Float 5/16 To 5/19

[steve l]

The wife & I floated Buck to Alley last week. As usual, the fine folks at Harvey's treated us well.

As has been mentioned, the river is low.

Running at 1.35 on the Buck Hollow gauge (or what, high 30s cfs for you cfs folk). Having to do several stretches of dragging/hauling between Buck & Jam-up. That is with a pretty loaded canoe - we really don't travel light.

Jam-up to Bay really not too bad. There were for sure sections that had to be walked, but overall quite doable.

Below Bay was low - lots of walking.

I really prefer the river low, but another inch or so would have been nice. That is all in the eye of the beholder, as we had one group pass us a bit before Bay saying another foot would be helpful.

Great trip, no rain for the first time in four years. Temps low to mid 80s, few clouds. Always like the nights with no moon - always forget how cool the stars are away from the city.

Fishing was fairly good where there was enough water to hold fish. Lots of smaller fish, but the highlights being a 2 lb, two at 2.5 lbs and a 19 incher that scaled at 3.4 pounds. I always like it when the first number on the scale is a 3! Plastic craws during the day, rebel craws at dusk.

Some pics, leading with the 19 incher:

The first confirmed cottonmouth I have seen on the JF. Have seen snakes I thought were, and almost stepped on one last year I'm 98% sure was, but this one is - check out the cat eyes.

My favorite beer - sure glad it comes in cans! I bring three a night, one for dinner & two to relax with. But to my unending horror I spilled one. Note to dummy - bring an extra.

And just a pic of the river.

Get to float the JF one time a year. Always look forward to the next.