Lake of the Ozarks vs Table Rock Lake (branson)

[Cali BassMan]

ok for me the choice is simple..of all the lakes mentioned the one with the best bass fishing is?????

[mrschilicook]

My husband and I moved here from California a few years ago and we looked at towns around Lake of the Ozarks and around Tablerock/Taneycomo/Bull Shoals (they are so close together it's almost a moot point as to which you might want to live on except for the cold/trout fishing of Tanycomo and the bass/warm water of the others).

Lake of the Ozarks has, for at least 25 years, been more of the "party-lake". Less restrictive, more people, more lake "tourists" (ie...drinking, party, good-time charlies (I used to be one of them)). There are restaurants with docs and you can grab a burger and a beer (or better) right on the lake. There are certainly families that enjoy the lake and it is beautiful, but when we looked, the prices were higher than nearer Branson and the crowds were almost as bad just different. Not much to do at night except eat, drink, dance and recover from the sunburn. I have no statistics, but Lake of the Ozarks feels like there are more young adults than Tablerock/Tanycomo, etc. Just a feel.
The towns are packed during tourist season (Branson is too, but you can totally get around it) and the restaurants are pretty full.

Tablerock/Tanycomo etc. seem to be much more family oriented and less party lakes...although there are certainly "good time Charlies/Charlenes out there. The Corp. has more restrictions but in many ways they do protect the natural beauty of the lake. MUCH MUCH less commercialism than LofO. LJ said that there were restaurants on the lake, but in my experience, there are very few and even fewer than you can drive up to and grab a burger on the boat (are there any?).

So if I were picking (and I did) I would chose to live on/near Tablerock/Tanycomo. Bull Shoals is also nice, but further from Springfield....city is important to me personally.

[Kurt]

Table Rock is a beautiful lake and it wins hands down for affordibility and less crowded status as compared to Lake of the Ozarks. But it is an Corps Lake and that is why I am posting the following: In the far northeast corner of Oklahoma in the foothills of the Ozarks. The entire area is lake, resort, and retirement oriented. The south end of the lake is deep and clean. The north end has alot of river sediment. Lake of the Ozarks is much too expensive. Grand Lake of the Cherokees is a river authority lake and allows you to own to the water and even cut trees that obscure your view. Why be on the lake unless you can own to the water and have a dock? Corps Lakes are notorious for their restrictions. Take a look at Grand Lake and don't let people tell you that it is polluted. It is very clean on the south end, although after a heavy rain the water does get ginger ale colored for awhile because of the river sediment. I have a place down near the dam. It is over 100 feet deep off of my swim platform. Less expensive here, too. But there are multimillion dollar homes on the lake. I paid 225K for mine--modest but with lakeshore and a killer view on the big main lake. Their are cheaper places to be had. Check out my posts on the Oklahoma forum under Grand Lake. But it is further from Springfield--although it is doable to drive there if you don't go everyday.

[ryanm527]

Just thought I would chime in. I have had friends with places on Lake Ozark, Stockton, Table Rock and Grand Lake.

Personally I like Table Rock the best BECAUSE of it's restrictions. Just to clarify someone's earlier comment, only certain parts of the lake shore are zoned for docks. You cannot build a new one unless it's a large 12 stall community dock. You can buy an existing dock and move it to an area that is zoned for docks but like someone said... docks (really you are just buying the permit) are VERY expensive. I think $20,000 is very optimistic based on what i've seen. An area that isn't zoned for docks cannot have a dock period unless it's an old one that is grandfathered in. You can however, easily get a permit for a basic trail to the water, which is what a lot of people do.

Personally I like the Corps management of the shoreline compared to other lakes. It's less cluttered and much more scenic, especially compared to Grand Lake where people can build, tear up, or do whatever they want with the shore. For some this is a perk, but I think it just makes for an ugly lake.

Lake Ozarks is pretty busy and over-developed and loaded up with people from Missouri's 2 big cities as well as MU party goers. Lots of condos and huge yacht type boats and such. But Table Rock is getting more developed by the day, especially near Branson and Kimberling City, though it is still not known to be a party lake.

Stockton, which I don't think anyone else has mentioned is mainly a fishing/sailing lake. There are no significant towns nearby, no entertainment... it's definitely a no-frills lake, but it's nice if thats what you want.

Just depends on if you want scenery or action or the ability to build right on top of the water. Lakes are a great place to spend time and/or live.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by ryanm527

Just thought I would chime in. I have had friends with places on Lake Ozark, Stockton, Table Rock and Grand Lake.

Personally I like Table Rock the best BECAUSE of it's restrictions. Just to clarify someone's earlier comment, only certain parts of the lake shore are zoned for docks. You cannot build a new one unless it's a large 12 stall community dock. You can buy an existing dock and move it to an area that is zoned for docks but like someone said... docks (really you are just buying the permit) are VERY expensive. I think $20,000 is very optimistic based on what i've seen. An area that isn't zoned for docks cannot have a dock period unless it's an old one that is grandfathered in. You can however, easily get a permit for a basic trail to the water, which is what a lot of people do.

Personally I like the Corps management of the shoreline compared to other lakes. It's less cluttered and much more scenic, especially compared to Grand Lake where people can build, tear up, or do whatever they want with the shore. For some this is a perk, but I think it just makes for an ugly lake.

Lake Ozarks is pretty busy and over-developed and loaded up with people from Missouri's 2 big cities as well as MU party goers. Lots of condos and huge yacht type boats and such. But Table Rock is getting more developed by the day, especially near Branson and Kimberling City, though it is still not known to be a party lake.

Stockton, which I don't think anyone else has mentioned is mainly a fishing/sailing lake. There are no significant towns nearby, no entertainment... it's definitely a no-frills lake, but it's nice if thats what you want.

Just depends on if you want scenery or action or the ability to build right on top of the water. Lakes are a great place to spend time and/or live.

Yes, I like Stockton Reservoir as well.
My favorite lakes to recommend are: Minocqua Lake, Cranberry Lake, and Tomahawk Lake in northern Wisconsin.
Some will disagree with me, but reservoirs do not compare to the beauty of a northwoods lake.