Channel depth of TN River Gorge

[Fastwin]

I have always wondered what the average depth of the channel was in the TN river through the gorge. According to the Army Corps map, the channel between Maclellan Island and the Chickamauga Dam is only 11' when Nickajack is at 632' elevation. Tonight the elevation of Nickajack is 632' (see navigation chart: http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/opn/tnriver/charts/67.jpg)

Obviously I don't have a fish finder or I wouldn't ask. I'm afraid it would drain my 12V battery I use for my trolling motor. Besides, I'll find the fish when I start setting hooks, it just takes longer!

Thank you in advance!

 

[Skeeter]

Just up river from the pump station its 127' in one spot

 

[Fastwin]

WOW! I would have guessed 40-60 feet maximum. I bet there are are some lunkers down there! I have noticed that the river bed does drop very rapidly from the shoreline.

 

[on fish]

buudy dont worry about the depth from downtown to below raccoon . basically stay out from the bank a little and youre fine. i grew up fishing that river and you can run mostly all of it

 

[Nauticman]

Go ahead and buy a low cost depthfinder for less tha $100. It'll show you the depth but won't find the fish for you except that they might be on dropoffs, ditches, secondary channels, brush piles, etc. It won't draw enough current to drain your trolling motor battery noticeably.

 

[Fastwin]

$100 is approaching the cost of a low-end finder. Does anyone have suggestions for a Humminbird that won't drain my 12v battery while I use a 40# trolling motor?

The lower power units like the 560 (250 watts) only have a single beam, which is depressing after looking at the side-imaging units!
The 325 has a dual beam and 300 watts RMS for $179. http://store.humminbird.com/products/307113/325

 

[Pop-R]

Weigle I have a portable depthfinder I used to use on my brother-n-laws boat that runs off a square D battery I would take $30 for if you want it.

 

[Fastwin]

Thanks for the offer Pop-R but I rather put that $30 towards a finder since it looks like that's the direction I'm heading.

 

[Shark]

If cost is a big factor.... Try to find a second used 12 v battery to hook up to the depth finder. The depth finder draws little power and there is no need to buy a brand new battery.

However!!!! I recommend you buy the cheapest NEW battery you can find. As the fish finder draws little power, the new battery can act as a back up if you manage to drain your primary battery with the trolling motor.

P.S. Walmart has cheap battery prices. Others may now mention other batteries and better batteries. The main idea is to use a low cost battery for the depth finder and have excess power as a back up for your trolling motor.

No disrespect to other members that offer different advice, but many members only buy the best there is and that is not always best for every one- including myself. emoThumbsup

Hope this helps.

 

[MrWiskers]

Average depth in the Gorge assuming you are measuring the center of the river would be around 70-80 feet. Very deep.

 

[Jig-Junky]

A couple of times I have stubbled across a hole about 500 yards down river
from the Suck Creek ramp that is 100 feet deep.

 

[wrechin2]

Depth finders use very LITTLE amperage and would take a very long time to drain a trolling motor battery which are designed to put out a lot of amperage for long periods of time. I honestly don't think it should even be a concern for you. Just my .02

 

[Jason F-18]

i have a 565 hooked up along with my 72lb Trolling motor. i can run both all day with no problem. btw, i have a wal-mart battery. the 565 is a good unit that you should be able to find used for 150 or less. it was 200 new

 

[Fastwin]

Re: Channel depth of TN River Gorge/ transducer mounting

I was reading the installation manual for the transducer and I don't know how effective it would be on my aluminum boat. I read numerous reports that the turbulence created by the rivets interferes with the transducer.

I also have a dilemma in that I don't want to drill holes in, or modify, my antique boat. I looked at the Humminbird "stick-on" and trolling motor mounts. Do they work just as well? My boat only goes 20MPH. It would be nice to run full speed to view structure which would eliminate the trolling motor mount but the stick-on mount looks weak and cheap, and it's $70.

I wish you could trade the mountable transducer in for a stick-on when you bought the head unit.

 

[billyc]

Acording to tva when we did work at racoon mt they said this was the deepest area of the whole Tennessee River with one little spot some where just below the powerhouse where it went to 186ft.

 

[Fastwin]

'must be where the washing machines hang out

 

[machi]

link is not working. where else i can find free map of tn river?

 

[takenoprisoners]

Commenting so I'll be notified of future replies. Interested in the topic of a fish finder on an aluminum boat. I've got a 14-foot Alumacraft. Planned on getting a fish finder eventually, but didn't think of it interfering. Did find this cool set up, though, that made mounting the fish finder non-invasive. http://tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2052

 

[BassmanIU]

I run my Eagle depth finder that's on my kayak with 8 AA batteries. Radio Shack sells the 8-battery holders and it's easily wired to the depth finder's power cord (just splice and shrink). I use rechargeable batteries and can get 3-4 days worth of use out of 1 charge. I went to Harbor Freight and got 8 batteries with two chargers for around $20.

 

[Fishheadspin]

i have a 12 v 7ah gel battery on my kayak that runs my mark 4 ....it has been reported that it will run 25- 30 hours continuously on a single charge. weighs about 5 lbs cost about 60 for battery and charger...can be bought much cheaper on amazon..........

on the set up ideas...look at the ram mounted transducer set ups for kayaks...flexible arms that hang over the rail..