Navigation Help on Barkley

Hey everyone,
I had a quick question for those that fish Lake Barkley. Have any of you used the ramp at Coleman Bridge in the back of Eddy Creek? I have been on Lake Barkley most of my life and never used it. I've been told that is shallow on the way out by Holiday Hills campground. I know boats are going out here but I know there is a special route that has to be used and the navigational markers are not right. I haven't been able to catch the guys using the ramp to ask. I'm going to go out and troll through it as soon as I get a chance but was hoping someone might know the way out. The ramp would be a lot easier for me at our new place. Thanks in advance for any help, I appreciate anyone taking time to read and help.

See if this helps : Navionics ChartViewer

Kinda looks like if you stay out in the middle +/-, once you go under the bridge, you're likely to stay in >6fow .... but GETTING from the launch ramp to the bridge is another story.

Now the disclaimer is .... I'm not sure how accurate this website is, as I've had it on my computer for more than 10yrs & don't know if/when they update it.

The other disclaimer is .... looking at Google Maps, you get the impression that launching a kayak is okay, but launching a boat of any size might be a little iffy. :dono

Thanks CP, but the funny part is from the ramp to the bridge the channel is good, but don't get out of channel. I talked with an older gentleman that fishes up to the bridge. He didn't know the path after the bridge but did know it was shallow. I'm close enough that Eddy Creek marine is fine to use. This ramp would just be handier. I'm going to troll it, my nitro should draft high enough that it shouldn't be a problem(I hope). Hopefully I won't be like the cruise ship that got caught in Barkley last week. Lol Thanks for the info.

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Haha .... yeah, I don't feel so bad now, after the Cruise Ship grounded on a sand bar .... since I did the same thing back in the early 1970's fishing the ABF State Classic. I was following some friends to a creek on Barkley, and they had much bigger motors than my boat had, so when they swung a long swooping right to go into the creek I thought I could gain some ground by running a straight angle towards the creek mouth. There was a channel buoy on the far side, but none on the side I was coming in. The boat started bogging down & slowing down, and when I looked behind me all I saw was a 100ft trail of muddy water. :Doh: Come to find out I was smack dab in the middle of a big sand bar :yikes .... pulled the motor up (no TnT) and the white aluminum prop was now 50/50 white & shiny silver. Pushed the boat with the skulling paddle until I got the boat floating, then dropped the trolling motor just far enough to get to deeper water. Stowed the trolling motor, dropped the big motor, fired it up and went on about the day's fishing practice.

I have fished this area since I was a kid. My Grandpa would take me and my cousin on a tractor to fish he had no drivers license. I still go by and look at a certain rock my Grandpa would sit on to refresh the childhood memories. I am now 65 years old. In response to your question it depends on what time of the year you use the ramp. At Summer pool 359 elev. it is useable but once the Corps starts lowering the water down to 357 it becomes more of a hazard. At winter pool 354 it is not useable. One of the big hazards in low water is once you go under I-24 bridge. What's left of the channel goes along the I-24 levee and then along the south bank. In low water if you go straight you are going across a shallow mud /stump /brush flat. In water less than 359' elev. I personally would use Eddy Creek marina ramp.

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Originally Posted by DWILL

Hey everyone,
I had a quick question for those that fish Lake Barkley. Have any of you used the ramp at Coleman Bridge in the back of Eddy Creek? I have been on Lake Barkley most of my life and never used it. I've been told that is shallow on the way out by Holiday Hills campground. I know boats are going out here but I know there is a special route that has to be used and the navigational markers are not right. I haven't been able to catch the guys using the ramp to ask. I'm going to go out and troll through it as soon as I get a chance but was hoping someone might know the way out. The ramp would be a lot easier for me at our new place. Thanks in advance for any help, I appreciate anyone taking time to read and help.

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I'll guarantee I know the rock your talking about. I've fished there with the grandkids.

Just a FYI.. If you decide to try Coleman Bridge Ramp be aware that unless they have added it recently there is not a courtesy dock so if you are in a fiberglass boat you are probably not going to like the results.

Someone has a conveyor belt from the coal mines laid down to pull a boat up to. Not sure who put it there, but it was a good idea.


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