7 December 2014
Lake #10 Knox Lake,
Knox County
I originally tried to kayak this lake back on November 23rd
but it was iced over. Like Kokosing Lake (which is discussed in my previous
blog), I thought I would be successful today since it has been much warmer. I
was correct. Yeah. I can be a bit stubborn at times. I had the lake on my
schedule to be paddled before I put my kayak up for the winter and I was determined
to make it happen. Knox Lake is located about 1.5 miles northeast of
Fredericktown. Leaving from Kokosing Lake, I headed east and then took State
Route 95 north to County Road 5 (Old Mansfield Road) to reach the boat launch
area on the northern, upper section of the lake.
 |
| Frozen Knox Lake on November 23, 2014 |
 |
| Unfrozen Knox Lake December 7, 2014 |
As I was stretching my legs and looking for the restroom
(the park map shows a restroom at this location but there was not one there that
day), I noticed a lot of broken glass in the parking lot that appeared to be
from car windows. I got back in my car to ponder the no restroom and the broken
glass. While I was sitting wondering if it would be safe to leave my car there
while I was out kayaking (there were no other cars in the lot), a pick-up truck
drove into the lot, drove slowly around and then left. My gut told me that it
was not a good idea to leave my car there all alone. I decided to go check out
another boat ramp. I went to the boat ramp located on the lower section of the
lake that is accessed off of Armentrout Road.
 |
| Boat Docks at Lower Section of Knox Lake |
 |
| Lower Section Knox Lake Near Dam |
The location of this boat launch is in a much prettier area
and the parking lot felt safer than the prior one. According to the park map, there is a
restroom at this location but once again no restroom. My guess is that the
Division of Wildlife must have port-a-johns brought in during season and that
if you are crazy enough to boat in December then you are crazy enough to go
find a spot in the woods. Although there
was no restroom, there was something else that I had never seen before—a
vending machine selling bait. That might not be such an unusual thing but it
sure was for me. “I will have a diet
coke and five worms, please.”
 |
| Boat Rental at the Marina, Lower Section Knox Lake |
 |
| Bait Vending Machine, Knox Lake |
Knox Lake was built in 1954 by damming the Kokosing River.
The 470-acre lake is deepest near the dam where it is over 24 feet (the lower
section of the lake) but most of the lake is 12 feet or less. There is a 10 mph
horsepower limit on outboard motors. Boaters in the upper section of the lake
should take caution because it is full of tree stumps.
Cool stuff you have got and you keep update all of us.
ReplyDeleteLuxury Yachts Cabo