Ok, dumb question perhaps but, any rules against skiing on Lake Fork. Any problems skiing down by the dam.

bass boats duing 70....

plus alagators

No problems at all if you are crazy and have a death wish.

No rules against it.

I'm seeing more and more of this. I don't believe there are any rules against it, but that doesn't mean that it's safe.

2 weekends ago, I saw a pontoon boat pulling 2 kids in a tube over the same exact area where we lost a lower unit last summer.

In the open water out in front of Ray branch are some of the biggest stumps on the lake and I've seen jet skiers and tubers just plowing right on through it. Granted, it's open water near the damn, so people just think it all must be open water.

All of those stumps we used to see "a long time ago" ain't gone. They are now petrified, laying just under the surface for someone to land in the wrong place at the right time.

-Alton

sad to say but it will take a fatallity or near one and then some one will want to sue the river authority. lack of any lake knowledge is far far worse than knowing a little about what is under the surface of that lake.

Not Safe! IMHO

Thanks for the serious responses. And, I realize I deserve the rest for even asking the question.

Ok, I'm talking about the open water by the dam - well away from any fishermen. If I recall this water is 40 to 60 feet deep and I'm thinking was clear cut when the lake was built. Are stumps a concern in this area of the lake?

What about Lake Quitman, would that be a better choice?

Look guys, I'm old (over 50). I can't last more than two minutes anyway.

Why not sandlin or cypress springs? They are right next to fork and better for skiing. Especially the cypress. Lots of rec boats there and far less risk.

No problems at all if you are crazy and have a death wish.

sandlin... trees. cypress springs- a freakin ZOO already.. waaayyy tooo many boats already(no wind and you still have 3 foot waves!)

i thin you will be alright in the small area right in front of the dam on Fork.

I would not do it tho I have seen guys doing it, I seen one myself 2 weeks ago being pulled ove a stump feild scary thing to watch for sure!


Mavs

You should be ok in the deep water out in the middle by the dam.

My first trip to Fork was on the 4th of July, 2 years ago. My wife talked me into taking the seadoo's. We rode at the dam and didn't have any problems, but we got tons of frowns from the bass boats trying to fish the east point of the dam. I, myself, won't ever do it again, but you only live once. By the way....I'll be there this weekend, but in my back-up boat, and it only goes 65, so you should be safe, lol.

If it is open water, go for it. Fork is public water, ya know.

go for it

I'll bring the wakeboard! LOL

well i think never mine i just best shut up on this one....rick

Hey Toad! How's the bass fishing on Whitney now? Haven't been there in years, but have been ponderin' bout payin' it a visit soon.

That had to be the most ridiculous ? ever! Sorry, but the only thing dumber would be to actually do it. I hate skiers and fork is a bass lake.

It's not about the fishermen and their smiles or frowns - it's about your safety! I'm not gonna take a chance that "Maybe" that water is clear out by the damn. Chances are that it is clear. Like I told you earler, it all looks clear until you get 8 inches below the surface and then it's a [censored] shoot!

I don't know of it's any safe or better odds in Shreveport, but at least they give you a free beer!

-Alton

Ok, I knew this might be a controversial topic. Appreciate the serious responses and enjoyed the chuckles as well. Cypress Springs looks like an interesting suggestion. Might check that out. I do agree - safety first!

Holbrook would be another one to consider. It's just south west of Fork and there is a big area on the south end of the lake for recreational boating. Just watch the points and DON"T go north of the bouy line about mid lake up!!!!!!!!!!!!

if anyone here knows lake welsh, then they know it's one of the most dangerous lakes around...lots & lots of stumps just under the surface...well, back in April I made a quick trip out there, when I got to the ramp I couldn't believe my eyes...3 kids swimming by boat ramp & adults skiing 100 yards away...I just went home, I really had no desire to be on that lake with anyone that stupid.

personally i wouldnt ski on it. 2nd remember about the hump on the damn. kinda shallow in that spot.

Ran aground on that hump at night many years ago.
Talkin bout an abrupt halt !Major pucker factor.

if in to extreme sking try ray roberts north of wolf island

Don't ski on Fork. I would hate to be reading about the ski accident on Fork that ripped off a guys legs. You don't smoke in the gun powder room, and you don't ski on Fork.

Holbrook and quitman are a better spot for sure. I used to take my jetski to Fork with my float tube, tie the jetski to a tree and wander away in the float tube... Then I saw an aligator and haven't done it since...

Try Hawkins

Lake Quitman has some real good spots with plenty of room for playing. We wakeboard and ride PWC out there a bunch. Right in the spot your talking about on Fork, i had a buddy get a good rip in his leg from a stump. One thing on Fork you really have to look out for is floating debris. A lot of the trees are at the age where good sections are breaking off and they will float wherever they wish. Plus with the recent storms there's a good amount added to it.
Public water is just that, public, so go where you wish but IMHO, coming from a skier and a fisherman , i'd skip Fork just to be safe.

"Look guys, I'm old (over 50). I can't last more than two minutes anyway."

Quit bragging!

Lake Cooper is one of the best lakes to play on...fishing at one end and alot of open lake with not alot of boat traffic...was out there fathers day weekend..didn't see more than 4 or 5 other boats out there...wide open

It would take one huge-azz lawsuit and the SRA would close the lake to skiers. The SRA should close the lake to skiers just as a precaution, anyway. Of course, just MHO.

It's all about knowing where it's safe, There is a lot of skiable water up by the dam. Just stay south of the boat lane buoys to the buoys surrounding the spillway, also watch the point coming out west of the spillway, it gets pretty shallow quite a ways out. Stay as far east as you can and you should be fine, it's the west end of the dam that will get you in trouble.

Rudy,
That used to be one of my favorite area's to fish. I would be about 100 yards off of the dam fishing the outside of the ridge coming off of the dam back when it had some good grass on it. People would just move closer to the dam to stay away from anglers and all of a sudden come to a stop, or get a prop full of hydrilla. During the day you could usually wave and get peoples attention or they would see the matted grass, but at night there is no warning until you were on it.
The last time I was down there a couple of years back there was no grass and there were two boats beached on that ridge with everyone out swimming in the shallow water and I figured it was better to just move on.