Table Rock Lake is known as one of the best lakes in the United States. Cradled by the gorgeous Ozark Mountains and surrounded by lush trees, this lake offers patrons an opportunity to escape their everyday demands and reconnect with the natural world.
The best way to navigate any lake is by boat- but what if you don’t know anything about boating? This blog will tell you everything you need to know about boating on Table Rock Lake.
Renting a Boat
If you want to spend some time on the lake but don’t own a boat of your own, no need to worry- most marinas on the lake offer boat rentals! Cape Fair Marina and Hideaway Marina both have boats available for rent, which you can do easily online! You can rent your boat for one day or longer, and the rate decreases the longer you rent, so we recommend renting your boat for the duration of your stay. This gives you access to a boat at any time you please during your trip and saves you money in the long run!
To rent a boat in the state of Missouri, you must meet the following qualifications:
- Must be 21 years of age
- Must have a valid driver’s license (or some proper form of ID i.e. passport)
- Name on the credit card must match the individual responsible for the rental
- You need education if you were born after Jan. 1, 1984, and will be operating a vessel on any Missouri Lake.
If you need to take a boating education course, you can click here for the course. Once you complete the course, you’ll be able to print out a temporary boating license, and you’ll be immediately ready to get on the water!
Fishing on Table Rock Lake
Did you know
- Bass: Table Rock Lake is most well-known for bass fishing! Various species of bass call Table Rock Lake home, including spotted bass, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. These fish tend to be found in more shallow waters and are the most active in the lake between the months of March and May.
- Crappie: Both black and white crappie can be found in Table Rock Lake, and they tend to be most prolific around the James River Arm of the lake.
- Paddlefish: This unique, prehistoric species cannot be found in many other places other than Table Rock Lake. Due to its decreasing population size, there are stricter limitations on how many you can catch and what size they have to be. However, reeling in one of these fascinating fish can be a fun and unique fishing experience!
Other Boat Activities
There are plenty of fun activities you can do out on the water other than fishing! If you’re new to boating, you might not know about all the fun that’s in store for you. Some popular lake activities include:
- Waterskiing
- Tubing
- Wakeboarding
- Just boating!
If fishing isn’t really your speed, that’s okay! There’s plenty of fun to be had out on the lake!
If you are not planning on renting a boat because you are a proud boat owner, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep your boat in perfect shape. Part of ensuring the protection of your boat involves where and how you store it! During the season, wet slip storage provides optimal safety, ease of access, and protection. When you store your boat in a slip at a marina, you can rest assured that your boat is protected on all sides from damage and theft. Additionally, boat slip storage gives you direct access to the lake, which means less time hassling and more time hanging out in the water!
Both Cape Fair Marina and Hideaway Marina offer boat slip storage on-site. If you’re staying in Cape Fair, Missouri, Cape Fair is the marina for you! If you’re entering the lake closer to Galena, Hideaway Marina might be a better option for you! Both marinas are full service and have fuel services, a store, gas pumps, and other amenities to further upgrade your lake experience.