Raleigh Area Lakes. Jordan, Harris, Falls.

[PBear]

Out on Harris Lake - seems quieter today than previous weekends. Got to the 42 ramp a little after 9am and no issues launching & parking. Especially now that the Admiral is driving the boat

 

[suke]

Haven’t been out in a couple weeks.... heading to Jordan tomorrow.

Me neither. Not sure I'm going to attempt next weekend. If every weekend has basically been July 4th on crack, can only imagine what actual July 4th will be like.

 

[suke]

Out on Harris Lake - seems quieter today than previous weekends. Got to the 42 ramp a little after 9am and no issues launching & parking. Especially now that the Admiral is driving the boat

My neighbor headed out around 2. They haven't come back, so leads me to believe they got in somewhere.

 

[granpachuck]

Someone posted on instagram about a fishing tournament this weekend on Jordan. Guess it started yesterday? Not like we're getting out this weekend, just got back in town from vaca.

Fishing tourny on Kerr yesterday. We timed it ok, parking lot was full, but really no waiting to launch. Retrieving got interesting. One misinformed fella thought the tie down area was 6 inches from the top of the ramp. Had people shouting at him, just didnt care.
Kerr was almost 10 feet above normal still, water at the top of the nutbush ramp. Took 3 of my grandkids, warned them the drive would be longer, and they all said the drive was worth it. Nice for them to see different lakes, and we tried a new ZUP board. They absolutely love this board. It's a clunky size to tote around, but we made it work. Almost dark by the time we got back home. Probably will head to Jordan today, minus grandkids. They are cute, but tiring !

 

[granpachuck]

We passed right by Falls yesterday, but based on the news, that is where all the action is.

Emergency crews respond to boat launch at Falls Lake
WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Emergency crews respond to a boat launch on Falls Lake at around 1 a.m. Sunday.

The launch is off of Highway 50 in Wake Forest.

The scene appears to be a possible boat rescue.

WRAL's Breaking News tracker saw one man was checked on by Emergency Medical Services and walked around around aft

 

[Shookie]

Out on Jordan now and it’s awesome. Hanging by the 751 bridge. An awesome breeze is blowing and water is smooth. Didn’t check the Farrington ramps when I drove by.

 

[suke]

Fishing tourny on Kerr yesterday. We timed it ok, parking lot was full, but really no waiting to launch. Retrieving got interesting. One misinformed fella thought the tie down area was 6 inches from the top of the ramp. Had people shouting at him, just didnt care.
Kerr was almost 10 feet above normal still, water at the top of the nutbush ramp. Took 3 of my grandkids, warned them the drive would be longer, and they all said the drive was worth it. Nice for them to see different lakes, and we tried a new ZUP board. They absolutely love this board. It's a clunky size to tote around, but we made it work. Almost dark by the time we got back home. Probably will head to Jordan today, minus grandkids. They are cute, but tiring !

With the floating docks I imagine it wasn't an issue with the ramps? They don't have a courtesy dock there, do they? How was the water, a bunch of debris or ok? Were both lots full? Want to get out next weekend, but not sure I want to tempt going to a triangle lake.

 

[granpachuck]

With the floating docks I imagine it wasn't an issue with the ramps? They don't have a courtesy dock there, do they? How was the water, a bunch of debris or ok? Were both lots full? Want to get out next weekend, but not sure I want to tempt going to a triangle lake.

So that is a good question, since the lake being 10 feet over, certain ramps you can launch at, and other you cant. You are right that the docks are floating, but what I noticed is that the water level was very near the top of the ramp on Saturday. If it gets too high, there is no drop off for the trailer. I think 10 feet is about the max at Nutbush 2. We launched at a different ramp a few weeks back when the lake was 15 over, but you have to know which ramps can handle that much water.
Debris, some, but not like a few weeks back. The southern part of the lake is usually better, but there were some large trees floating around, and we did pick up some crap that I was able to remove from the clean out port.
With the fishing tourny, the main lot was full, but they have an over flow lot that was easy to park in.
There is a courtesy dock, I used it once. No problem.
We were on Jordan today, just got back so we beat the weather. Enjoying a nice IPA right now called Saturdays.

 

[suke]

So that is a good question, since the lake being 10 feet over, certain ramps you can launch at, and other you cant. You are right that the docks are floating, but what I noticed is that the water level was very near the top of the ramp on Saturday. If it gets too high, there is no drop off for the trailer. I think 10 feet is about the max at Nutbush 2. We launched at a different ramp a few weeks back when the lake was 15 over, but you have to know which ramps can handle that much water.
Debris, some, but not like a few weeks back. The southern part of the lake is usually better, but there were some large trees floating around, and we did pick up some crap that I was able to remove from the clean out port.
With the fishing tourny, the main lot was full, but they have an over flow lot that was easy to park in.
There is a courtesy dock, I used it once. No problem.
We were on Jordan today, just got back so we beat the weather. Enjoying a nice IPA right now called Saturdays.

oh boy! Floating trees is no fun. How bad were the ramps at Jordan today? Saw someone on instagram post an overhead shot of the new hope ramp from Sat and the parking lot looked full, but only 1-2 boats actually at the ramp. Wonder if that was due to the tournament though.

 

[919Cummins]

Want to get out next weekend, but not sure I want to tempt going to a triangle lake.

I. Feel. Your. Pain.

We are planning a day trip to Fort Fisher and driving on the beach on Friday or Saturday.

We have about gave it up, honestly.

With the ramps the way they are this year, the amount of time it takes to drop and retrieve, the assholes at the docks...it's just not much fun anymore.

Waiting on info back from the county, we may sell the boat and put a pool in. Wife said if they deny, it might be camper time. Before I got this boat, we had a Hurricane for 7 years. In my 7 years of owning that boat, we never had the anxiety of going out that we do now.

 

[granpachuck]

I hate to hear things like that. This has been , and continues to be, extraordinary times. The ramps are crazier now than ever for all the obvious reasons; Covid, lots of free time , cheap gas. The other factor is the large amount of people moving to this area. The population is simply growing, and this area is booming.

Maybe consider holding off on the boat sale until all the ramps open up. What we have been doing is avoiding Jordan on Saturdays if possible. We may go out there on a Friday, or head to Kerr on Saturdays. It is a ride, but there is a nice large rest stop about 20 mins from Nutbush. We just plan on longer days.
Jordan on Sundays isnt too bad, but I grew up in NY, so this seems fairly tame. Seaforth is a good ramp to use on Sunday, most of the time. Before 11 am it might be only half full.

If you do sell now, you most likely will get top dollar. Again, sorry to hear this. Boating shouldn't be stressful. I think you might see an improvement if you time your arrivals and departures differently, or just plan on pulling the boat a bit further.

 

[919Cummins]

Is this the ramp you use?

 

[suke]

I. Feel. Your. Pain.


With the ramps the way they are this year, the amount of time it takes to drop and retrieve, the assholes at the docks...it's just not much fun anymore.

Yup, I'm the same way. I've gone out half as much as I did last year. I really don't feel like getting in a shouting match everytime I take my boat out. Generally we get out prior to 9am, so don't run into a ton of traffic at that time. It's getting the boat out. We've yet to find a time that isn't just nuts for people putting in for us to get out without arguments. Granted we haven't tried new hope since it opened. We went there last year during July 4th weekend and it was cake. Lot was barely even half full. Sure do miss those times. Neighbor went to Harris last weekend and he said it was empty even at 2pm. I seriously must just choose all the wrong days to go out.

Kerr is still a little flooded, and if the trend continues it'll still be about 5 ft above normal by the weekend. I'm fairly risk averse, and not sure I want to deal with debris.

 

[granpachuck]

Is this the ramp you use?

Yes, that is Nutbush # 2. Not the only ramp we use there, but that is our default ramp. Big, wide, new. One downside, the floating docks have the mooring poles on the outside of the dock. Hard to explain, but it prevents you being able to easily move your boat up and down the dock.

 

[919Cummins]

Yes, that is Nutbush # 2. Not the only ramp we use there, but that is our default ramp. Big, wide, new. One downside, the floating docks have the mooring poles on the outside of the dock. Hard to explain, but it prevents you being able to easily move your boat up and down the dock.

It looks as if the docks are long enough to tie up to and not block?

 

[suke]

Not my picture, but from a few pages back. Are those padded? Might be a fun docking challenge to slide your boat right in there.
View attachment 121739

 

[919Cummins]

Shoooooo. I’ll slide right in.

 

[granpachuck]

Shoooooo. I’ll slide right in.

Lol, you guys can handle this easy. Yeah, they are padded with rubber. And long, several boats can sit on each side. This old guy manages, and my wife does most of the docking even with the giant sail that comes with our model yammi. Don't let a few branches in the water or non uniform docks stop you from at least checking it out.
Truthfully, the only downside for us is that my bimini is fixed, so on long trips I remove the canvas.

 

[suke]

May have to give Kerr a shot on Friday. See what the wife wants to do.

 

[granpachuck]

Not my picture, but from a few pages back. Are those padded? Might be a fun docking challenge to slide your boat right in there.
View attachment 121739

I just looked at that attachment, yeah, perfect picture, better than any explanation I could manage. I helped an older gent walk his boat up and around each one of those Saturday, and the entire time he was complaining about the design, and yelling at the guy on the ramp blocking him. He was working everyone up into a lather .
My wife actually found 2 little rustic cabins for rent near the marina on the water. We are going to be on Kerr from the 5th to the 10th . Its so cheap, even if we stay just a few days its worth it. @bronze_10 , haven't heard from you in awhile. If you will be on Kerr next week, let us know !