Hey all, I have a question. It’s been literally two decades since I’ve gone through the locks at the Cooper tailrace. The only time I’ve done it was when I was a teenager at a camp when I lived in the upstate.
I just bought a decent 14’ Starcraft boat (just a normal old aluminum semi-v hull) with a 6hp Johnson. Doesn’t plane, but does move us along at around 10mph.
Anyhow, would this be safe to take my son through the locks with? He’d have a blast going through it. I’m thinking of putting in at the landing there off of 52/17A and going up to the tailrace and fishing for some shad and cats tomorrow afternoon. We’d just go into the upper lake for a little and then ride it back down just for giggles.
The locks open into Lake Moultrie, which is the Lower Lake. Marion is the Upper Lake.
The only problem with that sized boat going through the locks is if it’s rough on Moultrie you’re stuck.
You’d be better off putting in the Tailrace and staying there. You can certainly use that boat in Moultrie or Marion, but pick your days and pick the landing according to how strong and which way the wind’s blowing…then stay in that general area. It can get awful rough awful quick.
Redfish-matt; pitcher is right on what he says! I went into the lock once and rode it up to lake level and while in the lock the wind kicked up! They would not open the lake side gate because the wind and waves were to high. We got out and walked around on top of the dam for a while. You should see the size of the Catfish you can see in the tailrace. You can see some huge fish looking down from up there!
The locks open into Lake Moultrie, which is the Lower Lake. Marion is the Upper Lake.
The only problem with that sized boat going through the locks is if it’s rough on Moultrie you’re stuck.
You’d be better off putting in the Tailrace and staying there. You can certainly use that boat in Moultrie or Marion, but pick your days and pick the landing according to how strong and which way the wind’s blowing…then stay in that general area. It can get awful rough awful quick.
Well, Moultrie is “upper” in regards to being 70 feet higher than the tailrace lol. But yes you are right about the wind. Yesterday would have been a disaster if I had tried it. Maybe on one of the calmer days. How often do they open the locks if I get on the other side and decide to return? Is it “on demand” or what?
quote:Originally posted by jws
I’m pretty sure I saw you yesterday afternoon heading down that way with the description you gave.
Probably so. Motor didn’t run as well as I’d like, I need to mess with the fuel system and see if it’s gummed up— we weren’t going anywhere in a hurry lol.
You have to watch the weather on the lake in a boat that size. I don’t see a problem going through the locks but I would start in the lake and go down and then back up. You can always change your mind before you get to the locks but is is hard to judge how rough it is when you are coming up. I would also plan on being back to the lake by 2pm or so. I have been all over both lakes in a 12’ boat but had 25 hp and that helps.
I’ve heard horror stories from duck hunters who sunk and barely survived out there. Also, I believe there were 6 or 8 boats sunk in one bass tournament several years back. Please be very careful whenever there is a chance for the wind to get up.
It would probably be a good idea to wait for summer time and warm weather. Atleast then you wouldn’t have to worry about hypothermia if something were to happen.
I was at a work function at short stay right across from the dam one beautiful afternoon, then all of the sudden the winds kicked up and picked up a huge jump castle (with kids in it) and threw it about 20 feet it landed about 2 feet from the lake. . . Scared the living **** out of everyone. It is absolutely scary when the weather changes up there goes from nice and flat to 5ft rollers in minutes!
I was at a work function at short stay right across from the dam one beautiful afternoon, then all of the sudden the winds kicked up and picked up a huge jump castle (with kids in it) and threw it about 20 feet it landed about 2 feet from the lake. . . Scared the living **** out of everyone. It is absolutely scary when the weather changes up there goes from nice and flat to 5ft rollers in minutes!
Yeah I’ve seen that sort of stuff happen when I was fishing on the bank before. The lake has so few natural boundaries to protect it from wind, and it’s just a big round lake. The waves get bigger and bigger.
I had no intention of spending much time on the main lake but I will keep this info in mind for sure.
Hey Matt, you can find information about the fish lift on the dnr site or in the rules and regs. If you haven’t taken your son there yet you might want to check it out. Took both my kids there when they were young. They loved seeing all those fish pass by the window but I think the daughter got the biggest kick out of it.
The fish lift had been shut down, post 9/11. However, speaking with the DNR intern that hangs out at the ramp at the tailrace, he said they are renovating it into a nice public open area. I think he said they will have it done sometime in the spring and folks can come watch, which we WILL be doing.