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Any California Boaters on here?

RobbieO

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If there are any California jet boaters on here, I would like you to share the lakes and waterways that you use. I’m in NoCal and live near the Delta which I am not a big fan of because of all the plant life. Not great for jet boats. I’m looking for areas that have cabins, lodging, or camping near the water so I can leave my boat in all weekend. Shasta, Berryessa, Don Pedro, are lakes I have frequented in the past. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
 

Ronnie

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I grew up near the delta and am a proud Delta River Rat. The Delta is great for jet skiing but not overnight camping IMHO. Once I got into boating I started checking out all the lakes I could. Here are my thoughts.

Shasta, great if you rent a place on or near the water but I haven’t noticed any great boat camping areas. It is a big lake though so those spots may exist and I may have just missed them. Also far, it’s at least a 4 hour tow.

Berryessa, some good close camping spots at Spanish flat but not many of them. The cabime at markley cove were nice but expensive, now mostly gone, destroyed by wild fire last august. The only other good option maybe steel marina which has RV and tent camping spots.

Don Pedro, I like it but no dogs allowed and most camp sites are a up a hill from the water.

lake mcclure next to don Pedro, lots of ev and tent camping near the water. Dogs allowed. The southern end has one entrance, basically a 10 mile drive after you get through the gate. Both roads in are long, windy and sometimes thin. The lake is close to town, well the southern part of the lake is.

Modesto reservoir, really small and almost half of it is restricted to fishing / no wake mode only but the camping spots are on the water and since its usually shallow jet boats rule, not likely to see any big prop boats out there and most boaters into wake sports fo for deeper lakes. It’s also close to a town, no dogs allowed and if you are unlucky the neighboring land owners will be fertilizing their crops while you are there.

new lake hogan and Comanche, camping near the water like don Pedro, a few marinas, hogan also has the only group camping spot that I know of. Both are nice.

oroville, it’s far near what’s left of the City/town of paradise which burned to the ground a few years ago. It’s far, get on the 99 north, get off at the end of 99 and drive even farther at less than highway speeds. I don’t know about the tent camping but they have floating barges with heads, fresh water and shade that you can rent. If tent camping sucks the town is right outside the front gate along with an Indian casino so a hotel room is definitely an option. You can also rent a slip over night at the lake so you don’t always have to pull your boat out of the water.

I visited clear lake but not boated there. What’s nice is you can rent a house on the water. Not sure about tent camping but heard that the lake stinks at certain points of the season because of the algae.

that’s it for me, I’ve been to several others on and off the attached list but none with close tent camping that I’m aware of. I would like to boat at Tahoe but know it’s a pita to get to and heard it can be a pita to get on with all the inspections and such. lake pardee is next to Comanche but you can’t swim or jet ski there only boat and fish. Pretty sure you can call there but not certain. I almost forgot, under Lake Tahoe is a huge reservoir called union reservoir, the water is cold but you can camp next to it. Beware of the bears and bring everything you need because it’s 30 miles north of placervile the nearest town.
lake Tulloch and Folsom are small may be you can camp there but I wouldn’t. They are the only ca lakes that I know of other than clear lake that you can buy lake side property on.

if you haven’t already done so consider taking a weekend run from the antioch or area up to old Sacramento. The guest dock rents for$1.50 per night per foot and is fronted by the embassy suites hotel on one side and old Sacramento on the other. No tent camping although you may be able to do so nearby but it’s still a good time which involves boating.

let me know if you are planning any group trips this season and I may be in if I’m welcome.

A58E9251-DA92-49EA-AE6D-F82DA827B3DB.png
 
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RobbieO

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Thank you..I love Shasta but the beaches remain wet and muddy because they let so much water out, nothing dries up. When Pedro was first built, I went there almost every weekend. But like you said, the campsites are up the hill. I used to camp exclusively at Mexican Gulch, now it’s been renamed Blue Oaks. Berryessa will never be the same after they made all the resorts close. I like Steele Park though. New Hogan is nice, but rocky and really small. I want to try Ruth Lake. Bit of a drive, but looks like there are spots near the water. And Lake Tahoe has become a rich man’s paradise. Most resorts want $100 to launch.
Thanks for your input. Much appreciated!
 

Ronnie

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@RobbieO , take another look at my post it wasn’t complete when I first posted it.
 

RobbieO

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@RobbieO , take another look at my post it wasn’t complete when I first posted it.
I grew up near the delta and am a proud Delta River Rat. The Delta is great for jet skiing but not overnight camping IMHO. Once I got into boating I started checking out all the lakes I could. Here are my thoughts.

Shasta, great if you rent a place on or near the water but I haven’t noticed any great boat camping areas. It is a big lake though so those spots may exist and I may have just missed them. Also far, it’s at least a 4 hour tow.

Berryessa, some good close camping spots at Spanish flat but not many of them. The cabime at markley cove were nice but expensive, now mostly gone, destroyed by wild fire last august. The only other good option maybe steel marina which has RV and tent camping spots.

Don Pedro, I like it but no dogs allowed and most camp sites are a up a hill from the water.

lake mcclure next to don Pedro, lots of ev and tent camping near the water. Dogs allowed. The southern end has one entrance, basically a 10 mile drive after you get through the gate. Both roads in are long, windy and sometimes thin. The lake is close to town, well the southern part of the lake is.

Modesto reservoir, really small and almost half of it is restricted to fishing / no wake mode only but the camping spots are on the water and since its usually shallow jet boats rule, not likely to see any big prop boats out there and most boaters into wake sports fo for deeper lakes. It’s also close to a town, no dogs allowed and if you are unlucky the neighboring land owners will be fertilizing their crops while you are there.

new lake hogan and Comanche, camping near the water like don Pedro, a few marinas, hogan also has the only group camping spot that I know of. Both are nice.

oroville, it’s far near what’s left of the City/town of paradise which burned to the ground a few years ago. It’s far, get on the 99 north, get off at the end of 99 and drive even farther at less than highway speeds. I don’t know about the tent camping but they have floating barges with heads, fresh water and shade that you can rent. If tent camping sucks the town is right outside the front gate along with an Indian casino so a hotel room is definitely an option. You can also rent a slip over night at the lake so you don’t always have to pull your boat out of the water.

I visited clear lake but not boated there. What’s nice is you can rent a house on the water. Not sure about tent camping but heard that the lake stinks at certain points of the season because of the algae.

that’s it for me, I’ve been to several others on and off the attached list but none with close tent camping that I’m aware of. I would like to boat at Tahoe but know it’s a pita to get to and heard it can be a pita to get on with all the inspections and such. lake pardee is next to Comanche but you can’t swim or jet ski there only boat and fish. Pretty sure you can call there but not certain. I almost forgot, under Lake Tahoe is a huge reservoir called union reservoir, the water is cold but you can camp next to it. Beware of the bears and bring everything you need because it’s 30 miles north of placervile the nearest town.
lake Tulloch and Folsom are small may be you can camp there but I wouldn’t. They are the only ca lakes that I know of other than clear lake that you can buy lake side property on.

if you haven’t already done so consider taking a weekend run from the antioch or area up to old Sacramento. The guest dock rents for$1.50 per night per foot and is fronted by the embassy suites hotel on one side and old Sacramento on the other. No tent camping although you may be able to do so nearby but it’s still a good time which involves boating.

let me know if you are planning any group trips this season and I may be in if I’m welcome.

View attachment 144754
I just checked out McClure. All the launch ramps are close. Water is too low. What a bummer
 

Ronnie

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McClure is nice when the water lever is up but I was there three times last summer and each time the water level was noticeably lower. By the end of the summer it was dropping 1 to 2 feet per day, the county sells the water to near nearby farms and who knows where else.
 

RobbieO

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McClure is nice when the water lever is up but I was there three times last summer and each time the water level was noticeably lower. By the end of the summer it was dropping 1 to 2 feet per day, the county sells the water to near nearby farms and who knows where else.
Just like Shasta...they let water out everyday. Hard to find a dry beach. Great lake for houseboating.
 

1rjclark

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I'm a Delta boater. Lots to do on the Dirty D. I like Shasta and camp at Antlers resort there. Berryessa is always a good day trip or camping. I hear Don Pedro is a good lake for camping and boating. Hope to see you out there.
 

RobbieO

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I'm a Delta boater. Lots to do on the Dirty D. I like Shasta and camp at Antlers resort there. Berryessa is always a good day trip or camping. I hear Don Pedro is a good lake for camping and boating. Hope to see you out there.
I live in the Delta but like freshwater. My favorite lake is Don Pedro. When I was young, my buddies and I would camp there every weekend, we were hardcore skiers. Back in the day, Berryessa was an ocean because it was so over-crowded. I want to find a lake I can leave my boat IN all weekend. Anchor by my campsite. I'm living a pipedream, I know. East Park Reservoir used to be great until the BLM gave control to the county. Not ready to dip my boat in the Delta until I find where the fresh water is.
 

Ronnie

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I may head up to new melones and don Pedro for some day or weekend trips this summer. If new me lines I’d probably stay at a hotel in the nearby town. In the other direction is new lake hogan which is nice but I need to check if they allow camping again yet. If you launch up River like vierras resort, walnut grove the water has to be a lot closer to fresh, out at Sacramento it definitely is but it is colder and there is not a lot of room to play/tube.
 

1rjclark

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I'm usually on the Delta about 2 to 3 days a week. I enjoy Taco Tuesdays at Tiki Lagoon, Dinner at Garlic Brothers, breakfast at Nenas. I think Lake Amador has " Boat in Camping" as well as Bullards Bar
 

jmargo

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I am normally at Berryessa on the weekend and meet up with a couple other Yamaha guys.
 

RobbieO

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I may head up to new melones and don Pedro for some day or weekend trips this summer. If new me lines I’d probably stay at a hotel in the nearby town. In the other direction is new lake hogan which is nice but I need to check if they allow camping again yet. If you launch up River like vierras resort, walnut grove the water has to be a lot closer to fresh, out at Sacramento it definitely is but it is colder and there is not a lot of room to play/tube.
I went to New Hogan years ago with my jet skis and the water was low, super rocky there. I want to check out New Melones sometime. My step-brother swears Bullards Bar is the best. Never been. Shasta is the best, but the shore is always muddy because they release daily. And the mud is red, gets everywhere.
 

Ronnie

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New melones is nice but if the parking lot is full you have to wait to get in. It was low and during the fire season went I went last about 5 years ago. Ended up staying in a cabin at a camp/RV resort just outside the entrance. Some of the lakes are guaranteed to be at full pool, like lake Tulloch and whiskey town near Shasta. Whiskey town does not allow jet skis. Also true of pardee next to hogan and Comanche. I’ve heard the mussel inspection at Comanche is a bitch. They have had them at Anderson reservoir in Santa Clara county for over a decade. If the find any standing water on the boat or coming out of the exhaust they fail you. I’ve heard they have even checked fishing line and anchor line for dampness. That’s not even an option this year as they just drained it for a 2 year make over. Maybe San Luis reservoir past gilroy but I’ve never been there and am Leary because of the stories I’ve heard of the wind, they have a wind warning station (bunch of multi color lights on a bill board) for a reason.
 

RobbieO

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New melones is nice but if the parking lot is full you have to wait to get in. It was low and during the fire season went I went last about 5 years ago. Ended up staying in a cabin at a camp/RV resort just outside the entrance. Some of the lakes are guaranteed to be at full pool, like lake Tulloch and whiskey town near Shasta. Whiskey town does not allow jet skis. Also true of pardee next to hogan and Comanche. I’ve heard the mussel inspection at Comanche is a bitch. They have had them at Anderson reservoir in Santa Clara county for over a decade. If the find any standing water on the boat or coming out of the exhaust they fail you. I’ve heard they have even checked fishing line and anchor line for dampness. That’s not even an option this year as they just drained it for a 2 year make over. Maybe San Luis reservoir past gilroy but I’ve never been there and am Leary because of the stories I’ve heard of the wind, they have a wind warning station (bunch of multi color lights on a bill board) for a reason.
Been to Tulloch numerous times. A friend of mine has an offshore racer boat there. What a waste. That lake is for rich people with multiple toys. Lake is wat too small for my likes. If you've never done Don Pedro, it's awesome.
 

1rjclark

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New melones is nice but if the parking lot is full you have to wait to get in. It was low and during the fire season went I went last about 5 years ago. Ended up staying in a cabin at a camp/RV resort just outside the entrance. Some of the lakes are guaranteed to be at full pool, like lake Tulloch and whiskey town near Shasta. Whiskey town does not allow jet skis. Also true of pardee next to hogan and Comanche. I’ve heard the mussel inspection at Comanche is a bitch. They have had them at Anderson reservoir in Santa Clara county for over a decade. If the find any standing water on the boat or coming out of the exhaust they fail you. I’ve heard they have even checked fishing line and anchor line for dampness. That’s not even an option this year as they just drained it for a 2 year make over. Maybe San Luis reservoir past gilroy but I’ve never been there and am Leary because of the stories I’ve heard of the wind, they have a wind warning station (bunch of multi color lights on a bill board) for a reason.
No shade at New Melonies
 

haknslash

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There’s a member map you can use....

A85099DA-A1CE-4BA8-B5E3-1D0B52E09ECA.jpeg
 

Ronnie

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I think the subject of this thread has changed from who are the n cal members to what are good boating and camping lakes in n cal.

that said, I just did a little research on new bullards bar. It sounds / reads and looks good in the pics. If I only go to one more new lake too me this season I think this will be it. On the map it’s only 15 miles further than oroville but oroville is far from me for a day trip so camping / or a nearby hotel it is.

I may haul the boat up there next weekend. I will report back once I do.

934C8A8B-AD8E-45A0-B3A9-518B6B1F565E.png4851DD15-39DE-4968-8F60-D4476C86D583.png
 

Ronnie

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I’ve been to lake Sonoma once but only for a few hours so I cannot comment on the boating camping situation. It’s not far from me, about 100 miles so same as Berryessa and it’s in/near wine country so the surroundings are nice and civilization is nearby. I’d consider going there this weekend but stories like this have got me concerned.
97ECBA9E-7BC0-4E78-810C-CFFD68923840.png
 

RobbieO

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From what I understand, Bullards Bar has camp grounds on the shoreline, so you can leave your craft(s) in the water. I'm going to reach out to my step-brother and get the lowdown. It's the only place he travels too. Like you, he's in the Delta most of the time.
 
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