Wading on 2 generators
Hiwassee River / Apalachia Tailwater |
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Wading the Hiwassee on 2 Turbines (This was originally a 2000 post on NGTO in response to a question about wading the Hiwassee with the turbines on. I have embellished it some for republication.) To elaborate on what Drifter and Edwin have said, the Hiwassee can be extremely dangerous. The outfitters require that tubers and rafters sign an elaborate release form, and many years we have fatalities. Having said that, I do a lot of wading on 2 turbines. Before '93 I was exclusively a small stream guy and was scared to death of the Hiwassee on 2, having been surprised once and having to swim out. You can't hold your footing in really deep heavy current. Either you slip or the rocks roll under your feet. The blizzard of '93 dumped so much timber in the small streams they were unfishable till the floods of '94 blew all the timber out. I got into the habit of fishing the Hiwassee, but I am still partial to a short rod from my small stream days. To elaborate on what Edwin said about cold water, it isn't just a matter of the water being cold and painful. If you go down in water in the 40's, it slows your metabolism down (mental and physical). If you can move, you move too slowly to keep your head out of the water in heavy current. I do some scary looking wading in the summer when the air temp is high, but only in places where losing my footing would just get me wet, not drown me. In winter there is much more water that I am simply afraid to wade. Don't wade deep water far from shore when it's really cold. We haven't had a big flood in a couple of years, but look at your feet sometime in the current. There will be gravel swirling around. The river is constantly rearranging itself, sometimes significantly overnight. Big floods make pools where shoals were, and vice versa. Even if you have waded a place many times before, you have to be careful, since the bottom changes. Stand next to a big rock in heavy current sometime and hold your leg up against it. With pressure just on one side, it's surprising how much effort it takes to pull away from the rock. If you lose your footing it's possible to be pinned by the current, and not be able to get free. Also, if you lose footing it's not recommended that you try to bounce off the bottom with your feet. You could get hung on something, and dragged under by the current. Keep your feet downstream to ward off stickups and such. The character of the bottom makes a difference. Shale or slate usually weathers with exposed edges that give you a toehold. Sandstone is much slicker. Contrary to some published accounts, there is very little limestone on this part of the Hiwassee. Dark green moss is usually good footing, light green or brown stuff is slick. I wade wet in the summer in old tennis shoes, but I recommend sturdy high tops for good ankle support and protection, with felt or studded soles. Lots of folks also use a wading staff. (Have to have a disclaimer to avoid liability). With the water off so much the last 2 years, there is often low water, and good fishing, in the morning, especially on weekends. If you proceed cautiously, I can recommend a few places that are relatively safe on 2 turbines. It's good to go with a buddy, and I wear a pfd at my wife's insistence. Along the grass beds below the powerhouse is wadable with care. There are some deep holes and heavy runs that must be avoided, but much of the railroad side bank all the way down to the island below the boatramp can be waded. Parts of the shoals below Fox's Cabin are wadable, as is some of the upper part of the shoals below Towee Creek. Don't get daring there. The lower part of the shoals is extremely dangerous on 2. There are wadable shoals above Little Rock Island in the Quality Zone, but stay a couple of ledges away from the heavy run on the trail side. The 2 shoals upstream from Big Island are wadable except for heavy runs in the middle, which is true of most of these shoals. The 3rd shoals up, and the shoals right at Big Island, are not wadable on 2, or even 1. The shoals above Big Lost Creek are wadable, but stay well up the grade from Devil's Shoals. The shoals by Woody Island right above Ellis Creek can be waded with care, as can the shoals right at the Reliance Bridge. There is very little public access, from Reliance on down, to water that is wadable with turbines on. I like to fish this area, and around Patty Bridge, in the spring when the water is usually off a lot to bring the lakes up to summer pool (April through May). There is an article in the "Links" section of my website that deals with how long it takes a 2 turbine release to reach various points on the river. Also, this year the flow has mostly been 2550 cfs or less. In wet years they run 2700-2900, and there is much less wadable water. A few hundred cfs makes a lot of difference. Stay alert for rising current. TVA doesn't always follow its published schedule. We all go down from time to time. Most places you float 30 ft. and you're on another ledge. Don't put yourself in a situation where it might cost your life. Don't wade upstream of extremely dangerous areas, keep a ledge or 2 between you and such places. In wet years the turbines run constantly, so if you can find a few places you are comfortable with, at least you will have some fishing. My brother has one particular spot. He is content to stand there and fish for hours (on 2 turbines), and manages to catch some fish. If you would like we could get together sometime and I'll show you what I know about it. If you try it on your own, take it very slowly. Unless you can develop confidence in your wading skill, considerable knowledge of the river, and considerable respect for the river, the very safest thing to do obviously would be to take Drifter's advise completely (don't wade on 2 turbines). I wouldn't want to have a drowning on my conscience. Many folks are terrified of snakes. Contrary to what some will tell you, there are no cottonmouths in the Hiwassee. There are watersnakes that look a lot like cottonmouths. Copperheads will make you sick, but seldom kill healthy adults. Rattlesnakes are cause for definite concern. Just be very careful where you put your feet and hands. You should really be more concerned about poison ivy and yellowjackets. One final hazard should be mentioned. In the summer the Hiwassee is absolutely polluted with tubers, rafters, kayakers, and other such low forms of animal life. I get knocked off rocks several times a year. It used to make me really mad, but I've mellowed up somewhat. I've tried rafting and tubing myself, and it is hard to control the things. They really don't bother the fish that much, it's not like it's the first time they ever saw one. Mornings are better before they get started, and most of them are gone by 6pm. ------------------ Don Denney |
