Fishing on Memorial Day Weekend? Crowds ?

Man there are going to be a 'swarm' of folks out on the lakes, was wondering how many of ya'll were going to go fishing in all that?
I'm retired so, not for me but I know and remember working for a living, many have to use what time off they have, crowds or not.
Just curious..
God Bless

Going to Coleto this weekend only time I have...yep gonna be busy..

Hey man, completely understand. You do what you have to when you have to, make a living but there are probably going to be a 'ton of folks' out at the lakes.
Good luck pardner. Hope you catch your new PB!!!
God Bless

Memorial Day July 4, Labor Day stay home. Not worth the trouble.

Will probably get out on the water on Monday, but will be on the water at daylight and off by 10am. Shouldn't be too bad during that time.

I used to go too richland chambers every memorial day. Fishing is awesome and only see 5 boats all day.

I only wish we had enough water in our lakes out here to have to make the decision as whether to go or not.

I really want to but around here, there aren't many lakes with open ramps so there will be a lot of traffic on all the available lakes. I'll be staying home.

Man, I hate to hear that! It doesn't look good for us here west of Fort Worth and further. The predictions are for a DRY year.
Man I hope they are wrong.
God Bless

I'll venture out on Fork during the long weekend. Perhaps after the sun goes down.

I will be fishing but on a private lake where we won't have to deal with the chaos

LOL, 'Chaos'....good choice of words!!! Probably the best definition of what will be happening on the area lakes....
Good luck my friend
God Bless

We make a trip to a different lake each year. As long as you don't go to a population center (Lake Conroe, Travis when it has water in it etc) it really isn't that bad.

Thank you mr. Lee in Texas

My format for holiday fishing, on the water at daylight, off by 10am. Then get a few of your favorite beverage and a lawn chair and go sit by the boat ramp and watch all the "twice a year" boaters launch and load. It is the best comedy act of the year and its FREE!

LOL, hadn't thought of that one! Might be fun.......
God Bless

Yes sir !! Sit and watch just how much a family of 4 can pack onto a pontoon boat , all while sitting on the ramp . Then watch Mom try to back it down , with Dad hollering at her the whole time ! It's crazy out there !!

Most spots on Palestine you can avoid pleasure boaters and fish uninterrupted. I will avoid Tyler like black death.

We had a club tournament on Cedar Creek last Memorial Day weekend. I saw a wakeboard boat go by, at least 1/3 of a mile away, and never gave it another thought. A minute later I looked up and four or five enormous walls of water were coming toward me. The first one would have thrown me off the deck if I hadn't seen it coming. The second, third, and fourth ones came over the bow and swamped me.

I think I want to get a giant boat that emits skunk scent behind me as I make way down the lake. I'm sure everyone else on the water won't mind. LOL.

This weekend I plan to get in the thickest timber I can find. They'll have to run over a forest to get to me.

I think I will go fish the dam at Lewisville Saturday afternoon, should be plenty of wave action to keep the water oxygenated

I mostly fish Fork so not sure there is ever a weekend that there is not a huge crowd from January to June. Everybody be safe.

Man, yall can put a negative spin on anything, can't ya?

You realize there are solutions, right?

1) Fish a stumpy, less recreational lake.
2) Fish the stumpy, less "ski-able" area of your own lake.
3) Fish very early and after dark.
4) Stay in coves away from the more popular recreational type areas.
5) Fish right in the middle of everything and simply enjoy the opportunity to be out on the water and not at home in a wheel chair, hospital bed, etc.

Just go enjoy it. It's not hard. Go out with the right mindset and keep in mind, all those other people are there to enjoy their weekend, too. It's not just all about us fishermen.

I have camped and fished on Texoma on Memorial day weekdend for 30 years. I rarely miss one. This year I cancelled because of low water and went to Beavers Bend last week end instead. BB is one place you will not find me this weekend. Twice I cancelled becasue of high water. On Texoma I only ventured on the lake to fish early and late. Crowds were never much of a problem for me.

If I was planning on fishing a stump-filled lake, I wouldn't worry about the crowds so much since "most" jet skis and ski boats won't venture into those areas. I would probably skip the deep structure bite on the main lake unless I fish it before noon. On non-stumpy lakes like Grapevine, the key is to get there early and leave before noon, maybe even 11:00 am. That seems to be about the time the nuts wake up and start showing up, lol. Sunday and Monday AM will be better than Sat AM as far as crowds are concerned early in the AM. A lot of the party crowd will be hung over on those days and get up a little later.

Wherever you decide to go, be careful, take extra precaution by watching out for the idiots, especially when running the main lake and in and around the ramp areas.

I'll be skipping the fishing this weekend though.

If all else fails, fish a lake like Lewisville and head to Party Cove later in the morning and hang out all day, lol. If you beat 'em, join 'em! At least the view will be good.

It was NOT a negative 'spin'. It was/is a question - period.
I won't comment any further than that on this, good grief!
God Bless

I will be on Hubbard 2 out of the 4 days from 8am-10pm, working...

It's always fun to watch the circus, hopefully we won't have any business this year.

Man, I hope you don't either! I hope your bored to tears and laughing at the 'lakers'!
God Bless

I'm either going for the daylight to 10 slot, or going to a small stump filled lake and fishing all day. Haven't decided yet.

Originally Posted By: CoachCBA

I will avoid Tyler like black death.

please do your self a favor, save your gas money, your time, and your sanity, stay off of Tyler on this day.

Where else can you fish at a topless bar? And ya dont even need the wad of dolla bills......

I will probably fish Monday since my son is off work that day. I was thinking of going to Fork, my son loves to go there. It may be crowded, but at least it will be other fisherman. Their usually a pretty good bunch!

Hey, spending time with your son/Dad is important, crowds or no crowds. I would too were I in your shoes. My son lives in Houston....ya'll go ..just be careful. There will be MANY out who are NOT!!
God Bless

Only 'timber' around here is Lake Worth. Man, it gets 'SHALLOW'!!!

Sounds like it's a pretty 'mixed' crowd electing to go fish or not.
With the warming weather am sure the 'Jet Ski' crowd will be out in numbers.
Well, if ya'll go, just watch for the high powered boat 'dummies' who give little or no thought to others let alone fishermen!
God Bless

My answer? I fly to Alaska tomorrow for 11 days. Halibut, salmon, pike, and Dolly Varden can be fun, too. No crowds. I hope you guys stay safe, catch some good ones, and watch out for the drunks.

Yep, that would to it. ONLY one thing wrong with that: IT'S COLD THERE....LOL

Lee, the highs are forecast to be up into the high 60s and 70s while we're there. Even if it's cold, though, we'll enjoy it. I hope you hit the water somewhere and catch a new PB!

I will be on fork but won't leave Mustang

Back when I was fishing all of the time Memorial weekend was when I started my night fishing. Some of my favorite memories were of spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights on Fork fishing all night. Some of the most incredible trips ever and no crowds to deal with.

I usually stay home on the long weekends but this weekend I'll be on Ray Roberts and loving it.

If you go to LL or Hubbard be careful the nut cases have been out for a couple of weeks now

I will be visiting family this weekend in Sulphur Springs, so I might head to Fork or Cypress Springs. There are alot of lakes out there, I would rather go to the least crowded one and I know that won't be Fork but I don't know where I will go. Any suggestions?

I would rather kiss a rattlesnake than fish "some" of these local lakes during Memorial day....Just saying...I ain't that mad at'em!

too funny.
Well, I remember back when had to work before retirement, that's when you go people/speed boats/skiers/jet skis and all....only time you had off to do those things.
Like the earlier poster, when was younger, remember family reunions and such, heat/crowds and all.
But, older now - Lord am I and I chose to fish through the week and almost never on the holidays.
Let the younger crowd have the lakes...
God Bless

Agree with the on/off early.......
middle of the day goes like "Here I am DRUNK AGAIN" and driving a boat!!!!!!!

I too have become a huge fan of a lawn chair by the boat ramp about an hour before Sundown on RayHub. It is pretty much unrivaled comedy. Last year, I saw: a guy scream at his wife in front of hundreds as if he had lost his mind, a dude pull his pontoon onto the trailer so hard he broke one of the bunks on the trailer, someone got arrested for under age intox, a dude forgot to trim his motor up and dragged it all the way up the ramp & about a quarter mile down the road before he stopped....... Sparks flying/skeg grinding, another dude beached a brand new skeeter into the rocks really hard, the list goes on. Fish early, enjoy the day, head to lake with lawn chair & a couple cold ones at about 8...... You can thank me later.

I'll sure bet for those folks 'AFTER', it wasn't so funny. Man the things people do.
You enjoy for us.....hopefully it's just a comedy of errors.
God Bless

Man, am sure there will be a LOT of this. Exactly the best reason to, as Frank said, grab a lawn chair/a cold one/ go to the boat launch and watch the show!
Mmmmm...I hope I'm wrong and not much happens.
God Bless

Opening day for the rookies, nope always sit this one out...great weekend to get the yard in shape and do wife things...have the rest of the year to hit the water...God Bless America and all the fallen troops and their family's !!!...

I will be on eagle mountain at sun up.

well Lee in Texas fish dog and I took care of our holiday fishing today 5-23-14. where were you??? you need to put up your computer and pick up your sticks. Ha! Ha! see my post in sandbass section. 12 blacks and 72 sandies. had a blast. have a great holiday.

+1

Im headeed to ray bob in the morning for a few hours

Should be a good morning. Slight breeze and a bit overcast. I can't pass up.

Other than LOTS of others, should be good fishing. Hope ya'll get some good ones.
Be careful
God Bless

Ya!!!

LOL, boat is in the shop getting a 'facelift'. Seats/Carpet/Bunks and detailing. Sounds like you had a ball.
BTW: I went to Academy, bought some of those baits!
Thanks Shipmate, sorry I missed you two on the water
God Bless