3 day / 2 night float - late march

[npierceuark]

Trying to put together the logistics of an upcoming float, this will be my first 2 nighter on the Jack's and have heard some concerns on leaving cars overnight at a couple of the access points. I'm looking at the salvation army camp access downstream a few miles from Buck Hollow for the put in. Won't be getting on the water till 3pm Friday and would like to camp at Jam Up Cave so that stretch should be doable before dark. Saturday float from Jam up to Chalk bluff then finish the rest on sunday down to Bay Creek Access. So the question is, does anyone see reason for concern leaving cars at the Salvation Army Access or Bay Creek Access for a couple days? I would do Buck Hollow to Bay Creek but I feel like that may be too long of a haul to get to Jam Up Cave before dark the first night. Thanks for the help in advance and looking forward to the trip.

[Al Agnew]

You won't get much fishing done trying to cover that much water.  I'm assuming you're talking about the area around Blue Spring for your put-in, and it's still several miles from there to Jam-up Cave.  Sweet spot to camp, though.  As is Chalk Bluff, gorgeous camping spot.  I have no trouble floating that stretch and fishing it hard in two and a half days during the summer, but the length of daylight is a lot longer and I don't stop to camp until near dark.  In late March, you'll have three or four hours less daylight and to catch anything you'll probably still need to slow down a lot from how I do it in the summer.

I've yet to have a vehicle bothered at any of the accesses on the Jacks Fork, and I've had them left overnight a few times.  But it's always a crap shoot.  If the rotten SOBs can drive to it, sooner or later one or more of them will drive to it while your vehicle is there, but that's any public access, not just Jacks Fork.  Late March is before a lot of the canoe rental people are in full business mode, but you should probably do some calling around and try to find somebody that will do the shuttle for you the day you put in, leave the vehicle at their place, and park it the morning you're taking out.  If you can't find a canoe rental person to do it you might try calling motels in Eminence to see if they can steer you toward somebody willing to do it.  Expect to pay good money for it, though.

[Gavin]

I'd call Harvey's and have them drop you, and pick you up. Leave your vehicles at their place.

 

 

[npierceuark]

2 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

You won't get much fishing done trying to cover that much water.  I'm assuming you're talking about the area around Blue Spring for your put-in, and it's still several miles from there to Jam-up Cave.  Sweet spot to camp, though.  As is Chalk Bluff, gorgeous camping spot.  I have no trouble floating that stretch and fishing it hard in two and a half days during the summer, but the length of daylight is a lot longer and I don't stop to camp until near dark.  In late March, you'll have three or four hours less daylight and to catch anything you'll probably still need to slow down a lot from how I do it in the summer.

I've yet to have a vehicle bothered at any of the accesses on the Jacks Fork, and I've had them left overnight a few times.  But it's always a crap shoot.  If the rotten SOBs can drive to it, sooner or later one or more of them will drive to it while your vehicle is there, but that's any public access, not just Jacks Fork.  Late March is before a lot of the canoe rental people are in full business mode, but you should probably do some calling around and try to find somebody that will do the shuttle for you the day you put in, leave the vehicle at their place, and park it the morning you're taking out.  If you can't find a canoe rental person to do it you might try calling motels in Eminence to see if they can steer you toward somebody willing to do it.  Expect to pay good money for it, though.

Appreciate the advice Al. I have low expectations for fishing on this float unless you can convince me otherwise. This time of year has never treated me terribly well so I usually sit back and enjoy the scenery and save my fishing energy for a little later in the spring. We have set aside a couple hours before the float for shuttling our own cars / canoes. Doesn't look like the shortest shuttle route but it beats some of the other rivers I've done. 

[timinmo]

I have left cars at all the places you mentioned and not had a problem.  That certainly does not mean I won't have a problem the next time or that you will not have a problem.  Camping spots on the Jacks Fork is the least of your worries.  It is blessed with more good gravel bars than almost any other river.  The ones you mentioned are certainly great but there are others also.  Buck Hollow to Bay Creek is my favorite stretch.  Enjoy yourselves.