Belly Boats

[barredrock]

how come no one ever uses belly boats at taney??? too much current for them???? what about those little inflatable pontooons they sell to use fly fishing????

[jdmidwest]

Current is definitely the issue for the most part. If there is any generation going on, it would be tough near the dam. Maybe further downstream, in a cove or backwater. Same issue with the pontoons, they go downstream great, paddling back against the current is hard to impossible.

[Phil Lilley]

I would NOT use a belly boat on Taney right now, esp at the dam.

I pulled out 3 kayakers out of the water yesterday and 2 boaters off a boat up against the trees at Lookout Island today. You could move your feet fast enough to avoid trees right now.

[Jack Jones]

Prescient wisdom Phil.....probably stopped me from driving the kayak down on Monday and trying to put in at Coopers Creek. Guess I'll wait a few weeks.

When I was down at the other end...Empire Park... on Thursday it didn't look too bad though.

[barredrock]

Let me rephrase that. With no flood gates on, but 4 generators could I belly boat it. I was gonna have someone pick me up near the landing

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I would say 4 units in a belly boat is far too dangerous. You are just too far down in the water to not get swamped by boaters wakes or worse.

When I used my pontoon boat (white water grade 2 cataraft) in 4 units.. it was still rather scary. I ended up putting a kids orange flag sticking off the back but that idea sucked as sometimes I was hitting it with fly line.

Fishing and rowing and watching your drift and seeing whats coming up is all a lot to put together. A pontoon is great with 1 or 2... 1 is bar far the best and you can still anchor a little 10lb mushroom anchor is safe spots and fish downstream -- or you get out and wade anywhere..

My boat is the 8'6" JW Outfitters Renegade.. best frame for the money I ever found.. bought it used from a shop owner in Ark. 7ft oars are a major plus and the whole thing weighs only 42lbs.. unless while using the detachable anchor system and 10lb mushroom.

If you know anyone near you with a boat - ask if you can try it on flat warmwater. But watch out.. you'll buy one then another.. trade one.. buy another.. sell off 2 then buy another.. that's what I have done. Brian

[barredrock]

so it sounds like the pontoons are the way to go. i never even gave the boat wake a thought until you mentioned it, that would be bad, lol

[barredrock]

By the way, i have never seen anyone on either when i have been there. I was just curious

[KATroutman13]

I've floated Taney a couple of times in my inflatable pontoons. I would certainly suggest that you either leave yourself an entire day or hope they turn on some generation. After you get a ways down from the dam, it feels as if there is no current at all. If you get a wind blowing upstream, you are in for a poo-filled donut treat.

Buy one with a trolling motor frame mount and buy a little 30lb thrust trolling motor and a small deep cycle battery and have at it. With that, you can get on a seam and motor your way back up pretty well.

With one generator, I think that you would have a great advantage of getting to places where fish are, but fisherman ain't.

As for boaters, people are freaking idiots, but the same is true everywhere, just gotta watch out for them.

Buy a pair of fins, I use the Outcast fins and wish I owned a pair of Force Fins, but haven't convinced myself to drop the coin. These will help you control the boat without using the oars. It takes a while to get used to, but once you do, they are wonderful. Just remember, don't try to walk in them.