Lakes around Richmond Hill? (Savannah, Midway: loan, camps, deal)

[outdoorman]

Im looking for fresh water lakes large enough to motorboat in. Want to get used to a loaner boat before putting in the local rivers. Any lakes within 1/2 hr of Richmond Hill?

[Padgett2]

All I can think of right now is Lake George at Midway. There are some small ones that are really just large borrow pits or dammed up swamp areas. Check the phone book for Fishing Camps.

[outdoorman]

From what Ive heard Lake George is too small for motoring. Anyone else know of another lake within an hour of Richmond Hill?

[ellie]

Georgia State Parks - George L. Smith State Park

Here's another "George" lake. 412 acres. Roughly an hour away. Watch out for trees.

[outdoorman]

Thanks but i've been there few years back and it is too small for recreational boating. I'm hesitant to get into tidal waters with an unfamiliar boat so want to find a large freshwater or protected tidal waters that are deep enough where I wont have to worry about running aground
.

[Padgett2]

OK, I understand you problem. In tidal rivers, first go at low tide until you get used to the area. That way, anything like a sand bar would be exposed. Once you get used to the layout of the river you choose, then you won't need to worry about running aground as the tide rises and falls.

Pay attention to where the marshland starts and stops. Remember that at high tide you will be able to go places that you can't at low tide. That's why I suggest you start learning the territory at low tide. Then, should you somehow or other manage to find a mud bank, you will float off as the tide rises.

Good Luck!! Don't worry. The salt rivers are the only way that most of us learned about unfamiliar boats.

[ellie]

Why don't you drive south about a half an hour and go boating out on the Altamaha? It's huge.

Padgett's right. Everyone has to learn how deal with tides and unfamiliar boats at least once. Just get out there and do it.

And even freshwater lakes have stumps and shallow spots. No more excuses.

[outdoorman]

Thanks, I'll take your advices and get out on low tide somewhere. I met someone on base who suggested the forest river behind Hunter Airfield. I might give that one a try.

[Padgett2]

The Forest River is a good idea. It's not one of the larger ones, but I think it has a good public dock.

The Savannah Morning News prints the tide tables. This is also a pretty good site:

Tide Location Selection for Georgia

It will help you see the difference in the heigth of the tides depending on the phase of the moon. Don't forget that in tidal rivers the current flows one way and then the opposite. So don't do like a lot of new comers to the area and plan to "go with the flow."