I recently relocated to the north Dallas/Richardson area due to my job. Although I grew up in Arlington, and have lived most of my adult life in Fort Worth, the actual "City of Dallas" is largely new to me.

Does anyone use their motorized boat in White Rock Lake?

I understand that the lake has a 10 hp limit, which isn't a problem at all. My boat is a light 14' jon boat, so it's easy enough to move around with a trolling motor.

I've heard that the lake is mostly used by rowing/kayaking types. Are they pretty friendly toward fishermen, or do they view you as a nuisance?

Are the boat ramps relatively safe (break-ins of vehicles, etc)? Being new to Dallas, I envision the city as crime ridden. Does Dallas Police have a lake patrol presence?

Thanks!

White Rock has some strange/stupid rules. Many of them probably were written many years ago and they might have made sense at the time. Many also come across as the heavy hand of government sticking it's thumb in your eye. Here is the code regarding the boat motor size.

SEC. 32-40. EQUIPMENT PROHIBITED ON THE WATER.
(a) A person commits an offense if he takes a surfboard, a sailboard, water skis, or other similar device on the waters of White Rock Lake or Bachman Lake.
(b) A person commits an offense if he operates a boat by means of a motor having a commercial-power rating in excess of 10.5 H.P. on the waters of White Rock Lake or Bachman Lake.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) or (b) that the person was participating in a special recreational event authorized in writing by the park and recreation board.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (b) that the person was a city employee operating a motor boat in the scope of his employment. (Ord. Nos. 8018; 15195)

But then there is this.

SEC. 32-52. INSPECTION AND APPROVAL PREREQUISITE TO ISSUANCE OF LICENSES.
It shall be the duty of the superintendent of White Rock or his authorized assistant to inspect all boats and watercraft of every kind and description before the same are permitted to be placed upon or in the waters of the reservoirs, and to approve or disapprove the construction, mechanism and state of repair of each boat before the same is placed in such waters, and if for any reason such officer should be of the opinion that any boat is unsafe and unworthy or dangerous to life, he shall so state in writing to the owner or person in charge of same; but if he should be of the opinion that such boat is safe and worthy to be placed in such waters, he shall also so state in writing to the owner or person in charge thereof, and every person applying for a license to use and operate a boat in such waters shall first present a written statement by the superintendent of White Rock approving the boat such person proposes to use and operate in such waters; provided, however, that in any case where such officer disapproves any boat he shall fully state in writing his disapproval, giving his reasons in full therefor, and the owner or person in charge of such boat shall have the right to submit such matter to the park board, whose decision shall in all cases be final. (Ord. 8018)

You probably should read all the code that is special to this lake....find it here.
http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/T...legal:dallas_tx

Oh yeah, you can't be on it after dark....another stupid law. so the crime thing isn't such an issue. Lot's of people down there every day probably helps keep crime down a bit. The police have a pretty strong presence there too. You can fish from the bank all night if you wish.

Hmm, well that's discouraging. Sounds like more hassle than it's worth, to get a boat inspected and approved. And no night fishing? That's a bummer. I guess I'll just make a slightly longer drive to a "real" lake.

I have never been inspected but has been about 10 yrs since last time out on White Rock. Good bass fishing.

I never heard of it before either. Maybe it is a rule they don't enforce anymore.We need Whiterock Jesse to chime in on this one. He knows this lake like the back of his hand.

Dont go on weekends or holidays. Alot of illegals drinking and stealing.

Used to sail on Whiterock all the time. Bank fishing has always been popular but there was a ban on eating the fish for a long time. Best fishing is normaly at the far North end where the creek pours in. They dredged the lake a while back and it really cleaned that end of the lake up.
The Game Wardens check the people fishing the creek regularly.

The story goes that about 20 or so years ago a TPW truck loaded with bass fingerlings was driving through Dallas when the aerator went out. The driver called his office and the bosses told him to dump the load in the closest lake... and that was Whiterock.

I have heard thr story about dumping the fish also, dont forget about the lady of the lake!