Floating opportunities in TN during May show - Page 2

La_Trucha · #11 05-05-2009, 05:52 PM

Paul, Im not familiar with that float as I have never done it. I floated the watauga in a raft way up close to the lake I believe. We had a few rapids but nothing that impressed me. I think the largest one was a 2 and I know I can do that in my Blue Heron. Sounds like Bob might be familiar with it and might be able to give you a better feeling. Your H3 is 6 feet per toon right? I think I floated the tuck with a smaller toon and I did ok.

Cheers...

FlyChamps · #12 05-05-2009, 06:27 PM

Paul, it's a hard call since I've not been down the Watauga in three years. The map I have shows that the section we'll most likely float - from Blevins Road down to Persinger Bridge has about 15 or 16 "rapids". Of these only a couple are what I would call significant.

Two years ago I believe you used your H3 on the New during the smallie show. If you did the rapids just below Twin Rivers Campground just before the main branch of the New then you should be able to handle the Watauga or portage around the worst sections. I can't recall anything that I would rate above Class II.

phg · #13 05-05-2009, 06:43 PM

Yes, 'Nando, it's got 6' tubes, but no frame to add rigidity or weight. On my last trip, I used a Kayak paddle instead of fins, and was a lot happier with the control.

The H-3 is rated for up to Class III (co-incidence?) whitewater. Yeah, I took it through that short, quick drop on the S Fork of the New. It was kind of fun. The H-3 is a little harder to control than a Blue Heron, but it's so light, it bounces off boulders, and so well padded, it doesn't hurt to go down backwards. To stop, you just put your feet down, the boat won't push you over. It only weighs 13 pounds.

There are several minor drawbacks to it, but the biggest one is that your legs will be in the water, and your feet provide significant drag. Without waders, you can count on getting your butt wet. It's not quite a float tube, and it's not quite a boat....

La_Trucha · #14 05-10-2009, 05:47 AM

Are we floating Friday or Saturday? Looks like all of the people interested in floating will be early arrivals so we can decide at camp if y'all prefer to do it that way. I vote for friday....

Cheers...

Fishcat · #15 05-10-2009, 06:34 AM

Friday's good for me too.

FlyChamps · #16 05-10-2009, 12:01 PM

Either day works for me - just tell me which and I'll be ready to go.

Three years ago, on Judy's last trip up, we floated BOTH days.

phg · #17 05-10-2009, 01:53 PM

Friday may be less crowded, might be easier to find parking places at the put in/take out....

Other than that, it won't make much difference to me.

La_Trucha · #18 05-10-2009, 06:58 PM

I would not mind float it Thursday if I could. I think I will save Saturday to see if I can convince Blake to let me fish with him in the SoHo. I might be persuaded later to float... I guess I just dont know what im doing Saturday yet. If I dont float it thurday I might do some fishing in a small creek (you know the one im talking about Bob,

) or even the Soho... Decisions, decisions... One thing I know, I dont have enough flies!!!

Cheers...

phg · #19 05-10-2009, 07:16 PM

Fernando, and interesting dilemma....

I'm taking Thursday off, so I'll leave here in the morning, and be in the Shady Valley area around noon. Actually, if there is a reason to do so, I can leave here early and be there around 10am. How soon can we set up our tents? I think last year, I got a bit of lunch in Mt. City, and then stopped off on Whitetop for a couple of hours before heading on in. If I get my TN license, though, I may just want to fish that good looking section of the Beaverdam that I've had to just drive by a dozen times....

I'm wide open to suggestions. I definitely want to fish with Phil one day, but frankly, I don't know my way around the TN waters, so I'll have to tag along with someone who knows where they're going.

Fishcat · #20 05-11-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phg

I'm wide open to suggestions. I definitely want to fish with Phil one day, but frankly, I don't know my way around the TN waters, so I'll have to tag along with someone who knows where they're going.

Same here. I've only fished the area once, so I'm hoping to hitch a ride with somebody. I won't be there and set up until ~4 on Thursday, so I'm hoping someone might be heading out maybe to the SoHo Thurs evening and will take a newbie along.