calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

[fishrdan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

If they reduce the flow overnight we could be high & dry in the morning.

I was going to mention that... I fish Willow Beach (10 miles below Hoover Dam) all the time and the river there drops 1-3' from day to night. I've been the good samaritan several times and helped someone unstick their boat from the beach.

I don't think there will be an issue with the river dropping, as long as a boat isn't "beached". Anchored it out in several feet of water and it should be fine.

 

[azboater2]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

We know they adjust the water flow thru the Canyon at Glenn Canyon Dam. If they reduce the flow overnight we could be high & dry in the morning. Perhaps it's better to overnight on a beach on the Lake, where the water level is more constant.

Current inflow, pumping and evaportation can be found here, Bureau of Reclamation: Lower Colorado Region , you might need a degree to follow it, but it makes sence after a while.

 

[azboater2]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Did I hear someone say February? I thought we were talking about April or so?

As for the camping, it dosent have to be at Seperation, could visit then drop back down a ways. It's just for me pulling the boat from Phoenix to not stay overnight thats a LONG trip in one day, so if we go we will be camping somewhere, would be fun to have company though.

I'm Bill by the way.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Great. That's 4 already if QC's in. I'm on here sporadically these winter days so we can bump it up and take a head count at some point probably in Feb. That will give us a couple months to plan it. It would be great if we could get 5-10 or even more. I know I can probably get 2 or 3 from TBar to go, maybe more. It could blow up and 10-15 from TBar go. It's very possible! The only problem would be finding a beach big enough

MY BAD

read and remembered the feb part and not the head count part:facepalm::sleeping:

 

[sam60]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Check out this PDF I made with reference points
View attachment 177114

WOW!...I think if we go we'll be in the welcome back crew WAY downstream! A bit of a sandbar and some side hydraulics could be real scary or worse in this top-heavy thing that I have. I'll change my mind if we have a (running) smaller boat at the time. That is way up theve 12v!

Where I mention "we turned back" it was at the end of Greg's Basin around Sandy Point when/where the water was at 5'.

 

[12vMan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Remember this all hinges on Mother Nature cooperating with plenty of snow pack to get the elevation up around 1130 before we can think about going with a group. By the end of February we should have a handle on it, then a couple months to plan. I think April or May should be our target months..Anyone else have a preference or thoughts?

 

[QC]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

We could do an either/or and still meet at TB. Such a special place!!!

 

[John3]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

As for the camping, it dosent have to be at Seperation, could visit then drop back down a ways. It's just for me pulling the boat from Phoenix to not stay overnight thats a LONG trip in one day, so if we go we will be camping somewhere, would be fun to have company though.

I'm Bill by the way.

All of my experience has been Boat Camping, on the Lake, with the Bow on the Beach & the Bow & Stern tied to stakes in the sand. It takes a long time to see a water level change on the Lake because of the very large volume, not so the River. Then a day trip to the River & Separation Canyon. We'll sleep on the Boat but others may prefer to be in a tent on shore.

 

[12vMan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

We could do an either/or and still meet at TB. Such a special place!!!

Agreed! We can set the dates for TB then do GC or just a nice beach. I heard there's some out there somewhere...

 

[12vMan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

All of my experience has been Boat Camping, on the Lake, with the Bow on the Beach & the Bow & Stern tied to stakes in the sand. It takes a long time to see a water level change on the Lake because of the very large volume, not so the River. Then a day trip to the River & Separation Canyon. We'll sleep on the Boat but others may prefer to be in a tent on shore.

That sounds great to me John. There are several great beaches to choose from within 5 miles of TBar. I've got a trailer there, so I can be the land link.

 

[12vMan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Boulder Basin water temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[John3]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

Everyone's definitely welcome............
You can also launch out of Meadview at South Cove, by Sandy Point.

What sort of ramp is it at Sandy Point? I looked it up on iTouchMap.com & to my untrained eye it looks like it could be shallow You're right it would save about 30 miles on the water.

 

[12vMan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

What sort of ramp is it at Sandy Point? I looked it up on iTouchMap.com & to my untrained eye it looks like it could be shallow You're right it would save about 30 miles on the water.

They upgraded the South Cove launch ramp a few years ago when the lower lake levels allowed. It's a nice ramp now. Keep in mind NO SERVICES, so you need to get fuel and supplies in Meadview, which is around 10 miles away, and the road going down to the lake is STEEP! It's an 8% downgrade. I lost the brakes on an old motorhome I was towing with at the time going down this road about 20 years ago. Scary.

Check out the info at this LINK

 

[12vMan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I was looking at a satellite map other than google to see how the beaches have changed and found a map that still had the NO UPSTREAM TRAVEL buoy I referenced before. You can see it just to the right of the center of the pic in the middle of the river.
I think the google map is more recent and the buoy must be gone. Probably washed away by one of the 'floods' they do to naturalize the canyon.

 

[sam60]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

12vMan: If the conditions are right, is this doable with a 25' cruiser or should I stay on the porch? I did sand bar rivers with my Dad when young in a 18'-open bow I/O Tri-Hull, but this is different.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I'll change my mind if we have a (running) smaller boat at the time.

You could borrow my 14' jonboat, good for the river, scarey for the lake :laugh: :scared: (No more mz, sam now?)

I think April or May should be our target months..Anyone else have a preference or thoughts?

We went to Tbar 1st week of April last year and it was 50/50 for the weather, lots of wind, though we squeaked out 1 day that was nice. I guess it's up to mother nature to bless us with good weather....

 

[sam60]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

You could borrow my 14' jonboat, good for the river, scarey for the lake :laugh: :scared: (No more mz, sam now?)

[QUOTE/] I could tow it on the lake and use it up river... But thanks fd... yep, Sam.....pm



We went to Tbar 1st week of April last year and it was 50/50 for the weather, lots of wind, though we squeaked out 1 day that was nice. I guess it's up to mother nature to bless us with good weather....

We went in March and never will again...:facepalm: I thought we went right after you..? Either way, no more early spring trips.

So what do you think, keep the lake boat off of the river?

I do believe that I have mentioned that I can screw up a quote reply...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

We went in March and never will again...:facepalm: I thought we went right after you..?

So what do you think, keep the lake boat off of the river?

We were out April 2-3. I remember it well as I was waiting for my 401K to peak so I could stash my cash in something safe, and while we were out I missed the peak. (My wife heard me grumbling about that for a couple of months.... )

I'm not sure about your boat in the Grand Canyon, (depth wise) it would be A'OK going up river to Hoover Dam,,, but... Need to let the Grand Canyon guru's chime in.

I always wondered how far I could make it up into the Grand Canyon with my jon boat, shore launch it at Pierce Ferry and let it rip. nthego:

 

[QC]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

I've seen a thirty foot go fast with twins come out of Grand Canyon, but I have no idea how far he went up.

 

[12vMan]

Re: calling all lake mead boaters! nevada

The trick to navigating the sand bars is to maintain a slow speed, and generally stay to the outside of the river bends. The river is muddy for a few miles as you go up and the depth can change suddenly, so just go slow. After a few miles the river clears up and the depth stays a fairly constant 15-20'. The largest boat we've taken is a 22' day cruiser, along with 18' & 19' V hull I/O's. I plan on taking my 26' deck boat this trip. The river hasn't been high enough since I've owned it to go.

Also it's a great idea to have someone in front of you..we call them the 'sacrificial prop' boat :laugh: A buddy of mine @ TB has a North River with a jet that will jump at the chance to go...but unfortunately, no prop