Hammock Camping?

[JimmyV]

Hi all,

I am fairly new here, been creeping on the sidelines just soaking up the knowledge shared here for awhile and just recently made an account. Now, I thought I would ask for some input. I am planning a trip on the Jacks Fork in the next couple weeks and have a question about camping. I recently purchased a hammock tent with mosquito netting around it and a tarp for rain protection etc... But I was wondering how likely I will be able to find good trees on or near a decent gravel bar? Has anyone else tried this type of camping? I like the idea because I feel like I can pack in less "stuff" and still be fairly comfortable. No need for a bed roll etc..  Thoughts?  Thinking of floating the area from Bay Creek to Two Rivers.. Stopping somewhere between Alley Springs and HWY 19 bridge (maybe just past Horse Camp where it's still Protected land on either side)..

Also any other advice is welcome, fishing reports, areas to really check out, etc.. it's been quite some time since I have been on the Jacks Fork and I am really looking forward to it. 

Thanks,

Jimmy V

 

[Al Agnew]

Hard to say.  There is certainly no shortage of big, beautiful gravel bars on the Jacks Fork, but finding one with good hammock hangers might not be easy.  Might want to carry a break-apart hammock frame.

[Gavin]

Bring a saw. Hard to find firewood on the Jacks when you need it. It's warm enough. Ditch the hammock gizmo. Thermarest, tarp, and a light blanket s/b all you need till October.

 

[holleybob]

Bring the hammock and a tent. Your hammock is half the size of a loaf of bread. Use both when the opportunity fits your need. I think you'll find there are more opportunities than you think to hang your hammock. You just have to look in places that your normal gravel bar campers are not looking. Bring a folding saw to remove branches from willows and you're set. Out of 6 nights spent river camping last month one night was in a tent, the rest were in my hammock. It's hard to beat the ease and comfort of a hammock imo. The tent was a nice backup when it was needed. Most on this site are a bit more traditional, and that's fine. A bed roll on gravel with stars overhead is surely a great way to go for some. For me the hammock was some of the best rest I've had in a long time.

Good luck, have fun and be sure to post after your trip. 

Jeff

 

 

[steve l]

Is it legal to cut live wood on the JF?

[Gavin]

You cant cut live wood in the ONSR, but deadfall is free for the taking. Anything smaller than 4-5" gets grabbed up pretty quickly, so I bring a folding bucksaw  or skip the fire all together.

 

 

[joeD]

Jimmy- Hook up your hammock at home in your backyard and spend the night in it.  

Then you will know to leave it at home.  Others are full of you know what. There are no trees on gravel bars. You're camping in the woods. 

Why is a hammock so important?  I would think fishing would be .

[fishinwrench]

Spiders live in trees.  Tie a hammock to two trees and you'll have at least two spiders, 7 ticks, 1200 chiggers, and 117 ants sleeping with you.  You'll also wake up damp every morning from the falling dew drops.  Even Tarzan knew better than to sleep in the trees.  

[Al Agnew]

I've never camped in a hammock on a river, but I'm kinda agreeing with Wrench.  Nice thing about gravel bars is that you have almost no problems with bugs.  Setting up a hammock in the trees negates that advantage.  I'm not afraid of spiders, but would think that having crawlies on you in the night wouldn't be conducive to sleeping.  And the whole thing about dew is right, too.  Most of the time, you wake up with everything covered with dew, and if you're in the trees, the dew is dripping from the leaves.  Again, not too good for sleeping.  I think that's why Gavin recommended the tarp along with the thermorest and blanket...about middle of the night you have to throw the tarp over you to keep the dew off.

[JimmyV]

Thanks for all the feedback...   The idea was to bring less stuff, that is why i was thinking of going with the hammock, so I could skip the tent, thermarest, etc.. The hammock gizmo has a full mosquito netting around it, and I was planning to hang a tarp above on a guy line to keep the dew away.  

Hammock is not super important, but I hear a lot people talking about how comfortable they are compared to ground sleeping. But I am with you JoeD the fishing is the priority here.. sleeping is optional lol! . 

Looks like this might be the weekend I make it down, looks like it'll be hot but dry.. I will probably do like holleybob suggested and bring a small tent as well just in case.. either way I will certainly let ya'll know how it goes.. 

Now on to the more important things.. fishing...  plastics, topwater early and late, maybe some crawfish style crankbaits, what do you guys like this time of year?

 

Thanks again for everyone's thoughts!