Ramps on Medina Lake?

[TR-20XGlenn@Home]

I drove over to Medina Lake to check it out today - left the boat home - looking for the ramps. I'm glad I left the boat home, as the hilly roads and blind corners didn't give you many places to turn around. I would have been going crazy if I had to turn where I did with my boat in tow.

Found two marinas when I first came to the Lake - both over by the Dam. I took 1283 over to CR261/271.

I turned right on CR2611 (I think that one was called "Reds" or something like that) - gravel launch, no real "ramp" to speak of. Kind of crowded - seemed very disorganized.

Came back up to CR271, and turned right to continue down the road. Turned at the next marina on CR2620. Greeted by a semi-rude woman in a golf cart who was waving her arms telling me to back up, and told me that I couldn't drive down by the ramp because of all the "boat traffic" (two boats on trailers connected to trucks, about to leave, one putting a boat on the trailer, and one waiting... not really what I would call "busy"). Anyway, I walked down to the one ramp they had, and it didn't look all that great. Then my wife mentioned the fees. I expected a boat ramp fee - but they had a "per person" charge for each person in the boat / vehicle, as well as a vehicle parking charge. So boat ramp fee, vehicle park fee, and 3 person use fee. Wow.

So we drove back up CR271, and got back on 1283, heading around the lake, away from the dam. Tons of private roads, private drives, etc...

We drove 3/4 of the way completely around the lake, and never found another public boat ramp.

Any advice on where to launch at this lake? I just want to go run my boat for a while, and Medina is about 20 minutes from my house.

All the best,
Glenn

[TR-20XGlenn@Home]

Just did a search and found this:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fi...phtml

The ramp I mentioned first in the above post, I believe is "Red Cove" ramp on the map in the above site.

Never saw the Park Road 37 or Pops Place ramps on my trip around.

Anyone have any insight on the PR37 and Pops Place ramps?

All the best,
Glenn

[Will I Am]

medina can get pretty crazy around this time with all the ski traffic...... Those 2 ramps are the most popular on the lake.

red coves ramp is crap when the lake isn't full has pot holes and pretty much turns into gravel...

Other one u mention with the lady in the cart is joes marina use to be old air force base marina they have 2 ramps, one of them is straight ahead and another one off to the left some of the better ramps on the lake.. ya those fees can get ridiculous, think i paid like 8.00 by myself last time i was there... http://www.joesmarina.com/

county ramp is on the other side of the lake,nice lil drive never been there but is suppose to be a good ramp as well..


Modified by Will I Am at 5:42 AM 9/7/2008

[utinator]

I usually try to launch at Red's. The last few times I went there, I couldn't get my boat off the trailer without submerging my truck. Next time I go, I'm gonna try to find the County Park boat ramp. I've also heard it's not bad. I like Joe's Place, but they aren't open during normal fishing hours.

I think it would be a good idea to wait a couple more months before trying to do any real fishing on Medina Lake. The summer boating traffic is a nightmare.

[basspastor]

My mother-in-law lived on the hill overlooking the lake behind reds cove, it is the best for launching on that end. The inboard racing boats and other pleasure boaters will drive you crazy in the summer. As mentioned if lake is very low forget putting a boat in the water.

[Legend Chris]

I hit Medina after I think I went to Joe's or Pops but yae the blonde in the golf cart hit me for $8 as well. O figured 'em out later in the day but the boat traffic was stupid out there. You better strap you TM down and batten down the hatches when you plan on running

[TR-20XGlenn@Home]

Thanks for the advice and info everyone. I've gone back and forth over whether to put my boat in Medina. It's so close - therefore - tempting. But it just doesn't seem worth the hassle. I was hoping to go to Choke Canyon this weekend, but that ain't happening now.
All the best,
Glenn

[Deletenow]

Hey Glenn....the boat traffic cant be no worse than the chick or Potomac on a good day???? Get ya some big ones over there......

[Kberry]

Drive around to the state park ramp, the fee is $5, and the folks there are usually friendly. Always room to park and the ramp is a pretty good one, all pavement even into the water. Depending on the level of the water, the ramp can be shallow at time, so bring your shoes you don't mind getting wet if you are by yourself. If you don't know the way, instead of going straight and ending up at Reds, hang that right, and follow the highway. 24 hour access also. Have fun!