Whats your opinion? - FishingTN.com Tennessee's Fishing and Boating Community

browntrout · #1 10-01-2012, 03:04 PM

Question for you guys? I went to the Caney Fork River Saturday to trout fish. I had to look at my calendar to make sure that it wasnt the 4th of July due to number of canoes and kayaks on the river. I floated from the dam to Happy Hollow which was about 6 miles. On my run back up to the dam there was a constant flow of kayaks and canoes all the way back up. I ran my boat wide open on the way back up the river as it would have taken me a good 1 hour+ to idle back up as to not put out a wake. I could tell as I was going by those in a canoe or kayak that I was getting dog cussed. They were all in the middle of the river so I got as far over toward the bank as I could. As you know if you run a boat wide open it puts out less wake than if you run it slow. Should I have taken the time to idle all the way back up or just get dog cussed. My boat doesnt put out enough wake to swamp a canoe or kayak. ( Riverhawk with 20 HP engine) I have been in my kayak when boats come by me wide open and I dont mind. I know that they are putting out less wake that way.

What are your thoughts?

Roy

MNfisher · #2 10-01-2012, 03:15 PM

That's a tough one, you will always get cussed out for running wide open up stream by the yaks and canoes. But completely understand your reason for not putzing all the way back up!

On a second note, they send that many canoes and kayaks out on full gen days? Seems dangerous!

3rd note....catch any fish???

browntrout · #3 10-01-2012, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNfisher

That's a tough one, you will always get cussed out for running wide open up stream by the yaks and canoes. But completely understand your reason for not putzing all the way back up!

On a second note, they send that many canoes and kayaks out on full gen days? Seems dangerous!

3rd note....catch any fish???

I do not know where they all came from. It was the worse I have seen all year. It was a constant flow of them. I do know that Joel didnt have any on the river. He took all of his to the lake. He will not let any go during generation.

I caught several browns in the 3 to 4 lb. range. Did not catch a big one. I always struggle during this time of year. I think that pre-spawn has them messed up. I was also on the back side of a front, north wind, and a clear day. Brown trout like none of the above.

I guess I probably got dog cussed a 100 times Saturday!!!! Oh well. LOL

Roy

Travis C. · #4 10-01-2012, 03:33 PM

As long as you didn't plow through them like bowling pins and gave space in passing then you shouldn't worry. As long as you made the effort to aviod they can cuss air..

Technically speaking a kayak or canoe will always be the "stand-on" vessel which means you will always be the "give way" vessel in boating laws terms due to yours being more maneuverable. Every time you encounter one it will be your responsibility first to make room/change pace to avoid a collision. (TN Boat Course Unit 2 Topic 3 Page 3)

That is from the boating traffic laws portion not just a general be safe to portion. They should be held as accountable but you definitely would since your in a powered vessel.

txnative · #5 10-01-2012, 03:38 PM

As a kayak angler, I know your problem's other side. Personally, I feel ok with a boater staying on plane as long as they are keeping a respectful distance. I HATE it when boaters, especially those in large boats, pass me at half speed since that creates a bigger wake. Also, slamming the throttle back creates a big push of water that is worse than they were making while on plane.

I am probably more comfortable in my kayak than the people that are renting kayaks and canoes, however, so I probably represent a different demographic than the group you were "bothering." Personally, I would have appreciated your decision to stay as far away as possible while remaining at speed, but passing me at idle wouldn't bother me, either. Idling by would probably be best for the weekend crowd, though.

Chris

tkwalker · #6 10-01-2012, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browntrout

Question for you guys? I went to the Caney Fork River Saturday to trout fish. I had to look at my calendar to make sure that it wasnt the 4th of July due to number of canoes and kayaks on the river. I floated from the dam to Happy Hollow which was about 6 miles. On my run back up to the dam there was a constant flow of kayaks and canoes all the way back up. I ran my boat wide open on the way back up the river as it would have taken me a good 1 hour+ to idle back up as to not put out a wake. I could tell as I was going by those in a canoe or kayak that I was getting dog cussed. They were all in the middle of the river so I got as far over toward the bank as I could. As you know if you run a boat wide open it puts out less wake than if you run it slow. Should I have taken the time to idle all the way back up or just get dog cussed. My boat doesnt put out enough wake to swamp a canoe or kayak. ( Riverhawk with 20 HP engine) I have been in my kayak when boats come by me wide open and I dont mind. I know that they are putting out less wake that way.

What are your thoughts?

Roy

It is 5 miles from Dam to Happy Hollow (add three more to Betty's) and it is also Fall Break ... for the schools ... !!!! Also I have been fishing from a power boat for over 50 years ... That is why i went to the upper river for stripers ... Jet Ski's ... Houseboats ... Cowboy Bass Boats ... Now they have evolved to the Caney ... with River Hawks ... etc ... Now I have a River hawk That will put any 20 HP Hawk down ... That is used monthly .. They will think a Ranger went by them ... but we won't go there . <'TK><

Reel Tune · #7 10-02-2012, 07:51 AM

If you are going by me please keep on plane, and keep a safe distance, and I'll give you a smile and a wave. You won't find me on the Caney often. What I dislike the most besides encountering a barge in the Cumberland is someone on plane in a boat and then they back off the throttle as soon as they get to me.

bd- · #8 10-03-2012, 12:00 PM

I have a Gheenoe and I run the river quite a bit.

When I'm approaching canoes, I back all the way off plane and slow down. As noted above, I slow down gradually rather than "slamming back the throttle" to minimize sending a big wake forward.

I also slow down ALL THE WAY to idle speed - I don't just come off plane a little so that I'm throwing an even bigger wake.

Yes, it is a pain in the ass. Canoe traffic means I plane up, slow down, plane up, slow dow, etc over and over.

BUT I am convinced it is safer. There are a lot of extreme beginners on the Caney. If I stay on plane I throw a smaller wake, but I still throw a wake - and even a smaller wake poses a hazard of dumping someone if they panic and don't know what they are doing. If I go by a canoe on plane and they do something dumb and roll their canoe in my wake and a kid drowns, I'd have that on my conscience and I'd probably be liable for it too. So I won't take that risk.

Besides, wake is only part of the equation. The much bigger issue is speed. Some of the beginners in the rental canoes are REALLY stupid. I don't trust them. If I'm on plane and one of them suddenly panics and cuts into my path at the last second, my boat doesn't have any brakes. I will hit them and it will be horrible, even if it's 100 percent due to their stupidity and not my fault.

I won't take the chance. I slow down to no-wake idle every time. It is hugely inconvenient, but I look at it as the price I pay for the luxury of running a motorized boat on a relatively small tailwater.

Based on my conversations with TWRA, I think my approach of slowing down is what they would prefer to see.

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