Opinions on Winnisquam & Opechee

wildwoodfam · 04-13-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feb

Not sure, but remember hearing about it.

In my opinion, Opechee is too small, and I've always been under the impression that there are alot of eels there. Could be a complete wives tale but that stuck in my head.

That's a riot! I grew up summering on Paugus Bay and that was always the story I heard about Opechee, so much so that we were so grossed out by it, we would refuse to go water skiiing at our friends place on that lake!

Years later when my wife and I were house shopping we mentioned smaller lakes, to which my realtor replied "I'll show you any lake you'd like to see, but Opechee has a lot of eels - at least that what the locals say!"

Sunrise Point · 04-13-2009, 03:52 PM

Hi,

I agree with Feb's detailed answer. We have owned on Winnisquam since 2000 and have been at Sunrise Point for 3 years. I love it. We have the Trading Post and the Family Tree Restaurant for food and ice cream via boat; the sandbar for a "hangout" and the bird sanctuary for peace and quiet. It's very family friendly. The volume of boat traffic is pretty low except for July 4 weekend. There is plenty of room for skiiing and tubing. The fishing seems to be great - we watch the fishermen from our front yard and most people seem to have pretty good luck.

I hope that you and your friends find a great spot.

SAMIAM · 04-13-2009, 05:11 PM

Believe it or not....I've lived on all three.Lived on Franklin st on Opechee for three years and it wasn't even worth keeping a boat.....just too small.Then I bought on Swallow Point in Moultonborough.We loved it there, lots to do but it got so that the performance boats would keep us up at night.I'm not knocking then.....I've owned a couple.
We've been on Winnisquam for 20 years now and we love it.You can find flat water anywhere durring the week for skiing.There are several spots with over a mile of undeveloped shoreline.Water is clean and life is peaceful......wish there were more restaurants available by boat.

winnisquam · 04-13-2009, 08:07 PM

I started going to Lake Winnisquam when I was 6 weeks old, and this coming weekend, that will be 48 years ago. My father, who started over 60 years ago, would always open the cottages on Patriots Day weekend (April 19 ISH), and shut down on Columbus Day. The pictures and 8mm movies that we have from the 50's up through the current period, with technology advancements, are priceless.

Needless to say, the lake water runs through my veins and during the off season, I still have to visit every few weeks, minimum. Current technology allows me to hit this web site and the Winnisquam Marine site every morning while having coffee and breakfast. Then during lunch, and then again during the evening when my wife is telling me about her day, did I say that out loud?

So I concur with all of the positive comments about the lake and at times wish there was a destination for dinner or entertainment. The positive is that there is no such amenity and therefore everything that comes along with it . . .

So, if you are looking for a lake that does not have really big boats and a lot of traffic with huge wakes, then it is a great location.

My father met my mother at the lake in the 50's, after driving up from Massachusetts on Friday night, 3 hour drive back then, he would work all day building his cottage(s) and then take his row boat across the lake at night to the Red Shanty for dinner, yes a resteraunt on the lake, anyone remember it?

My mother was/is a Laconia girl who married the guy from Massachusetts and that is how I started going to the lake, 48 years ago, and I am going this weekend, for some salmon fishing, I probably should tell my wife, but I think she already knows my routine . . .

CentreHarborEric · 04-21-2009, 08:57 AM

I knew I had come to the right place for some good honest feedback.
We're still poking away at some listings online, but it does seem that there aremore houses coming to market than even just a few months ago.
Thanks and keep the comments coming!
Eric

SAMIAM · 04-21-2009, 09:12 AM

Don't know if you are a fisherman....but Winnisquam is known for monster lake trout

Shore Driver · 04-22-2009, 10:47 AM

As far as dining options, didn't the place across from Jay's Marina open up again? I did hear they are not serving alcohol, so that may limit the appeal, but you can get there by boat if you don't mind the no-wake ride from the sandbar onward.

04-21-2009, 08:57 AM	#5
CentreHarborEric Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks everyone for the feedback I knew I had come to the right place for some good honest feedback. We're still poking away at some listings online, but it does seem that there aremore houses coming to market than even just a few months ago. Thanks and keep the comments coming! Eric

04-13-2009, 03:52 PM	#2
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	Hi, I agree with Feb's detailed answer. We have owned on Winnisquam since 2000 and have been at Sunrise Point for 3 years. I love it. We have the Trading Post and the Family Tree Restaurant for food and ice cream via boat; the sandbar for a "hangout" and the bird sanctuary for peace and quiet. It's very family friendly. The volume of boat traffic is pretty low except for July 4 weekend. There is plenty of room for skiiing and tubing. The fishing seems to be great - we watch the fishermen from our front yard and most people seem to have pretty good luck. I hope that you and your friends find a great spot.

04-13-2009, 05:11 PM	#3
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,918 Thanks: 341 Thanked 1,692 Times in 594 Posts	Believe it or not....I've lived on all three.Lived on Franklin st on Opechee for three years and it wasn't even worth keeping a boat.....just too small.Then I bought on Swallow Point in Moultonborough.We loved it there, lots to do but it got so that the performance boats would keep us up at night.I'm not knocking then.....I've owned a couple. We've been on Winnisquam for 20 years now and we love it.You can find flat water anywhere durring the week for skiing.There are several spots with over a mile of undeveloped shoreline.Water is clean and life is peaceful......wish there were more restaurants available by boat.

04-13-2009, 08:07 PM	#4
winnisquam Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	I started going to Lake Winnisquam when I was 6 weeks old, and this coming weekend, that will be 48 years ago. My father, who started over 60 years ago, would always open the cottages on Patriots Day weekend (April 19 ISH), and shut down on Columbus Day. The pictures and 8mm movies that we have from the 50's up through the current period, with technology advancements, are priceless. Needless to say, the lake water runs through my veins and during the off season, I still have to visit every few weeks, minimum. Current technology allows me to hit this web site and the Winnisquam Marine site every morning while having coffee and breakfast. Then during lunch, and then again during the evening when my wife is telling me about her day, did I say that out loud? So I concur with all of the positive comments about the lake and at times wish there was a destination for dinner or entertainment. The positive is that there is no such amenity and therefore everything that comes along with it . . . So, if you are looking for a lake that does not have really big boats and a lot of traffic with huge wakes, then it is a great location. My father met my mother at the lake in the 50's, after driving up from Massachusetts on Friday night, 3 hour drive back then, he would work all day building his cottage(s) and then take his row boat across the lake at night to the Red Shanty for dinner, yes a resteraunt on the lake, anyone remember it? My mother was/is a Laconia girl who married the guy from Massachusetts and that is how I started going to the lake, 48 years ago, and I am going this weekend, for some salmon fishing, I probably should tell my wife, but I think she already knows my routine . . .

04-21-2009, 09:12 AM	#6
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,918 Thanks: 341 Thanked 1,692 Times in 594 Posts	Don't know if you are a fisherman....but Winnisquam is known for monster lake trout

04-22-2009, 10:47 AM	#7
Shore Driver Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tolland CT Posts: 194 Thanks: 20 Thanked 31 Times in 25 Posts	As far as dining options, didn't the place across from Jay's Marina open up again? I did hear they are not serving alcohol, so that may limit the appeal, but you can get there by boat if you don't mind the no-wake ride from the sandbar onward.