Best Public ski lakes

[drewski16]

We have all shared the frustration- getting out on the water(even very early) trying to get a couple decent runs in and fighting the boat traffic. Besides our fellow skiers, we have the wakeboarders, wake surfers and tubers. With that in mind, what are the best public lakes to ski on in the USA? Shout out your favorites(if you have any)

[RAWSki]

If we made them known to everyone they wouldn't be our favorite public lakes much longer. But @Shell and I live on a really great one in SE Michigan.

[ghutch]

I agree its getting harder to find good water on public lakes. Even going @ 6am its hard. Fishermen are all over the place and won't sit still, then they pull out and the wallys are getting out for the day. I just accepted it and it wasn't that bad but last year was exceptionally frustrating mainly because I'm finally running 35 a little more and trying to work on 38. Hard to do with crap water. With covid I guess they were looking for something to do as well.

[Fastguy888]

I live in Los Angeles County, In San Dimas, CA. What got me back into the sport is our very small one direction rotation Bonelli Park aka Puddingstone Reservoir. About the size of 5 tournaments lakes running parallel. Despite being surrounded by 13 million people; I can almost grantee flat water in the morning year-round. In the winter there are plenty of 70*+ days and I may be the only boat on the lake for half the day on a Saturday. In the summer though; once 3 boats are running, lake becomes un-skiable; luckily if you wait 30min you can usually find decent enough water for a free-ski set.

 

Unfortunately now that I am addicted to chasing buoys; I have a 2h drive to almost any course this time of year.

[Jody_Seal]

Its been my experience here in the panhandle one can just about find flat water any time on public access lakes to free ski on. However the first time one installs dots in the lake the fish hunters take over the area.

 

 

[DaveD]

I haven't been on them in over 20 years but I always liked our houseboat trips to Dale Hollow and Lake Cumberland. Big lakes with lots to do when you're not skiing the course. I would assume a lot of the TVA lakes are similar to those 2 lakes.

[LoopSki]

I got to throw Lake Shasta in. Can usually find good water anytime.

[oldjeep]

Pretty much any lake in MN at 6AM ;)

 

[jjackkrash]

Long Lake on the Peninsula in WA. It is protected by the pads and skiable almost everyday, all day, except during rare storms or occasional periods of heavy rain.

 

 

[jimbrake]

@Fastguy888 - I was just looking at Puddingstone Res on Google Earth because I'm working on a nearby site in Pomona. Amazing and great that there is a lake in the middle of the LA Metro area that you can ski on. Very cool.

[Orlando76]

2 courses on Dora chain in Central Florida. Typically good water on 1 of them. Just nobody skis there.

[cougfan]

The Columbia river in eastern Wa not a lake but with all the dams on it the stretches between the dams seem like lakes. You can ski 40-50 miles between dams and the water in the summer time can be like glass for miles. Usually run out of energy before running out of good water. There are even a couple of courses around Entiat. My family takes an annual week long vacation to lake Entiat (the water between Rocky Reach Dam and Wells Dam) every summer. One of the best weeks ever right up there with the Wednesday night crew’s annual trip to lake Curlew. Another great ski lake in eastern Wa

[elr]

Okeeheelee

[bananaron]

LK OSSAWINNAMAKEE IN BREEZY POINT,MN I have lived here for over 20yrs and for me its pure water ski heaven.Other then this past summer I usually have it to myself early morning and late night. CALM CLEAN GLASS WATER......Great for an old guy like me.