Has anyone 'camped' on the water- im sure plenty of you have. I have not but want to next week. any suggestions on things to bring, good lake to do it on, bathroom, etc.
thanks

When you say on the water, are you talking about in a boat, or on the bank? If your talking about a boat, check the lights on your boat, bring an anchor, spotlight, booty ribbon and find a place off the main lake where the boat traffic is not as bad. Im sure you know to keep the white light at the back on, while your tied up or anchored

yes thanks, i mean on my pontoon. I do know to keep the required lights on, etc. I just feel like im forgetting something on my checklist. Ive done plently of night fishing excursions but never overnight.

I overnight on the water all the time, but in a houseboat.

First thing is to check the weather. Next I'd find a nice place to beach the boat for peace of mind and so you don't have to run the lights all night; preferably on sand. Not sure how many places there are at other lakes to beach a boat for overnighting, but I can guarantee you that you will find hundreds of sandy coves on Texoma that are worthy. Anchor the bow and stern. Find a island or a place not accessible from the road. Stay away from the locals. Anybody showing up out there at night without a boat will be nothing but trouble. I'd go to the islands at Texoma - might find some fellow boaters to camp with.

Bring flashlights, food, extra towels, and clothes. Bring a bucket with a lid and toilet paper for a chitter. I'd launch in a park or marina with some sort of overnight security. Bring cellphone and make sure family or friends know your plans. Sometimes moisture is a problem so assume everything on the boat will get wet with dew or rain and use containers or ziplocks for everything you don't want wet.

Ice is hard to keep. Use blocks of ice if you can find them or bring an extra cooler full of nothing but ice. Don't keep your fish on a stringer. I've seen huge turtles come up at night and eat fish off the stringer.

Pillows

great ideas on the ice, beaching, etc. I was thinking about texoma or ray roberts. Anybody suggest a ramp I can leave my truck/trailer at both lakes? Any other suggestions?
thanks a plenty! really am enjoying this forum

If you go in on Johnson Branch on the North shore of Ray Roberts, pay for a rough camp and leave the truck and trailer. Then you can beach in the coves to the East of the park where the primitive hike in spots are or the islands off the pointe. Also, there are restrooms at the ramp and a nice shower at the main club house that sells ice and firewood during the day.

Note : Snakes seek warmth.....

noted! anything repel snakes? besides a .410 snake charmer!;)

If you do Ray Roberts Johnson Branch unit, I haven't been up there in a LONG time, but my guess is the "islands" off the JB point are probably now very solidly dry land back to the park, there is a 3rd (normally under water) hump at the end that may, or may not, be connected currently. Not a big deal, the park is nice, and well isolated (no "locals" around), so staying on a dry point (it's completely wide open) wouldn't open you up to miscreants I wouldn't think.
Just beware of that area, lots to tear up a boat on up there (piles of construction debris and stuff, not just tree stumps, around that point). Much of the "trouble" might actually be out of the water right now, but not sure.
I'd stay and launch at Isle Du Bois park (south end off 455/377), and head to the "island" to the south (it'll be connected right now also to the main land) to the south. The area around that island is primitive camping, a lot of scout groups use it as well as just general park campers, but it's not likely to have too many miscreants, you might have some park hikers come by visiting, but there is no "non-park" public in that region. And the IDB parking lot is well lit, and highly visible (any miscreants are going to be obvious to anyone from far away, and regular traffic nearby going to the bathrooms and showers by the park store area a few hundred yards away). There is never any true safety guarantee, but it's far from non-park "outsiders".

For Texoma if you want to camp at the islands I'd launch at Highport Marina. Eisenhower Yacht Club is also a good secure spot, but its a LOOOOOOONG drive to the islands. EYC is close to the damn if you want to fish over there you can camp at the peninsula by the damn. I go swimming over there a lot.

Bring sleeping bags. It will get very very cool with any breeze and the dampness. I learned the hard way at Sam Rayburn on an island many many years ago. It was 100 in August so just brought pillow and no blanket because we expected to sweat all night. Woke up about 2am and thought I was in Siberia.

BUG SPRAY!!!!!!!

Leave the back white light on.Everyone uses G.P.S. now, they drive fast sometimes,even at night.

yes i keep the back light on and a battery powered light. went out a couple days ago with the intention of spending the night but the wife decided she wanted to go home- after it was dark and we were on the water! guess i will do it by myself or with like-minded individuals!