Caney Fork Encounter Today

[browntrout]

First and foremost please hear me say that I realize everyone has a right to the river. This resource is here for all of us to take advantage of, and enjoy. However I do have a problem when a for profit business (Canoe the Caney) infringes on our availability to use the river. I came back to the boat ramp to be greeted by what you see in the picture. Of course they had the whole ramp blocked and I had to wait 20 minutes for them to finally get finished. When I asked one of the guys how long he would be he replied "As long as it takes" 15 years ago he would have found himself in the bottom of the river. Little does he know it but Jesus saved his life today. Finally after a 20 minute wait they cleared off the ramp.

Now not to mention the fact they were turning out first time canoeists on a very dangerous river running 11,500 CFS. I am surprised they dont have people drown using their rentals. I know several of my buddies on the river have pulled some of their clients from the river. Also I am constantly picking up their trash out of the river as I am running up and down the river.

My proposal would be about 15 of us with boats divide up 5, at the campground and 5 at the dam side and 5 more at Happy and keep the ramps blocked from them using them. We actually wouldnt block the ramps it would just take each of us 30 to 45 minutes each to launch our boats (Just like it takes them a long time) This would terribly mess up their ability to continually launch their canoes. I think I will call them Monday and discuss the situation. I sure feel sorry for who answers that phone Monday Morning.

Ok I feel better after that.......

Roy

[TNhunter]

Isn't there a sign at that ramp that says to not block the ramp? If so find the ranger next time.

[Saltwaterwalt]

Yes, it stinks. It was brought up last year, and many sent emails, including me, to TWRA. Not sure if anything got worked out, maybe someone else on here may know.

It was brought up why a business can impede ramps that were bought with sportsmen license fees when they don't pay a dime, but profit the most from OUR ramps.

I ran into it enough times that I just quit fishing the Caney until fall, the commercial guys are gone by then.

My opinion is that the commericial canoe liveries should own their own piece of property on the river to launch from and take out from.

[browntrout]

I ran into it enough times that I just quit fishing the Caney until fall, the commercial guys are gone by then.
.[/QUOTE]

To be honest I didnt think they would be running today with all the water that was being released. I just see a huge liability there.

Roy

[tkwalker]

I just emailed Doug Markham to see what insite he may or the Agency might have on this ... Stay Tuned .... <'TK><

[Mike Anderson]

There has already been one meeting with them about this last year and TWRA did nothing. Honestly I don't think there is anything they can do with current laws. Gonna take some new legislation getting passed. Whats scary is that NO PLACE IS SAFE FROM THIS KIND OF WHORING OUT.

I've been on that river from the Dam to the mouth for many years. The eddy pools never had much trash in them downriver. They are now little land fills. What this company has done to the river with constant boat flows has ruined it for sportsmen. Visit their facebook page and voice your opinions. Block them from the ramps. Cause as much pain in the a-- to them as they are to you. Do whatever it takes to show them we aren't going to be run off the river so they can rape and pillage it for profit.

[Doc Marshall]

This could all be fixed if there were separate launch sites for groups and individual boats. One wide ramp, one narrower ramp.

Aside from that, everyone simply needs to learn to share the river.

[tcintn]

About 6 weeks back,when I was fishing instead of feeding folks,I was on the caney on a Saturday.I know,the wrong day to start with.I was down from the steps at Buffalo valley where I hung into one nice trout.All of a sudden that fish jumped out of the water and when it did,a lady in a kayak had come up behind me and yell out when the fish jumped and in so doing she now runs over me and I lost the fish.I turned and asked her what was she thinking.She informed me that i was in the river where most folks like to paddle through.I was nice but firm. I will say that if you go on a week-end or holiday,forget it because you gonna get run over and they might even jump in the hole you are fishing.That has happen twice down at bluff.
Also on that same day three young men were racing their kayaks and one cut in front of me and missed me by about 5 feet.
Had another incident where a boat with three fishermen were plugging the bank and they came in front and told me they just wanted to plug the bank where I was at.
No more on week-ends.I am retired and I will do something else.Maybe canoe the Caney.
Got that off my chest.Now to get ready for a couple hundred for breakfast in the morning.