Thinking about dropping a jon boat in the river at metts, however I have never been on the river in a boat. Any safety advice about traversing the river would be greatly appreciated.
Out here now. It’s pretty easy to navigate cause they are running a bunch of water. All week long they were running very little. The day I decide to fish it flowing hard. Just check conditions before u go.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/sc/nwis/uv/?site_no=02168504&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00062,00065,72020
so so action today
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Ratherbe, more than likely they will not be running much water. Although, like Chip said, they were running quite a bit earlier today.
Either way, I would just think about heading up river to the first rapids for your first trip. Hug the right side as you go up until just before you reach the island on the right and then achor up in the rapids or bring waders and beach your boat at the island and wade from there.
Going down from the ramp or getting through the first rapids up from it can be a little tricky. At least if you are up river you can always get back should you run into any problems. Especially this time of year where depending on what day you go you may not even see another boat.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
thanks for the advice guys. we haven’t decided on the river or murray for striper yet. I will let yall know how it goes either way.
I thought you were thinking about trying the trout in the river. If you are wanting to target stripers this time of year you want to fish the lake.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
you were correct in your thinking, i just made it unclear with my prior statement. trout are the target if we go to the river. either way, hopefully this cold snap coming through will be gone by this upcoming weekend.
If you are into river fishing, checkout the SCEG web site. They have a service that will eMail and/or call your mobile number to let you know when they increase the flow rate on the Saluda. Very handy when you are in the river. Let’s you know what you’re in for…
http://www.sceg.com/en/our-community/outdoor-recreation/lower-saluda-river/
Ice Blue Pathfinder 2200
“Kemosabe”
<’}}}><
There are also many apps for the phone that are great that update every 30min-1hr. I have one on on my home screen set to the broad and saluda, with one touch I can see both. I can see dissolved oxygen, water height, temp, flow and many other variables…
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
I just looked at the link from above. It says the outflow is 17,500 and that the highest recorded was 13,000 in 1993. I also noticed the lake is falling fast again. Is this all just for electricity or is something going on?
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Wow…just looked other places as well to confirm that. That’s crazy. Seen they had the coal stack smoking this morning as well…must really be making some juice today.
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
I’m pretty sure I heard on the radio while driving to work that last night was a record demand for power.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
I just read they are having rolling blackouts that will affect 50,000 customers. They can’t meet the demand. Might have to hit the towers tonight
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Man…I wish I knew earlier. I would love to join you out on the lake tonight!! …but the light bulb above my stove is out and I already promised my wife I would replace it tonight. 
I just got back from lunch and I decided stop by Gardendale and check it out. This is a pic from just inside the the rails at the parking lot.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
I never heard of gardendale, is it a ramp or just public access. Be aware, I looked up “gardendal boat ramp” and the first site was cruising gays. You may not want to be hanging out there in your car at lunch.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Tom I am starting to think the whole saluda river area is hang out for them. Gardendale is off from bush river rd. It gets a ton of use with tubes/rafts/yaks headed down toward the zoo. I never knew about it till tim showed me back in sept. Can really only launch anything that u can carry or drag. It’s a great take out point if you put in at metts or saluda shoals.
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Yep. That river draws them like a magnet… even after years of sting operations and posting their pictures in the newspaper like the 2 they arrested at Metts Landing a couple weeks ago.
With that said, yes Tom, I do stop by there for lunch quite a bit in the spring and summer…LOL
HOWEVA, I always make sure I have a fishing rod near at all times, even just eating lunch, so as to not leave any doubt in anyone’s mind as to why I am there. Got a really funny story from down there to share offline sometime.
Thats one thing nice about getting a pass to Saluda Shoals park. They won’t put up with that there. Also I get a pass with 24 hour access. Metts is free, but it’s nice to have lights near the ramp when putting in before sunrise or after sunset. I also feel better about my truck being parked there when on the water after dark.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
If it got to windy or the fishing was slow on the lake I used to back my boat down the ramp at metts and fish out of the back. It was usually kind of late so nobody was using the ramp. Caught some nice fish there late night. Never had anyone bother me, in fact I never saw anyone but the police.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Not really worried about anyone bothering me, but I never felt comfortable being on the river after dark with my truck parked at Metts. It’s just so dark and remote.
I can’t say that I ever really heard of any problems there though. Sounds like maybe they patrol it quite a bit. Probably doesn’t hurt either that the County Sherrif lives down the street. lol …assuming he still does.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki