Where to water ski in/near Dayton???

[jrbrown]

Help Wanted!

I may get stationed in Dayton. What bodies of water should I be looking for on a map and are there any places with lakeside homes?

Son likes to wakeboard, but we "share the water" so don't be afraid to post something via a private message.

If I have to commute, i will.

THANKS!!!

[PointTaken]

There are several places in Dayton to ski: cesars creek, the hydrobowl, and many others in the surrounding area. Are you getting stationed at Wright-Patt? I used to ski early in the morning at the Hydrobowl with an officer stationed there.

If you are looking to join a ski club, I was a member of the one in Piqua and still have many friends there, so I could point you to someone in the right direction.

[jrbrown]

Thanks for the info. There is hope. Yes, I could be stationed at Wright-Patt.

[PointTaken]

If not Wright-Patt, then where would you be in Dayton?

[jrbrown]

Sorry, poor wording on my part.

If I get orders to be stationed in Dayton it would be at Wright-Patt.

[PointTaken]

Oh. Great base, you will love it.

[Hoosier Bob]

I believe LOTTAWATTA is from a few miles South and West of there. Not too far from Mag either! Should be a bunch of pulls within an hour or so. :twocents:

[PointTaken]

I believe LOTTAWATTA is from a few miles South and West of there. Not too far from Mag either! Should be a bunch of pulls within an hour or so. :twocents:
That must have popped up after I moved from there a while ago. Must be closer to Cinci. Anyway go to Lake Cumberland on the weekends..~ 4 hours depending on where you go.

[ProStarMike]

There's decent water around. You can come south towards Cincy and hit the Great Miami River in Hamilton. Go a bit farther south and hit the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. You can cut southeast towards I-71 and hit Caesar's Creek. You can go east on I-70 and hour to Columbus and hit the Scioto River.

Travel a bit more (3-4 hours south into KY) and you have boating nirvana in KY. Lake Cumberland - 110 miles long, 1,255 miles of shoreline, average depth 90 feet...oh baby!), Lake Herrington in Lexington - 40 miles long, looks like a narrow, winding river, average depth 110 ft, beautiful! Laurel River Lake, Corbin, KY...just like Cumberland only less crowded and a bit smaller.

Let me know if you arrive at Wright Patt and we'll get the local MC contingent together for a HH or a slalom run somewhere! I am in Cincy, about one hour south of Dayton.

-- Mike

[PointTaken]

...Go a bit farther south and hit the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati...
I skiied the Ohio once near downtown and it makes me think of the thread that's posting '8k damage'. I've never feared for my boats life as much. There was a lot of debri in the water. First impressions mean alot, so I never went back. You must be skiing the Ohio east or west of the city, I would imagine.

[ProStarMike]

I skiied the Ohio once near downtown and it makes me think of the thread that's posting '8k damage'. I've never feared for my boats life as much. There was a lot of debri in the water. First impressions mean alot, so I never went back. You must be skiing the Ohio east or west of the city, I would imagine.

As with any river, you need to watch river levels, and you need to watch where you are going closely. If it rains hard and the river level rises significantly, stay off. The rising water picks up everything from sticks to telephone poles off the bank! If it hasn't rained, it's great. You can see your feet right now in the river, it's that clear. Also be *very* wary of barge traffic...I towed someone from the middle of the river on Labor Day (Monday), and the owner did not even notice that a barge was coming down-river towards him until I pointed it out.

I have gone out there every weekend since early July and I can count on one hand the number of significant pieces of debris I have seen floating. I recommend staying up-river from downtown, as the water gets better and better as you go east (upriver) from downtown Cincinnati.

Go back now and give it a second chance while the level is good...you'll like it, I promise!! It's no Cumberland or Norris, but it's 15-20 minutes from my house. If you want to go out with us sometime, drop me a line!

-- Mike

[PointTaken]

Thanks for the offer, if I'm up that way I'll take you up on it. A friend of mine said he used to ski above the locks up river, said it was really nice water. No barges and such.

[Granite_33]

I skiied the Ohio once near downtown and it makes me think of the thread that's posting '8k damage'. I've never feared for my boats life as much. There was a lot of debri in the water. First impressions mean alot, so I never went back. You must be skiing the Ohio east or west of the city, I would imagine.

I think there are many people east coast to west coast that will say the same thing about their lakes........some of the KY, TN people will say the same thing about the big lakes down there as well, early in the year. Whatever winter has left, spring rains pick up and flush into the lakes........and they stay there until they get flushed, or waterlogged and sunk.

I have been east of the city only a few times. But, East is nice.......not too bad.
I am always partial to the lakes and reservoirs, though.

[Granite_33]

Help Wanted!

I may get stationed in Dayton. What bodies of water should I be looking for on a map and are there any places with lakeside homes?

Son likes to wakeboard, but we "share the water" so don't be afraid to post something via a private message.

If I have to commute, i will.

THANKS!!!

Southern OH gets more hilly, so a few more options exist. Look east of Cincy, South of Columbus.
Cesars Creek is good. Gets really busy on the weekends, though.
Don't forget Brookville lake in Eastern, IN........as well as some of the lakes in southern, IN........as well as NE Indiana. North of Ft. Wayne.
CJ Brown in Springfield, not bad. Reservoir.
There is a ski lake in Van Wert, OH. (1.5 - 2hrs) Not sure about the access, though, whether you have to pay or not, etc

If its wakeboarding you're after, you have options in St. Marys. Beware windy days.......gets waaaaay rough. Its a big, shallow lake......but overall not too bad. Since its big, there are some larger boats 23+' that show up there.
Indian Lake is a bit iffy. Shallow with Stumps is a universal complaint there. I have some friends with cracked outdrives as proof.

I'm not an expert on KY lakes, but my experience with Cumberland is very good, and my brother in law swears by Dale Hollow.


:twocents:

Is this part of the BRAC announcements?

[Leroy]

After seeing ProstarMike's picture on the Ohio I'm shocked, but glad to see it. I've been on the Ohio at Evansville and not nice there.

[ProStarMike]

Thanks for the offer, if I'm up that way I'll take you up on it. A friend of mine said he used to ski above the locks up river, said it was really nice water. No barges and such.

Yes, if you have time to drive about 40 or so minutes east (upriver), you can go to Higginsport, OH or Ripley, OH and put in above the dam. The river looks more like a lake up there...very nice!

I was told that the Army Corps of Engineers, who operates the Dam east of Cincy, does a very good job of capturing debris at the dam. That, combined with the low rainfall lately, probably explains why it's been so nice out there!

You can also put in just down-river of the dam, and lock through to the other side. I've done it a few times just for fun, and my kids think it is really cool to be inside the locks!

-- Mike

[6ballsisall]

In the water on the Ohio around Cincy?? The debris might be nothing right now but don't you worry about those fish with mutant body parts? That water just ain't clean! Ick!!

[Leroy]

I have to believe Brookville is the closest, nice lake. Plus has lodging, marinas, etc.

You'll feel at home, if it wasn't for all of the Ohio people I would use it all the time! ;)

[Tenderfoot]

If you don't mind a 4 to 4.5 hour drive the lakes in Southern KY and Northern TN are excellent. (Cumberland, Dale Hollow, Norris). They would be for weekend or longer get aways. Houseboating as well as land based facilities are available.