have yet to go to Shasta, but I plan to soon.

(skerzz) · (skerzz) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 07-23-2003, 4:44 PM

I was joking about Bass Lake. We went last weekend and it was impossible to ride. That lake is a joke.

(gunz) · (gunz) **Join Date: Sep 2001** 07-23-2003, 5:51 PM

Pillsbury.......Nuff said.

(blabel) · (blabel) **Join Date: Jul 2001** 07-23-2003, 6:11 PM

San Vicente:

Open all year long
Free
Endless butter

norcal_99 07-23-2003, 7:20 PM

San Vicente HAHAHAHA The only time you see butter on San V is if you bring it in your cooler.

(susieq) · (susieq) **Join Date: May 2002** 07-23-2003, 9:11 PM

Trinity has my vote

(priapism) · (priapism) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 07-23-2003, 9:56 PM

Silverwood (minus weekends), Canyon Lake (back water

(the_madness) · (the_madness) **Join Date: May 2003** 07-24-2003, 9:04 AM

Pillsbury >>>

jetgofish 07-24-2003, 9:19 AM

I'll have to second Rene, the Delta by far, again though it's not a lake, then comes Shasta, Bullards and the Delta again....I'm a Delta rat, what can I say?

walt 07-24-2003, 3:12 PM

Orville and Pillsbury

murrayair 07-24-2003, 3:53 PM

Shasta, Oroville, Bullard's Bar and Don Pedro are my favorites.

smwakeboarder 07-24-2003, 4:15 PM

elsinore on a weekday is the best

h2oskier 07-24-2003, 4:27 PM

My favorite is englebright lake. It between grass valley and marysville just past the town of smartville. It's the only lake in california where all the camp sites are boat in camping only. Not well known and rarely crowded. alpine lake with emerald green water, deep in a valley so wind protected. Lots of glassy water all day but the water can get cold even in mid summer. Small lake but big enough for house boats. Sandy beaches. It's in the same general area as bullards bar and collins lake.

stillstandin 07-24-2003, 5:01 PM

Shasta is by far the best. Don Pedro is my personal fav, close to home. Orville is cool, never been to bullards bar. Elisnore, Perris, and all those other socal lakes or puddles compared to norcal.

missflygirl 07-24-2003, 10:01 PM

Bullard's Bar has my vote! I love the fact that you can stand up on your board under the water AND STILL SEE IT!

(hatepwcs) · (hatepwcs) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 07-25-2003, 9:12 AM

smellsimore and mistaic both in so CA glass all day and the runs all nite...woo hoo.

(skinautique1985)

bullards and englebright have my vote

(h20jnky) · (h20jnky) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 07-25-2003, 1:33 PM

Forgot the name, but there is a big one right off the coast?.....

(gunz) · (gunz) **Join Date: Sep 2001** 07-25-2003, 1:36 PM

Up north past Eureka?Too cold,but pretty.

staticlullaby 07-25-2003, 1:52 PM

shasta's great; bass lake is gorgeous but you can't go out before 8am, and the only time it's ever nice is AT 8am. not 8:01.

my brother and family are up near sacramento at lake folsom; they found that decent. but they hit up the sacramento river and said they'd never had such perfect water ALL DAY.

my favorite lake by far is lake san antonio, right past lake nacimiento. it's about five hours north of los angeles on the 101. not the prettiest lake, but you can find near-glass water any time of the day on at least one part of the lake. i'll be up there aug 10-17 if anyone else will be.

(h20jnky) · (h20jnky) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 07-25-2003, 2:12 PM

I've heard the big one, I mentioned earlier goes by "the pacific" if that rings any bells?....

(deepstructure) · (deepstructure) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 07-25-2003, 6:02 PM

ya but the glass factor on that one is like -2.

(h20jnky) · (h20jnky) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 07-25-2003, 6:06 PM

I'll take -2 over any PWC infested waterway any day of the week......

Plus the tankers put out huge double-ups!

norcal_99 07-25-2003, 8:16 PM

Buena Vista, glass all day and the coolest park rangers around.

(chvywkbrdrmc205)

id say best lakes are shasta, trinity, bullards bar, pillsbury, the delta and the sac river. sac river longest period of absolute glass ive ever seen. we launched and knights landing, boarded north for about 2.5 hours, then boarded back. glass the ENTIRE way, saw 4 boats all day.

(wakehype) · (wakehype) **Join Date: Dec 2002** 07-27-2003, 1:47 PM

Shasta owns you... Delta blows... IMO that is.

If you are in central cali, Monday-Thursday night you can always find good water at yes, Millerton. Any other day, hitup Redinger (slider on shore) or Hensley. I don't like either of thoes lakes really, thats why I try to ride every night mon-thursday.