Raleigh Area Lakes. Jordan, Harris, Falls.

[granpachuck]

For the folks using Jordan, it appears that they are opening Seaforth Boat Ramp. That is good news since the congestion on the other opened ramps has been heavy.

 

[suke]

For the folks using Jordan, it appears that they are opening Seaforth Boat Ramp. That is good news since the congestion on the other opened ramps has been heavy.

WOOT! Confirmed on Jordan Lake's website. That's awesome! That's the biggun right there. That should free up New Hope a ton. Unfortunately I'll likely be out the next 2 weeks. May sneak a day trip in next week if the weather holds out, but likely will hit Harris since half the day will be over by the time I get out.

 

[Chadrock]

Made it out to Jordan today, used Robeson Creek for the first time. Turns out it’s pretty close to where I store my boat on 64. Hanging out at Party Cove with 5 other boats. It’s a good day.

 

[suke]

Made it out to Jordan today, used Robeson Creek for the first time. Turns out it’s pretty close to where I store my boat on 64. Hanging out at Party Cove with 5 other boats. It’s a good day.

Careful there's a lot of floating "land mines" from the ramp to the larger part of the lake. It is a nice small ramp, though.

 

[granpachuck]

Not going to try to beat the crowds today, and planning on launching at New Hope late morning.. Will have 3 grands with us probably. Looks like a great day to be on the lake !

Be safe out there gang.

 

[suke]

Not going to try to beat the crowds today, and planning on launching at New Hope late morning.. Will have 3 grands with us probably. Looks like a great day to be on the lake !

Be safe out there gang.

Interested to hear how much Seaforth opening up frees up New Hope. Was shocked last year just how empty it always was. I don't think I ever had to wait to put in or pull out.

 

[granpachuck]

Not going to try to beat the crowds today, and planning on launching at New Hope late morning.. Will have 3 grands with us probably. Looks like a great day to be on the lake !

Be safe out there gang.

Well, I definitely didn't beat the crowd, but they surely beat me. Thought I was taking 3 grandkids on the boat, turned into 4 last minute, so our tiny SUV was stuffed, and we didn't get to NH until around 1 PM. No line at the gate, a good thing, right? Nope. Rangers closed New Hope; over filled. Hustled over to Seaforth, and that worked out great. It was as full as I have seen it, almost every space taken it seems. They only let in vehicles pulling a trailer, and it was still wall to wall. It was busy, and we had to wait a little bit at the ramp, but a really good day. One of my sons that travels a lot surprised us by jumping on the boat at Crosswinds.
I told my wife later that we got back the entire purchase price of the boat in one afternoon. She didn't need convincing, she loves the boat maybe more than I do.
Just seems crazy that in order to maintain Covid guidelines, some ramps are still closed. The area near Ebenezer has dozens of cars parked on the side of the road with people walking down to the lake from the woods. Also saw a group of teen agers jumping of the bridge by Crosswinds. They put a scare into a few people coming by on jet skis . A few other close calls, but you really have to pay attention more than ever out there.

 

[suke]

Wow! That's crazy. I heard that Harris ended up being pretty empty as far as the ramp goes yesterday. I thought for sure with Seaforth opening up that New Hope would be empty. Upside is we're only a few weeks away from the rest of the ramps opening up.

 

[PBear]

Wow! That's crazy. I heard that Harris ended up being pretty empty as far as the ramp goes yesterday. I thought for sure with Seaforth opening up that New Hope would be empty. Upside is we're only a few weeks away from the rest of the ramps opening up.

The Harris 42 ramp was a NIGHTMARE yesterday. There was a fishing tournament or something like that going on. Fishing boats were all over, zooming up and down the lake.

We got there at 8:30am and got what literally looked like the second to last trailer parking spot. Went to pull out at Noon and it was a zoo with other pleasure boaters trying to get into the parking lot, ramps tied up as drivers had no spots to put their empty trailers, etc. People were parked on both sides all the way out out the entrance and 3/4’s of the way down Cross Point Rd. The good news in all that is that people I encountered were friendly, no fights or anything close to that.

 

[suke]

The Harris 42 ramp was a NIGHTMARE yesterday. There was a fishing tournament or something like that going on. Fishing boats were all over, zooming up and down the lake.

We got there at 8:30am and got what literally looked like the second to last trailer parking spot. Went to pull out at Noon and it was a zoo with other pleasure boaters trying to get into the parking lot, ramps tied up as drivers had no spots to put their empty trailers, etc. People were parked on both sides all the way out out the entrance and 3/4’s of the way down Cross Point Rd. The good news in all that is that people I encountered were friendly, no fights or anything close to that.

What a terrible time to try and have a fishing tournament. Maybe the person I talked to used the other ramp? Or maybe their idea of "not insane" is different. LOL! Kinda glad I'm out for the next 2 weeks. Going to rain it seems for the next 5 days. However, I may take a half day Thursday and fight the rain to take the boat out with a buddy to do some surfing. Wife and little boy are at the beach this week.

 

[PBear]

What a terrible time to try and have a fishing tournament. Maybe the person I talked to used the other ramp? Or maybe their idea of "not insane" is different. LOL! Kinda glad I'm out for the next 2 weeks. Going to rain it seems for the next 5 days. However, I may take a half day Thursday and fight the rain to take the boat out with a buddy to do some surfing. Wife and little boy are at the beach this week.

Figured out the fishing tournament - it was at the 42 ramp. It was originally supposed to be at Kerr Lake but was moved at some point due to delays in the permit process due to Covid.

The host website is http://piedmontbassclassics.com. They list the tournament dates, ramps, etc. Something to keep an eye on.

 

[granpachuck]

Seaforth was half full today. Breezy, nice day on the lake. Water is warmer than the air. The booth attendant said that usually they are full by 1 or 2 pm on Saturdays.

 

[granpachuck]

Three people pulled from Falls Lake in Durham after overnight boat crash

Three people pulled from Falls Lake in Durham after overnight boat crash :: WRAL.com

A report of boaters in distress brought first responders to Falls Lake overnight.

www.wral.com

Out on the lake in middle of the night, probably not wake boarding.

 

[granpachuck]

Phase Three reopening is now tentative on the Jordan Lake website, so I guess we will have to do without the rest of the ramps opening up. Too bad, I was hoping things would get somewhat back to normal as far as boating goes, but that was wishful thinking obviously.
Fathers day we got out early using Seaforth ramp, and it was nice and empty when we arrived. But coming back, it was the busiest I ever saw that ramp. People leaving their boats tied up and then retrieving their tow vehicle took up every boat slip.
Other people would then launch their boat in front of a boat waiting to be retrieved. Just a mess.

 

[Austin-BR]

We made the mistake to go Harris on the same day and ramp of the fishing tournament.... wife just made one comment (after 1 hour for me to go from where I parked and the ramp) "never more here"
Father's day we went to Falls Lake again, great day, no issues at the ramp or parking.

 

[suke]

Phase Three reopening is now tentative on the Jordan Lake website, so I guess we will have to do without the rest of the ramps opening up. Too bad, I was hoping things would get somewhat back to normal as far as boating goes, but that was wishful thinking obviously.
Fathers day we got out early using Seaforth ramp, and it was nice and empty when we arrived. But coming back, it was the busiest I ever saw that ramp. People leaving their boats tied up and then retrieving their tow vehicle took up every boat slip.
Other people would then launch their boat in front of a boat waiting to be retrieved. Just a mess.

Lame! I thought they were going to open July 1st regardless......that sucks!

 

[granpachuck]

We made the mistake to go Harris on the same day and ramp of the fishing tournament.... wife just made one comment (after 1 hour for me to go from where I parked and the ramp) "never more here"
Father's day we went to Falls Lake again, great day, no issues at the ramp or parking. View attachment 123989

Nice looking kids , and it seems like you figured out the most important part of boating; listen when the Admiral speaks. Even if its only 3 words.
We may sneak out to the lake today, and thinking of trekking up to Kerr Sunday.

 

[Austin-BR]

Nice looking kids , and it seems like you figured out the most important part of boating; listen when the Admiral speaks. Even if its only 3 words.
We may sneak out to the lake today, and thinking of trekking up to Kerr Sunday.

After 15 years, I hope that I figured it out LOL

 

[suke]

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.

 

[Shookie]

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