Storm threat limits weekend boating
Staff writer
Campgrounds and fishing spots were reported to be mainly full Memorial Day weekend at the county lake and Marion Reservoir, but most lake-goers steered clear of launching boats.
Wind and rain were predicted for both Saturday and Sunday.
Chuck Kenney, director of Marion County emergency medical services, took his wife, Audrey, and four kids — Madison, Colton, Tyson, and Ashton — to Marion County Lake for the weekend.
Audrey’s family also met up at the lake.
He likes the lake because it’s conveniently close to the family’s home.
“It’s usually quiet — not too much ruckus from other campers,” Kenney said. “Isaac (Hett, lake director) does a pretty good job of keeping everyone in check.”
Madison, Colton, Tyson, and Ashton had great luck with fishing, reeling in bluegill and drums.
On Sunday night, the family had a fish fry.
Tubing was on the family’s agenda for Monday. After that, it was packing it up and going home.
Kenney said his family spent most summer and fall holiday weekends at the lake. That includes July 4, Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.
Doug Schroeder, who lives in Marion, sat on the bank with his three kids casting fishing lines into the water.
For him, fishing at the county lake goes back to the days he fished with his grandfather.
“The kids get to see friends they know and meet other people,” he said of his son and two daughters.
Misty Friesen, also of Marion, enjoyed the weekend with her family of six and friends boating, camping, swimming, and having cookouts.
“We don’t come out here very often, but some of the group, they camp a lot,” she said.
Hett said 48 of the lake’s 52 campsites with electrical and water service were filled for the weekend. About 60 of the lake’s primitive camping spots were filled.
By Monday morning, some campers were hooking their trailers to their cars and heading home.
“Some people were saying they were tired and ready to go home and get some rest,” Hett said.
Boating was down this past weekend but fishing was up, Hett said.
A 10-year-old caught a lake-record 2½-pound crappie Saturday.
Hett snapped a photo of the prize fish.
Three campers came from Colorado to see the Florence Grand Prix.
One group brought four campers from Reno and Sedgwick counties.
The lake remained under a blue-green algae advisory Memorial Day weekend, but Hett said conditions appeared good for the advisory to be lifted.
Some tent campers left Saturday before a predicted storm hit. The storm, however, was short-lived and did not contain any of the hail that was predicted to come with it.
Some of the campers who departed came back Sunday, Hett said.
Low water levels at Marion Reservoir, causing only two boat ramps to be available, cut into boating at the reservoir this past weekend, ranger Cody Thompson said.
Those two ramps remained busy, though.
There were 270 campers at the lake over the weekend, he said.
Both Marion Cove and Cottonwood Cove were nearly filled.
“We’ve been having a lot of fishing off the dam,” Thompson said. ‘For people who are boating and fishing, that seems to be the most popular spot.”
Halstead resident Scott Van Natta, at Cottonwood Point with 30 other members of a Wichita-based motorcycle club, said the club has reserved the same group camping spot for three years.
Members like the quiet at Marion Reservoir, Van Natta said.
“This is our third year camping at this spot,” Van Natta said. “It’s an annual thing we do.”
The group arrived Thursday and packed up to leave Monday afternoon.
The motorcycle club likes having electrical and water service at that camping spot. Most bring tents, but some want to use fans and sleep with CPAPs.
Most years, the group floats on the lake, but this year was too windy, he said.
For the club, Marion Reservoir is a good ride from Wichita, with the distance about right, Van Natta said.
Upcoming events at Marion County Lake include:
- Fireworks show July 6
- Bluegrass at the Lake Music Festival Aug. 2 and 3.
- Chili Cook-Off and Car Show Oct. 5.