July 2011 Event: Lake Keowee, SC

[GarnerFJ40]

July 22-24, 2011

This will be our first venture into SC for some good family camping. Lake Keowee offers some great campsites, great swimming holes, jumping rocks, and waterfalls. If you have a boat, bring it!

 

[Trollhole]

I'm in on this. It's basically in my back yard.

 

[Brock]

I think I am done with classes then....so planning on attending if nothing changes.

 

[FJinTegaCay]

Change of venue

Brian asked for my help planning this trip so I reached out to Trollhole (Marshall) to seek his input.

It is Brian's desire to make this a big family-friendly event and to make it appeal to all the membership, including those members that don't necessarily wheel that much.

Given Marshall's input, we're changing the venue to Lake Jocassee and we will be camping at Devils Fork Campground. Given the popularity of this campground you'll need to reserve your campsite NOW. The website describes the campground as follows: "Located along the southwestern shore of Lake Jocassee, this park provides outdoor recreation amid the beauty of the Blue Ridge at the Jocassee Gorges. Lakefront camping, hiking and picnicking are among some of the favorite activities, along with vacationing in the park's contemporary mountain villas. Boaters can drive to remote islands or sites of waterfalls spilling into the lake."

If you want to bring the family but the wife and kids aren't exactly cut out for "roughing it", there is currently one Villa available (2 bedrooms AND A/C!) that supposedly sleeps 6. It runs $138/night but I found a coupon code online for a discount.

There are a variety of campsites to choose from including: boat-in sites, (obviously on the water and Marshall's preferred spot), RV sites, and rustic tent sites (note: you cannot park your car beside these). There are no "group" campsites like we have at URE.

Given the warm weather that time of year and my experience there last year camping with the family, I've reserved site 54 (Site Loop 31-59) which has an electricity hook up to run a fan at night as well as a water hook up and bathrooms close by for my little one. Marshall's comment about the RV loops was "...camping with power/ water and rv spots all beside some of the best bathroom and showers of any state campground."

HERE is a link to a website where you can search for, see a picture of and reserve your site.

Attractions: The lake - incredible visibility (Marshall's estimate is 20 ft down), great for swimming, boating and fishing; Waterfalls (accessible by boat)

Things to do: Swimming, boating (they have canoe and power boat rentals but you'd want to reserve in advance), kayaking, hiking, trail rides (Marshall suggested nearby Horse Pasture and Mustard Grounds Trails which are not challenging - mostly gravel roads and perfect for stock rigs).

I hope you and your families will make plans to join us.

David

 

[Trollhole]

Some of my pics from the lake.

Lined up in the morning for a trout tournament.

White water falls.

And this is what you can pull out of the lake.

 

[BELMONT148]

Sounds awesome. I'm in. Marshall let me know where you reserve as I want to pull my boat up as well and camp with my son. That way if you are close I know my son can have someone to play with as he is only 4. (Assuming you are bringing your daughter.)

Jeremy

 

[Trollhole]

I'm site 55.

So it looks like we will have at least 2 boats there.

My plan will be to get there early on Friday set up camp and do some fishing that afternoon. Maybe I can catch some trout for us to eat that night. Sat most likely I'm going to try to hit some trails in the area and then hit the lake that afternoon. Most likely the family will come up Sat and stay for the afternoon and then go home. My house is only about 45 min away and my wife isn't a camper.

 

[swampthing]

I just booked site 57!

The tent pads are 12x12 - so probably kinda small to try and fit two tents - but hopefully these guys aren't psycho about sharing a spot....Marshall - being the veteran any guidance?

That being said - I'll offer up to split my campsite.

I'm trying to get Janet & the boys to come, but might be a little much for us all (They'll just be 16 mos or so). Janet told me we aren't as tough as Brian and Heather! ha!

 

[Trollhole]

I just booked site 57!

The tent pads are 12x12 - so probably kinda small to try and fit two tents - but hopefully these guys aren't psycho about sharing a spot....Marshall - being the veteran any guidance?

That being said - I'll offer up to split my campsite.

I'm trying to get Janet & the boys to come, but might be a little much for us all (They'll just be 16 mos or so). Janet told me we aren't as tough as Brian and Heather! ha!

I've had some park rangers that were asses but that being said every time I've been out there for a cruiser event I've never been bothered.

Keep it in a cup. Don't jam music after 10 in the campsite. Bathrooms are really nice. A major step up in quality from Arrowhead at URE.


If you really want to step it up a couple notches rent a villa. They are sweet. Great screened porches.

This was when I was up there for JP's bachelor party. In the boat are Cruisintiger, Alexgar, clemsoncruiser, cruiser4life and myself.





You never have a bad time at Jocassee.

 

[BELMONT148]

#53 for me, looks like we will at least have a few fisherman. I have never fished deep lake waters, so I might want to go fishing with you Marshall, and use my boat for some waterfall sighting one or part of a day. Unless you can fill me in on what I need to be ready to troll by then. Probably the same setup for trolling for Stripers here in Cola, so maybe I should go ahead and get the boat ready for those as well.

Jeremy

 

[mtweller]

We snagged #59. Will bring my Center Console - seats about 5-6 comfortably. Unfortunately, that means we won't be in a Toyota

Can't have it all.

Marshall, any stripers in that lake? Probably not in July anyway, but just curious.

R

 

[lt1fire]

Marshall, any strippers in that lake?

Fixed it for ya

 

[GarnerFJ40]

Fixed it for ya

That's what I saw when I read the post also...

Site #58, but not sure who's going with me....

 

[lt1fire]

That's what I saw when I read the post also...

Site #58, but not sure who's going with me....

The two of us will go with you if no one else will.

 

[GarnerFJ40]

The two of us will go with you if no one else will.

Consider it done....

 

[lt1fire]

I imagine you will have to shoot this way anyway to go there right?

 

[Trollhole]

We snagged #59. Will bring my Center Console - seats about 5-6 comfortably. Unfortunately, that means we won't be in a Toyota

Can't have it all.

Marshall, any stripers in that lake? Probably not in July anyway, but just curious.

R

No stripers or strippers. Lake has mostly trout and small mouth bass though I have caught a couple catfish before.

I use downriggers and troll the lake at around 50-80 ft. I have a couple rods that have leadcore line on them that you don't need downriggers. Someone can use those. I've also done some bas fishing out there. Very nice. I mainly fish for trout though. In the 10 years I have been fishing for trout on that lake I've only had 1 time that I didn't catch anything.

 

[mtweller]

Cool. I have one downrigger and could use planer boards (not sure if I could get them 50' down though). Sounds like fun, but I'm guessing it will wind up being more pleasure cruising than fishing

What do you pull for bait on those trout?

R

 

[shellb]

#56 booked! I maxed out the people and vehicles in case others want to join...

 

[Trollhole]

Cool. I have one downrigger and could use planer boards (not sure if I could get them 50' down though). Sounds like fun, but I'm guessing it will wind up being more pleasure cruising than fishing

What do you pull for bait on those trout?

R

Sutton spoons.