swim events on & river closure on Nickajack

[PGoutdoors]

I want to give you a heads up on some open water swimming events on Nickajack. The first is August 16th 8:00am - 10:00am, swimmers will be on river left starting at the daymarker 465.6 (just up river from Boat House and VFW) and swimming down to the Duck Ramp next to Marine Max. There is no river closure and there will be pilot boats (paddle boards, kayaks, and power boats) setting the outside edge and keeping swimmers on river left. There will be around 100 swimmers and once again their is no river closure.

On Sunday September 28 Iron Man Chattanooga takes place and there will be a river closure on Nickajack. The swim course is from river mile 465.7 to 463.7. Another way to think of this closure is from the golf course to Ross's Landing. The Coast Guard is going to have a full river closure and the boat ramps from the dam to downtown will be blocked off for Iron man boat traffic only. TWRA, Hamilton County Sheriff's office, Coast Guard, and multiple fire and water rescue craft along with 150 pilot boats will be on the water supporting the 2000 Iron Man swimmers. The closure will be from 6:00am - 10:00am so do not plan to try and get on the water from Chickamauga dam to downtown during the river closure times.

Hope this helps avoid any confusion or frustrations.

 

[derek81]

Re: swim events on Nickajack

But we can still fish from the bank on that side of the river, right?

 

[Floatingphil]

I hope they don't close the banks. I can't think of a better time to try out my new 14oz jig. 2000 idiots out there, I'm bound to catch something.

 

[derek81]

Exactly. I was thinking of an 8 inch spoon... Swimmers are bound to grab a at something shiney.

 

[Floatingphil]

I'll call Rapala tomorrow and see if I can special order a couple shallow running sharks about 3 feet long. That should help them swim faster and get the h*ll out of the way!

 

[foodsaver]

Thanks for the heads up. I do think it sucks that they are not letting you put in. There are plenty of people that fish up around the dam that wouldn't be interfering with the swimming at all.

 

[SpurHunter]

Put in before 6 AM Craig

 

[Fishin Fool]

I can understand dropping bouys in the water for an event, to close and mark that lane in the water, but only for the duration of the event. It seems that more and more, people are "okay" with them closing entire sections of the river for sporting events. I thought fishing was a sport too? I'm pretty sure it brings in a lot more money to the local economy than the Iron Man, which is a short duration event. It's great that Chattanooga got this event, but there is pattern that is beginning to develop with these closures. I can certainly see this one is more justified that the recent one. Heck of a lot of people in the water. I hope it goes off without a hitch and I wish the competitors well.
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By the way, thank you Philip for joining the forum and posting about this. I know you are with Chattanooga Outdoors, and are part of City Government if I am not mistaken. I hope you can see our reasons for concern. I agree that you have to make arrangements for the Iron Man. I don't, however, think you have to close all the boat ramps accessing the river.
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[rsimms]

Phillip... thank you for posting this. As we've discussed, I have philosophical problems with a complete river closure for a recreational event, although I am fine with an associated "no wake zone" for safety.

However it greatly eases the sting of a total closure when you provide fishermen (and other boaters) with ample advance notification such as this. That is greatly appreciated.

Personally, I am excited by the fact that Outdoor Chattanooga is helping bring so much attention to our natural resources. It can only mean good things for all of us ultimately, and even though a total closure can directly impact my business financially, I do think there is room enough for all of us to share, reasonably.

FYI for others, I have learned that you can sign up for e-mail "Local Notice to Mariners" notices from the U.S. Coast Guard. These notices provide notification or EVERY river closure or potential navigation hazard on the Tennessee River. You might have to do a little homework to learn how to read and understand them, but they provide good information not just about our home water, but for the entire Tennessee River system: Go here to read notices or if you want to sign up for the e-mail notices: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lnmDistrict&region=8&ext=r

 

[Floatingphil]

Fishing fool,
If you are referring to me, I am not affiliated with Chattanooga Outdoors in any way and you are VERY mistaken if you think I am part of City Government. Just want to clear that up quickly. If I am not who you are referring to, disregard and my apologies.
I just like to fish mostly up around Possum Creek and Sale Creek.
I think it is ridiculous to close a section of the river. I am with you, throw some buoys out and make a lane for them and let everyone use the river.
If they can close the river for this event, why not keep jet skiers and battle cruisers off the whole lake the next time FLW or Bassmasters or any kind of tournament is going on. I don't think that will fly.

Phillip (just a fisherman)

 

[Fishin Fool]

Not you. I am refering to Philip Grimes, from Chattanooga Outdoors. He was the original poster on this thread.
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Floatingphil - 8/7/2014 6:49 PM Fishing fool, If you are referring to me, I am not affiliated with Chattanooga Outdoors in any way and you are VERY mistaken if you think I am part of City Government. Just want to clear that up quickly. If I am not who you are referring to, disregard and my apologies. I just like to fish mostly up around Possum Creek and Sale Creek. I think it is ridiculous to close a section of the river. I am with you, throw some buoys out and make a lane for them and let everyone use the river. If they can close the river for this event, why not keep jet skiers and battle cruisers off the whole lake the next time FLW or Bassmasters or any kind of tournament is going on. I don't think that will fly. Phillip (just a fisherman)

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[Floatingphil]

Very sorry for my confusion.
Phillip

 

[PGoutdoors]

I appreciate the feedback and while I'm not the organizer of Iron Man I can and will be a voice for the fishing community for this event. I know the Riverpark boat ramp is going to be reserved for all the government agency boats per there request, and the Rivermont Ramp is going to serve the other boats but there is a bunch of river above the swim course that I agree you should be able to fish.

I have never used the boat ramp below the dam on the north shore behind Chattanooga State for my fishing boat, is this a viable ramp? I have only seen a few small jon boats launch from there.

I'm happy to build a case for this ramp being open and coming up with a river mile / easy to recognize landmark to have as line that represents where the river closure starts. All that being said, I did not submit the marine application permits for this event, I have been tasked to help with the overall coordination of the water logistics and I can speak to the people at TWRA and the Coast Guard as over the years I have developed a relationship with them. The Coast Guard is the agency that decides when and where the river is going to be closed and it would be easy for a single law enforcement boat to be at this line of closure so that this event can reduce its impact on the everyday river user.

Keep your opinions and ideas coming I have survived in city government for over 13 years so my skin is fairly thick.

Floatinphil sorry for the confusion this caused and your 3 foot shallow running shark suggestion is by far my favorite idea yet.

 

[bassodav]

Is the riverpark ramp open on aug 16th?

 

[wildturkey]

The ramp behind Chattanooga State is South shore. I think a few gill nets set out will show who can really swim down there. Now y'all can complain about swimming and gill netting. Blahahahaha.

I too think the North side should be open for regular traffic and recreation.

 

[willyb]

Yes David the ramp is open on the 16th.

 

[rsimms]

PGoutdoors - 8/7/2014 9:00 PM

I have never used the boat ramp below the dam on the north shore behind Chattanooga State for my fishing boat, is this a viable ramp? I have only seen a few small jon boats launch from there.

Phillip... yes, the ramp behind Chattanooga State near the Dam is perfectly fine. It is actually the only ramp I ever use because it is never crowded. If there has to be a line of delineation upstream of the Riverpark Ramp (at Hubert Fry Park), the C.B. Robinson Bridge makes a perfect point of reference.

That said, I must close by reiterating that I will always remain philosophically opposed to a complete closure for a recreational event. emoSmile

 

[Floatingphil]

I know this is short notice but weather permitting I am having a 1 boat tournament tonight from 3 to about 9. Don't where I'll put in but I requested the TWRA to close the Holly Cir, Possum Creek and Sale Creek ramps so I won't be bothered by other people trying to put their boats in when I am putting in. I also asked them to close the river from the nuclear plant up to Watts Bar dam so that I will not get hurt from the waves of jet skies and other boats.
I am expecting to hear back from them any minute.
Sorry to inconvenience anyone trying to use the water tonight but the precedent has been set and rules are rules!
If y'all ask nice, I might could expand the number of entries but safety being first and foremost, I don't think there should anymore than 5 or 6 boats on the upper half of the lake.
I also might hold these 1 boat tournaments on my days off from work so be looking for more river closures in the future.

 

[derek81]

Floatingphil - 8/8/2014 9:38 AM

I know this is short notice but weather permitting I am having a 1 boat tournament tonight from 3 to about 9. Don't where I'll put in but I requested the TWRA to close the Holly Cir, Possum Creek and Sale Creek ramps so I won't be bothered by other people trying to put their boats in when I am putting in. I also asked them to close the river from the nuclear plant up to Watts Bar dam so that I will not get hurt from the waves of jet skies and other boats.
I am expecting to hear back from them any minute.
Sorry to inconvenience anyone trying to use the water tonight but the precedent has been set and rules are rules!
If y'all ask nice, I might could expand the number of entries but safety being first and foremost, I don't think there should anymore than 5 or 6 boats on the upper half of the lake.
I also might hold these 1 boat tournaments on my days off from work so be looking for more river closures in the future.

Well I have already reserved from the Nuke to the islands at Island cove so please stay on your side of the lake, I don't take kindly to strangers on my section of lake.

 

[PGoutdoors]

Richard the CB Robinson Bridge is a good landmark, and I'm glad to hear the ramp that is on the south shore behind Chattanooga State works.