TN>Land Between the Lakes--planning stages

[wisenber]

Potneck, now that is complete recon! Complete with pics!

Nice recon, but the closings are of concern. If I go, I can't stay the entire time. I'll probably need to see about leaving my vehicle somewhere along Sunday's route.

[MedicineMan]

Closings are for services I gather but we can still camp there I think...just no showers/etc.

[wisenber]

Closings are for services I gather but we can still camp there I think...just no showers/etc.

" Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area will close nine wildlife refuges to human entry and all activities including, hunting, fishing and boating beginning Nov. 1.

These closures provide undisturbed resting and feeding areas for waterfowl, shorebirds and eagles. To serve this purpose, human activity must be minimized while migratory birds are present. LBL staff asks for public cooperation with refuge regulations designed to provide needed sanctuary.

The wildlife refuges include portions of Duncan Bay, Smith Bay and Rushing Bay on Kentucky Lake; Fulton and Honker Bays on Lake Barkley; and Long Creek Refuge at the back of Elbow Bay. These areas are marked with buoys or signs. Entry is prohibited from Nov. 1 to Mar. 15. "

It reads more like "no humans allowed" than "no shower".

The section of water marked for closure goes almost to the other shore.

[Acer]

Better check for sure,,here in Indiana,,we have closed areas on some of our lakes for same reasons,,waterfowl,,,and absolutely no boating or passing of the bouys that they have across those bay areas till spring has sprung..big tickets and fines if you cross and they catch you. Messing with the waterfowl laws are federal moreso than the states have control over.

[MedicineMan]

Acer, roger that.
Yes noted that too Walter....but again the barges don't stop. Us paddlers will just side up with them for that 5ish miles of water....can you imagine the size of the wake some of those barges throw off!
Now sailing in that narrow corridor? Hmmmm? I'd have to think about that one.

[L.D. Cakes]

Yes we have to paddle to the other shore around the closure. The State Parks will still be open for camping and so are the hiking trails. But they arent taking reservations because they are restructuring the service. The state parks in the 2 bays Potneck reconed don't have showers and only have chem toilets anyway.

[L.D. Cakes]

Also, notice in that map I gave a link to it shows the main or old river channel for the cumberland river before the flooding from the lake.
* I betcha thats the route the big barges take to keep from running aground, being thats the deepest track going down the lake, so the barges would run close to that side year round, making the closure of that area more than possible as commercial traffic would avoid that area anyway.
* Also meaning that it might be a tight fit between some barges, larger waves, and the shore.
* Keep our heads on swivel and paddling in a pod.


Here's the Map link again

[Acer]

Acer, roger that.
Yes noted that too Walter....but again the barges don't stop. Us paddlers will just side up with them for that 5ish miles of water....can you imagine the size of the wake some of those barges throw off!
Now sailing in that narrow corridor? Hmmmm? I'd have to think about that one.

I can remember the wake of the barges when fishing Bass Tourneys years ago in a 18.5' Nat. Team Skeeter Bass Boat with a 150 Merc on the back and 50 gal. of gas plus half doz tackle boxes and a dozen rods and reels,,lol,,,quite the rock and roll scene as we had to slow down and ride out the wakes of them as you met them,,no way could we just fly by them at full speed without skipping waves and loosing gear. Be ware of the 6' or so swells they throw up..its pretty hairy. Most of both lakes are so wide,,that you shouldn't have to get close to the large swells,,but your liable to encounter,,1' to 2's maybe? not sure.

[wisenber]

Acer, roger that.
Yes noted that too Walter....but again the barges don't stop. Us paddlers will just side up with them for that 5ish miles of water....can you imagine the size of the wake some of those barges throw off!
Now sailing in that narrow corridor? Hmmmm? I'd have to think about that one.

Some of those corridors look to be less than 1/8 of a mile. Trying to sail that and dealing with barge wakes wouldn't be that easy...especially up wind. Most of the first leg looks to be upwind.

[MedicineMan]

nothing like a little excitement thrown in.
Our trip coordinator Cakes gives good advice...I'd oil up the hips too.
Now I wonder for the actual 'off limits' area if they put up buoys?
Anyway its just a few miles of racing hearts and chest heaves