Ms River Scare

[Kealhofer]

Let me start out by saying that I am from Vicksburg and I have been in the river many times and feel somewhat comfortable in it b/c I am careful and know where all the dikes are and other obstacles and I am in a 18' boat with a 90hp. This story starts a few weeks ago when it was not as high as it has been lately. I went scouting one friday afternoon and I knew the dikes were close to the top of the water. You can see the water swirling on top of them even when it is 10' or so above them. I had to go over a dike to get to the place I wanted to scout and I had no problem. Before I reached the next dike, I had to make a sharp turn into a cut maybe 15' from the dike. I made it with no problem. I decided to go back the next morning with a buddy and hunt. We got out there before light and went across the river b/f the barge made it up there. We had no problem so far and then we drifted across the first dike with no problem. When we reached the next one where the cut is, I accidently pulled the kill cord out and the motor died. We drifted across the dike and I put the plug back in and started it up. As I was crossing back across I center a rock and we are stuck. The water is flowing very fast and I try to backup and I have no luck. Since the rock was centered the current turned the boat sideways. Now imagine the current flowing to the side of the boat. It is maybe 2" from topping the side. At this point I am about to chit in my pants. I could just imagine one small wave making it over the side and the strong current would have flipped us and I would not be writing this. I used the motor to straighten the boat to where at least the current is flowing from the front of the boat. I get my patna to get in the front with the dog and I tried to go forward and backward with no luck. Then I got him to move to the back with the dog and I tried to go backwards and with the currents help we were able to slide off of it. Now I have to go back across it b/c I can't go out any other way. I lifted my hydrolic jackplate all the way up and held my breath as we tried it again and we made it without any problem. The sun came up and within 3 hrs. we killed one greenhead. When I got home I checked the stage and it dropped 17" overnight (I checked it late afternoon the day before) and that made a huge difference since it was already low. I will still hunt the river some, but you won't catch me out there before sunrise and without checking the stage THAT MORNING! I am glad that I made it through that and it reminded me of how quick you can be a gonner even if you don't do anything reckless. My grandad told me the river has no friends and doesn't even know you. I know what he ment by that now.

[Tedl10]

Sounded like a close call. I know there is good huntin on the ol' man but I still can't make myself get out on it. Glad you, your patna, and the dog made it out safely.

[redherring]

I had a similar problem in calm water with my new Go Devil motor. I ran up on a small stump that got between the ribs of my boat and all I could do was spin around on it, but couldnt go forward and my motor has no reverse. I was able to lasso another stump with a spare rope and easily pull myself off. From now on I carry a small anchor that could be thrown out to pull myself off with.

[marshman]

I am in the Coast Guard and was on a bouy tender on the river for 2 years. Sometimes the tender has to launch a smaller boat to retrieve a stray buoy or to disconnect a buoy from its sinker if the tender can't get to it. These smaller boats are still 18-20ft long with at least 90hp on them. Pretty much all the Coast Guard tenders all along the river use these and on several occasions we would here about one swamping. Usually it happens when the boat is tied off to a buoy and is trying to disconnect it. Sometimes the boat will pivot and the current will catch it on the side. Luckly no one has been injured or lost so far. I have a mighty healthy respect for it. All I can say is think about how careful and safety minded you have ever been in a boat and multiply that 10 times before you go out there. Especially when the stages are where they are now.

[LawDawg]

My grandad told me the river has no friends and doesn't even know you


No truer words have been spoken. I am just glad you made it out alright

[Kealhofer]

I hope this story will help someone understand the strength and danger that is in flowing water.

[TODO]

I would say the moral of this story is dont cross a dyke.... glad it turned out o.k....on another note i was deer hunting a few weeks ago north of greenville and passed a nice party barge abandoned on top of a dyke, i dont know the story,but it looked like a fairly late model barge. The river is currently on a big rise, i would suggest staying off unless you really know what your doing.

[goosebruce]

there are old river hunters, and there are bold river hunters... but there aint no old bold river hunters.

Furgit that... I can get hurt in 10 inchs of water in a rice field! travis

[duckkiller]

the big muddy can be dangerous, glad you made it back to share your story, one thing for sure and this goes with any river/lake but esp. the big one, if you dont respect it, it will hurt you

[waterbug]

Projected to be at 37.5 this weekend, you will not have to worry about dikes this weekend. Glad ya made it back safe.

[duckkiller]

what is considered flood stage on the river

[waterbug]

banks full in Vicksburg at 43'

[cwink]

One thing good about the Self Bailing Center console. Growing up on the coast, you learn the value in self bailer. I have been in a situation where the waves come over the boat, and I have 6 inches of water in the boat. Once you get a move on the water drain right out.. We had a Ski Barge and you could fill it with water and then cut it in half and it would still float... To bad they don't make those boats in a color that is half way good for hunting..

[macattack]

Goosebruce, give me a call in 30 years and I will let you talk to old bold river hunter.

In all seriousness, that river is dangerous. Don't fear it; it can smell fear, just giver him some respect.

[missed mallards]

Glad ya'll made it back o.k. and everything turned out all right.

That river demands respect.