Another First Timer

[Mark]

OK I'll leave the motor at home. And we will use shuttle.

I consider me and my partner above average canoers, but it sounds like the Jack's Fork can be tricky. I know I read somewhere that most of the tricky spots can be avoided if you want to get out and wade and pull the canoe along on the shallow side of the run. Would you all say that is a true statement? It would surely suck to dump with all the gear along. We also realize it will be work, hence the possibility of staying put for a whole day at midweek. I have about narrowed the trip down to Buck Hollow to Alley Spring. That would only be about 25 miles and shouldn't be too much work from Monday thru getting done early Friday. I know what you are saying about the camping and work. I have done 3 days by myself on river and I was pooped.

I was actually looking at the map and wondering where would be a good place to spend a whole day and 2 nights. It would be neat to spend a whole day at Jam Up Cave, but that would be early in trip and we would still be full of energy. I would want it closer to the end of the trip. I was thinking close to Leatherwood Creek or Bay Creek and maybe doing some wading up one of those creeks. If anyone can think of a good camping spot about 2-5 miles upriver from Alley Springs that would be a good place to hang out for a full day near the end of the trip, that would be great. Hopefully somewhere scenic with good fishing.

I have also thought that if we wanted to or were getting tired, we could take out at Bay Creek on Day 5 and I could hitchhike or pay a local $10 to give me a ride to Alley Springs to pick up my truck.

Speaking of fishing, although this trip is mostly a sightseeing adventure as neither of us have been on the Jack's Fork, are there any stretches of river where you would say the fishing is better than other sections? Again, fishing is just a bonus, but we would like to catch some fish along the way.

Again, thanks to all you veterans. I'm printing off all info and will surely use it on the trip.

Mark

[ColdWaterFshr]

If you've floated with loaded canoes several times before you should be fine. And yes, you can get out and wade your way through just about every tricky spot. Only if there has been a heavy rain and the river is blown out, you wouldn't be able to do this -- but if thats the case, the Park Service has closed the river and they are out in jetboats doing a search and rescue looking for you!

Only time I felt it was slightly tricky was from the Prongs and that was in high water -- the gradient is a little steeper up there and its a little more twisty. I remember once when we floated that 7 or so miles from Prongs to Hwy 17 in a little over an hour and it had some fun little rolling waves, but still very mild class I-II.

From Buck (Hwy 17) on down to about Bay Creek its not as fast, and after Bay Creek its slows even more.

Sometimes there will be a new tree hazard in the water, but the park service is pretty quick about removing those.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Blue Spring and Ebb and Flow Spring are also cool to check out, but the bluffs are what you'll spend your time gawking at.

Very jealous of your trip. Makes me want to plan one there soon. Now would be the time to go, before the bugs and people hit.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Yep, you don't need a motor up there so leave it at home. Considering the length of your trip I'd put in at Buck Hollow on 17 and take out at Bay Creek. Great fishing in early June but that section of the JF provides lots of numbers as well as some decent sized smallies. Soft plastics have never failed me up there. You'll see plenty of scenery. Jam-up will be river right. Look at JF maps and mileages and try to camp one night at Chalk Bluff. Bee Bluff another. And use Harvey's or Wendy's to take care of your shuttle. Call each for prices. Just wondering... do you have your own canoe's or yaks?

I like to float/fish no more than 5 or 6 miles a day. Buck Hollow to Bay Creek is 19 miles approx.

[Mark]

Yes I have my own square stern canoe with a 2.5 Mercury motor - a nice setup. I have only seen Chalk Bluff on one map and don't remember exactly where it is located. Can you guestimate the mile marker for Chalk Bluff and Bee Bluff?

We prefer the shorter floats also when fishing - 5 to 7 miles is about all the time I can stand in a canoe due to bad back. Bay Creek may be our take out point, but then the problem remains on how to get back the 6 miles to my truck at Alley Springs. Guess I could thumb it or would someone from Harvey's meet me?

[ColdWaterFshr]

Chalk Bluff is a few miles down from Rymers on river right. Bee Bluff is maybe 2 miles past Chalk on river left.

I'm sure you can find someone at Bay Creek to give you a lift, especially if its a weekend. Wave a $20 bill and that might help.

[Mark]

Thanks for all your help Coldwater, KCRiverrat, and Al and others. I don't like to over research new trips and ruin the surprises, but don't like going in totally blind either.

How about a few fishing tips before we end this topic? Are some stretches better than others? I usually throw rooster tails, plastic worms, Mepps, rapalas. and I'm not too good to throw in some live minnows, craydads, and worms.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Mark, I'll PM you within the next few days. You're hitting the Jacks exactly when I love floating it. Late April and May are good depending on conditions for the big girls. But they're in hungary mode and not attack mode come June. And there is a difference.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, Bee Bluff is a hair over 2.5 miles above Bay Creek, Chalk Bluff is a hair under 2 miles above Bee Bluff. Leatherwood Creek comes in between those two bluffs on river left, maybe 3/4th mile above Bee Bluff. I guess if you wanted to you could camp at Chalk Bluff on your second to last night, pack up and paddle the short distance down to Leatherwood Creek, spend a day exploring Leatherwood Creek, and camp your last night at Bee Bluff. There's some pretty spectacular country up Leatherwood Creek, including Leatherwood Cave and Leatherwood Natural Arch, but they are more than five miles up the creek, so you'd better have on your walking wading shoes if you plan to see them!

[Mark]

The Chalk Bluff/Leatherwood Creek area sounds like a good place to hang out for a day and relax toward the end of the trip. I'm sure we'll be pooped by then. It's always nice to hang out at a new place, have tents and camp set up for 2 nights, and not have to rush all day to "make time" on the river. It's also nice to have a short distance to cover to the take out on that last day - take your time or get back to the vehicles early if you want. Me and my buddy, Terry "Fishes with One Sandal" Brantley are looking forward to the trip. Check out "Fishes with One Sandal" on guitar sometime with the Dave Caputo Band at your local winery.