Those of you that fish on Lake Bellwood in Tyler Texas may want to call the Tyler City Council and voice your concerns. They’re considering changing it to a "No-wake zone because of its small size and depth, limiting its use to non-motorized personal watercraft". This lake is almost 200 acres and is too big to travel around all day with a paddle an/or a trolling motor. I also don't consider 20 feet deep to be shallow. They are trying to cater to rich people that own and live in the Cascades development on the Lake.
http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20080603/NEWS08/806030318

http://www.cityoftyler.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=133

I just sent my comments to the city council.

When did the lake become too small and too shallow? The Tyler Ski Club used the lake for years. I have been out there numerous times, and I never encountered a problem.

I suspect it became too small and shallow for motorboat operation about the time a bunch of rich folks told city officials that they really don't want a bunch of "riff raff" fishermen cluttering up "their" lake.

Your are right...That is exactly what it is.

I suspect it became too small and shallow for motorboat operation about the time a bunch of rich folks told city officials that they really don't want a bunch of "riff raff" fishermen cluttering up "their" lake. [/quote]

Back in the day, and I don't know how old ya'll are, but there was riff raff out there and it wasn't fishermen. Lets just say there was a lot of mud cattin goin on.

But its been a long time since I was out there and I had heard they cleaned that up.

Back in the day, and I don't know how old ya'll are, but there was riff raff out there and it wasn't fishermen. Lets just say there was a lot of mud cattin goin on.

But its been a long time since I was out there and I had heard they cleaned that up. [/quote]

Yea that is what I heard too. They have cleaned most of that up and the Tyler PD Patrols out there.

Actually, the Cascades Development advertises that they are going to have a marina there, so I doubt if they are trying to make it a no wake zone. I'm certain that they want to be able to boat, water ski and jet ski on the lake.

I have never been to Bellwood Lake. I wonder if there is any decent bank fishing/fly fishing there? I guess it is gonna be frowned on by the residents there. They have a website and they are planning to build a private marina it says. PRIVATE.... If you look at the beginnings of the lake, the city of Tyler made an earthern dam out of it, thus creating the lake. It was used as a water source for the city until 1950.

Kelly there is a very small area near the parking lot that can be bank-fished, but it is too small for you to drive all the way over there. Bellwood does have some very good bass fishing and crappie fishing, but you need a boat to access it. TP&WD did a shocking there several years ago and found quite a few 10" redear there, but I never caught any near that size. I have caught bass up to 7# there, as well as crappie up to 2.6#, on conventional tackle.

Check this site: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/waterecords.php?WB_code=0064

I read the article in the Tyler paper and it says that "it would potentially be a no-wake zone". If you read the entire article it is obvious why. The development plans for the lake, the park, the convention center. hotel, etc would bring a lot of people to the lake. Bellwood is a small lake that cannot support a lot of skiers, jet skis - boat traffic, for safety reasons. It has nothing to do with the "riffraff". They are planning ahead to prevent a big influx of boating traffic on the lake and the accidents that would come with it.

Thank you very much for that info.

I wonder if they are going to kill the grass in that lake as well. As far as bank fishing that would be very tough as the reeds surround the lake. I have a friend that works for TPWD and he told me about 6 years ago that there are more 9lb bass per acre there than anywhere else he has shocked fish but I have yet to beat a 6lb there. It is a good lake but you pretty much just fish reeds. I haven't been to the lake in the last 2 years maybe a trip is in order before they make any more changes to the lake.

Jody

I fish Bellwood often. There is a two signs on each side of the Boat ramp that says "NO Skiing". During the Summer of 2006 some of the Cascades residents got a Ticket from Tyler PD for not obeying those signs when they returned to the ramp. I was there laoding up. It has everything to do with "riffraff". Those same Skier's caused a small boat to flip over from the large wake they created dumping three people into the lake. Myself and another bass fisherman got the people out of the lake. Retrieved all the floating stuff from the inside of the boat and pulled the upside down boat to the shore for them. Our local Game Warden wouldn't write a ticket or give the Skiers even so much as a slap on the wrist. Come to find out he said they let him play GOLF at the Cascades for free. The Skier's were some of the management and golf pro's from the cascades.

Ii has been stated several times on the Local News that the City wants to make Lake Bellwood in to Tyler's version of the "San Antonio Riverwalk". ( Which is quite stupid to me, because I have not seen a river out there) They already recently extended the city limits to take in the Lake so they could collect City Taxes from all those big houses. They want to keep the "riffraff" with their boats off the Lake. It is that plain and simple.

i wish they would develope nice houses all around the lake, keep some of the other shady folks away. i wont go back until then. i had a really really bad run in with some taller, bigger, darker fellows there. DONT GO ON THE WEEKEND OR IN THE AFTERNOON!

A couple in a boat approached me and asked me if I had some scales. The guys wife caught a 9.5 and a 5lber on my scales.

My brother and I have caught sevral big-uns out there..

I hate it when they circle a lake with houses, then the people who live there think they are the only ones who should use the lake. If it is city, state, federal waters...it is for everyone. I am a bank angler. Houses surrounding a lake have limited my fishing considerably. Not to mention to me the less populated the lake is, the better I like it. Fancy houses sure aren't as pretty to me as nature is.

if you had the run in with the people i did you would want more attention payed to the surrounding areas of the lake.
i went out to bellwood after someone had told me about how its a great place to catch fish. got to the ramp and i was the second person on the lake in a boat. which was nothing new considering it was a monday. after fishing for about an hour i noticed about 5 cars drive up blasting there radio, and nearly 20 people got out and started having fun. a little while later i look across the lake and see that a few of them are near my truck, a few minutes later i notice one of them try and open my door. knowing that i locked my truck i was going to wait till they left my truck and i was going to leave the lake. about that time the other boat on the water went back to the ramp, and was greeted by all 20 or so of them. i saw them taunting them and making fun of him, and asking if they could go on a ride in his boat. as soon as he pulled his boat out of the water he took off down the road without even strapping it down just to get away from the crowd. after seeing this i figured it was time for me to get out of there. i flew up to the bank and was greeted with the same name calling drunk'in guys who thought it would be funny if they jumped in my boat. after trying to get them out for 5 or so minutes they got out. as i am backing my trailer down i notice one of them carrying one of my rods around. i stopped and asked him what he thought he was doing but with no answer he just walked towards his car. after getting my boat on the trailer, went back to the crowed and asked for my rod and reel back. and they all looked as though i was crazy and kept saying what reel. relizing that it was a lost caught i gave in to the northside folks and donated that rod to my safety. after getting back home i called my brother in law (tyler PD) and told him what had happened and he said that he would ask an officer that was working in that area to go check it out. never heard another thing. thats my experiance with bellwood, and i will not go back unless they clean it up.

Sorry to hear about your experience. That was inexcusable behavior. If you saw them hassling another guy, I would of called the cops before I ever tried to load my boat. They could of been arrested for public intoxication, and disturbing the peace. As far as your rod, that should go on report to the TPD, and I would give them as good of a description as you could. Also I would of tried to get their license plate number to give to the police. I know when it is all happening we don't always think as clearly. The Sheriff's dept or TPD should regularly cruise that lake until it is cleaned up. I don't see how houses will help the matter. Many people who own a lake house have it is a second home. They probably even work during the day.... If enough people like you complain, and maybe write in the Tyler paper about it, maybe the law enforcement will take it more seriously. That is a shame, and something needs to be done about it, clearly. Once again, so sorry to hear what happened to you. That must of been nerve wracking!

i think as people move into the area and develope it, it will drive out a lot of the trash from visiting the lake. they need more lights, better parking, better patrol, and a host of other things. i would like to go back out there but its really not worth it. if im looking for a great bass lake that is small im just going to keep going to mill creek. otherwise i'll just go to tyler or palestine.

more lights, better parking, better patrol>>>>>
Agreed!

"During the Summer of 2006 some of the Cascades residents got a Ticket from Tyler PD for not obeying those signs when they returned to the ramp. I was there laoding up. It has everything to do with "riffraff". "

Use your head a little Fastlane. You said they gave the people a ticket.

If the "rich folk" are trying to make it a no-wake lake, then they won't be able to use their ski boats or jet-skis. All they'll be able to do is paddle around the lake in their kayaks, just like everyone else will be required to do. What the city is trying to do is prevent MORE accidents like the one you witnessed. It is very simple to understand and has nothing to do with the rich vs the "riffraff".

One of the rich folks at the Cascade's told me that the City gave them permsiion to Ski on Bellwood recently but it is a No Ski zone to the general public/riff raff. And if they don't want motorized boats out there then that is what they will get. But it will only pertain to the general public. I.E. The Cascades is building a Marina and will be allowed to use motorized boats, but us riff raff fisherman/the common man will not. Plain and simple.

If it makes you happy to believe that, well so be it.

That is hard for me to believe. That lake is city property is it not? It was a water source, dammed up by the city. The land around it was sold, but the lake should still be city property.
If there is a no wake zone, that should go for everyone, not the just for riff raff. So, I would like someone who knows to say what is really going on there.

I have seen it with my own eyes! It is not hard for me to believe.

Ever notice the Waterskiing Slalom Course down by the Cascades, yet the sign by the public boat ramp says "No Skiing"!!!!= enough said....