Lake Mcconaughy (Nebraska) Questions

[Timmy!]

We were thinking about heading to Lake Mcconaughy in Nebraska for some camping and fun next week but had a few questions for anyone that might have been recently.

• Can you have alcohol there or what's the deal? Do they enforce that pretty heavily or ? Not like we are total drunks or anything but we do like to sit around the campfire and have a beer or two.
• We heard that you have to have someone put your boat in with a tractor, is that still true?
• How is the water level?
• Are there still coves that you can ski/wakeboard in?

[DieselPWR]

You are leagally not supposed to have alchohol. But everyone does, you just have to be smart about it. I'd recommend putting what ever you are drinking in an unmarked container like a nalgene. I've seen a lot of people though not even do that, as long as you are not crazy. The ranger stick to the main Martin bay area.

I'd unload / load the boat at the ramp. Went last weekend and stuck the trailer and had a local help out with his tractor.

Water level is up from that last few years but no where near full. Lake is still massive.

I didn't notice any coves, but the lake is so huge and there are never many boats on it. Its easy to find nice water as long as the weather is nice.

[Timmy!]

Thanks! At the ramps do you need a tractor or is the tractor just to avoid having to use the ramp?

[DieselPWR]

Tractor is to avoid using the ramps. Ramps are concrete. You can see the main one from the dam. You can get away with the ramp if the conditions are just right, but its not much more time just to drive the boat and truck to the ramp. Driving around in the sand with the boat isn't an issue, or unloading. Just loading.

[Timmy!]

Cool, thanks!

[DieselPWR]

When are you planning on going? We go there a 3-4 times a summer.

[Timmy!]

Well, my buddy has this idea of going up there for the 4th... Last time I was there was 1993 and all hell broke loose at that place that year. I think we would have to leave on the 3rd to even attempt to get a spot though - we'll see.

[Timmy!]

Where's the "best" place to camp up there? You sound like you've been plenty of times to know.

[Waterski-Rebel]

Timmy,

I just got back from Glendo. I talked to some fisherman who are from NE, and the said the water is very milky, and the week of the 4th should be crazy.

We were thinking about going that week(end) too, but have decided against it. We have never been. We choose Glendo, because we wanted the coves and smoother water.

[DieselPWR]

The water was perfect when we were there last weekend.

We camped at the 2nd martin bay entrance to the shore. We went straight down and slightly to the right. There is a really nice group of people down there with a tractor that I know will be there for the 4th. The sand there is pretty hard for driving.

I can't imagine McCaunahay would be more hectic then Glendo during the 4th! I'm sure both will be a good time.

[Timmy!]

Ok! Are the ramps pretty busy or few and far between? Sorry for all of the questions, we're just trying to sort out all of the misc ramblings we have heard 3rd person and haven't actually talked to anyone who's been there recently.

[Waterski-Rebel]

Diesel - Sorry, we hit Glendo last weekend (yes I will post pics). :-) We were also going to do Lake Mac over the 4th, but decided against it.

How is Lake Mac with no coves? Can you find smooth water?



We found some amazing water (In Glendo). We had to drive through the first canyon, then found a 2nd one, and on the other side of that one was a lake about the size of cherry creek. We were the only boat in there moving (there was one fishing).

[Timmy!]

I think I know which area you are talking about Alan, that's where we have gone 3 times now. You go through the canyon area and then it's on your right hand side? If so, that's where I first learned to wakeboard because the water was pure glass.

[Timmy!]

I'm pretty sure this is the spot we were in at Glendo:

[Waterski-Rebel]

I am pretty sure we were here (see pink circle). The water was only 5-6 feet deep. It was amazing. The shores were land (not rock), and there were a bunch of cows on the shore too.

We were told the lake was 100% full, plus it had an additional 10% flood retention.