The state park is off 57 near the dam. We could meet there. I usually launch my boat at the state ramp by the park. It is one huge lake.

 

Gotcha. Is there anyplace to stop and eat early in the AM around there? What time does the park open?

I may just cruise on out before sunup because I like driving at night.

 

I'm not sure what time the park opens.It should be on the internet under Tn state parks. I may try to be there by daylight. Is westtntrucker still coming? He may know more about Pickwick. Its not far from his house.

 

I found the website. The park office opens at 8 am. The marina opens at 6 am. I'll let you know if I head out early Greywolf. We could get there early & catch a few fish.

 

I'm up and moving. Should be rolling in about an hour.

I'll target 8AM showtime, meanwhile I'm charging a camera battery and draining a coffee pot.

I expect to be there a little sooner though...

 

Sorry guys. I'm sick or I'd be there. I have a sinus infection & the meds are making me sick. I doubt I'll leave the house this weekend.

 

Oh well. At least I found out a lot about the Ranger truck.

Possible transmission input shaft whine developing, pronounced wobble at 50 - 60 MPH (could be wheel bearing, could be wheel balance), hydro clutch was low on fluid, I doubt it has a thermostat in it at all - which is a sign of a cover up. It barely warms up to the low range even at 80 on a hot day like this during an extended drive.
And it has a definite pull to the right, which tells me whoever put on the QUOTE: "NEW" UNQUOTE brakes had no frigging idea what they were trying to accomplish...

My tackle was outclassed too - next time I go to Pickwick you'll find me down by the spillways with ocean fishing gear fitted with 20 to 40 pound test. Remind me to relate everything I found out about striped bass today. They were imported to that river from the James river in virginia, and run well over 20 pounds. Certain times of day they go nuts - when I got there they were jumping from one side of the river to the other.

"Mister Ranger Sir" is getting about 23 MPG, based on 254 miles divided by 11 gallons. When I get done chasing down everything that turned up on this trip it should do significantly better than that.

If we ever do this again:
1) It takes about 3 1/2 hours to get there from Millington running 75 average.
2) As a meet point, I vote the spillway fishing area. Cross the dam to the powerhouse side, and turn in to the downstream/spillway recreation area. It is fairly small, and difficult to get lost there. There is a boat ramp there too.
3) If you bring a cast net to catch live bait, it should not be bigger than 3 foot radius. Otherwise it will fetch a rock, and it isn't safe to go in after it.
4) There is a camping area there.
5) There is a bait and tackle shop a half mile down the road (Andy's Bait Shop)
6) If we have a boat, I have had several deep holes pointed out to me good for catfish and big stripers.

 

Well,
When I checked last monday before heading to work for the week, nobody had committed to the G2G @ pickwick. So I went ahead and stayed out till this afternoon. Unfortunatly i need to know the saturday before, so i cqan tell my dispatcher that i have a gig booked for saturday and need to be home by friday night.
Wished i could have met ya down there Greywolf, The last post i seen before work was that you had a prior commitment.
As for the spillway below the dam, yea, I agree on the heavy casting gear when the turbines are running.
An assumption got me this time!

 

I guess what goes around comes around
I blew it the time before with the idiot weather reports, but it was worth it to find out all that I did about my Ranger.

Those stripers though... That deserves another look.