They do help for sure. The bigger isthmus' are marked. If you were sitting in front of the dam, (looking away from the dam) you would see Park Marina to your right, follow the right shoreline towards little river. As you go around the corner, you will see a long straightaway, 9E is about 3/4 the way down on the left. It was packed with house boats and large yachts on the 4th. It is usually a very quiet cove, but the deep water is good for the big boats.
There are many little coves within the larger area, knocking down the waves and making a good base to run the doo.
If you keep going, the lake winds back to the left, then right, after you make the right, Illinois Creek is on the left. They get kind crazy over there on the holidays. (Many smaller boats and alot of go fasts.) If you keep going past Illinois Creek you will hit the sailboat area. They have a regatta just about every weekend. (You have watch out for them, they move slow.)