Anyone ever ski Lake Candlewood, CT?

[Jerseydave]

Looks like a nice lake, and I hear there are a couple of state parks to launch out of.
Anyone know where I can get info about launching and rooms?

Thanks.
Dave

[Professor]

Dave,
I think this is the site mentioned in Bassmasters mag. Maybe it will help:
http://www.candlewoodlake.org

[WallenpaupackPA]

Call Inland Inboards (860) 354-3363. They are the MasterCraft dealer in the area. Talk to Rob - he's a great guy.

[AbunDiga909]

Hey,

Candlewood Lake is the nicest place in all of CT. I've been going there all my life and love skiing there in the mornings and evenings. Those are the only times you can on the weekends. Do you ski there all the time, or are you just asking about it?

I know Inland Inboards very well also, especially when the used to be together with Inland Watersports. Either way, T.J and Doug at Inland Watersports are the guys you want to know if you need any skis, suits, etc... and Rob is a great guy to work with, if your not buying a CC! (Guilty)

[AbunDiga909]

Sorry, forgot about your original question, got carried away once I read "Candlewood Lake"

Rooms I don't know about much, mostly b/c we just trailer up there.

Many launch sites, but most of them are part of clubs that you have to pay for. The only real good one I can think of for free is Lattins Cove, in Brookfield towards the south of the lake. Only thing is its real shallow and you gotta make sure you don't scratch the prop, but it probably won't happen if you know what you're doing.

If you wan't to pay a couple bucks, I think its Brookfield Marina that has a real nice ramp that is for a fee of about 70 bucks a season or so, I don't know the details on that.

If your boat can take ethonol, I'd buy gas on land first, its 3 bucks on the lake! But its ethonol-free.

Alright, hope to see you this summer...

[Jerseydave]

Hey,

Candlewood Lake is the nicest place in all of CT. I've been going there all my life and love skiing there in the mornings and evenings. Those are the only times you can on the weekends. Do you ski there all the time, or are you just asking about it?


I know Inland Inboards very well also, especially when the used to be together with Inland Watersports. Either way, T.J and Doug at Inland Watersports are the guys you want to know if you need any skis, suits, etc... and Rob is a great guy to work with, if your not buying a CC! (Guilty)

Never been there before, but I thought it might be a nice lake for a long weekend. Always like to check out new lakes/places.

I'll leave a post on here when the time comes if I make it up there this summer.

[Jerseydave]

Well, didn't make it to Candlewood this year, but next year for sure.

So.......I still need some info on lodging. Anything on the water with a dock? If not, close by? I tried the candlewoodlake.org site but it wasn't much help.

I'll try to call Inland watersports to see what they know. Looks like a great lake. How about others nearby (Zoar, Lillinoah?)

[AbunDiga909]

Not sure if I mentioned it, it was a while ago, but I go to Lilinonah equally as much if not more than Candlewood. I know both lakes like the back of my hand. Candlewood is definately more of a toursty lake. But, it is much more beautiful and has many secrets to it that make it real special. On the weekends in the summer midday it's way too crowded, so you'll have to go early or late, which I think makes it much nicer. There's nothing like skiing down 9 miles or so at dusk with the lake to yourself--that's when the real glass is. That's also where a lot of the nicer boats are.

Lilinonah is really just a damned river. It not as beautiful, but its definately the secret spot where a lot of the harder core wakeboarders go to in the area. This river had a driftwood problem, but they got a barge to fix that this year. The nice thing about this river is that it is glass 90% of the time. But, it's just a river, no attractions, marinas, etc...

I'd definately consider stopping by Candlewood. If you come on the right weekend you can see the fireworks for 4th of the July. There's ropeswings everywhere, a course (sometimes), many marinas (including my Nautique dealer), a nice hamburger joint resturant on the lake, and gas. There is no gas on Lilinonah...

Let me know when you're going to either... Zoar I know nothing of I hear its nothing special, shallow and small..

[Jerseydave]

Thanks, AB.

I'll find out more from the MC dealer up there. Plus, I'll let you know when we're coming there. (summer 06 seems so far away right now) :(

[Jerseydave]

Well, we took a ride to Candlewood yesterday.......wow, what a beautiful place! Trouble is, no place to stay on the lake, all houses!
There are many cabins and houses for rent for a week, but I was just looking for a long weekend stay. (wish I could live there though!)

Didn't get to see Lillinoah, but next time I will. Also want to check out Mahopac lake, NY. Small, but looks cool. :cool:

By the way, the leaves where nice this time of year. Nice area up there, Abundiga!

[AbunDiga909]

woah dude c'mon how come i didn't get an email... lol...

actually i couldn't have made it but you were right in my back yard! My fam's house is about 15 min. from Mahopac. In fact if you remember some of the roads you took around there, we are right off RT. 100. I've never been on Mahopac, but my fam went there before my time for years.

Candlewood, damn it's going to be a long winter... :(
Did you launch at Lattins Cove? If so, I hope you ended up w/ an okay prop, it can be deadly there! They're putting in one mil. just to drench that launch out.

The lake really is beautiful, especially when it's empty! If you drove on Candlewood Lake Road at all, you probably drove by a number of marinas. One of which was probably Candlewood East. I think it's the first one with going north on the road off of RT. 7. And as a matter of fact, if you looked to your right into the parking lot side of that marina, you should have seen my boat! We just dropped it off there Sat. to be winterized. It's the Blu/Blk Air 216 TE. Maybe you saw it...

So anyway nice to know you stopped by. The MC dealer is about another 15 north of the lake, Inland Inboards, maybe you stopped by Rob up there? He's a nice guy...

Anyway, maybe next summer... we'll be there!

[Jerseydave]

Abu,

We didn't take the boat (it's winterized), just drove up in the car.

It is a beautiful lake! Yes, we drove past both marinas you mentioned.
As a matter of fact, we drove around the whole lake! Started on the west side heading north, around the top and back down the east side to Danbury. Long drive around!

Any good motels nearby? Maybe near Danbury? Nothing like being right on the water though. Too bad.

[AbunDiga909]

I've actually never driven around the whole lake myself, its pretty long though! I think I have by boat... best way to kill half a tank of gas...

Good motels nearby?? Well I've never had to look for one I've always trailed from only 30 min. away. However, there may be a Motel 6 or something like that in the area. But, I think there is a nicer Hilton I think off the highway which is about 10-15 mins away. I would opt to stay there before anywhere else. It isn't a touristy area so I'm not sure if there are many comfortable motels.

Downtown Danbury though must have some hotels and motels... that's not far away at all, I just don't know that area well...

I could have sworn you would have seen my boat... :confused:

~Austin