Guys,

The geography of the region dictates the angle of the ramps, but also provides the beauty of the lake. Having boated on Cumberland my entire life, I've never thought twice about the ramps, but I'll tell you I've seen some monsters put in and pulled out. I have never put in at either the State Dock or Jamestown, as our place is in Burnside. We always put in on Burnside Island or Conley Bottom, depending on which direction we plan on going. The ramps have never intimidated me.

It is not as over commercialized as other lakes, so there are not a lot of on-the-water restaurants. There are, however a couple. We've frequented FishTales at the Wolf Creek Marina (Up the cut that is straight across from the mouth of StateDock/Jamestown harbor) quite a few times during PR weekend. We've never had problems getting food, but a seat is usually a wait. I hear Rowena is a nice restaurant, but we've never been. The Harbor at Lee's Ford Marina (Quite a haul from StateDock/Jamestown) is very good. It's not RIGHT on the water, but it's accessible from and part of the marina, even if it's a bit of a climb, and it has a nice lake view. Again, the wait is sometimes non-conducive to your schedule. There is a "restaurant" at Conley, but, so far, all we've ever had is the pizza and soft serve. It's good for filling the belly; not so much for a nice dine. It does not surprise me that StateDock ran out of food. This is more a testament to the popularity of the event, but it does speak to a lack of proper planning on SunTex' part.

There are two things the lake patrol have absolutely zero sense of humor about: Life jackets and sobriety. One quick glance around at any of the more densely crowded areas and I can't imagine (sarc) why they would feel the need to step up patrol on sobriety. I normally don't drunk much, if any, on any given weekend, but I refuse to drink anything alcoholic on this weekend, and this is only partly due to the elevated patrol. Drunk people kill people, and that ain't gonna be me, on either side of it, if I can help it. I will say, though, that, for the most part, on this weekend in particular, the lake patrol is only enforcing what we commonly refer to as "a$$hole" laws. If you're not doing something pretty stupid, like endangering other boaters, they will leave you alone. I have been pulled over and boarded (once we got nabbed twice in one evening, while entering, and then leaving, StateDock), but I've also idled right past them without attracting their attention. Just this weekend, we idled past a pack of them, and one of them split off, went right past us and stopped a boat that was "idling" WAY above a "no wake" speed in a fairly crowded area. All in all, they have their reasons.

In days gone by, before the organizing body changed the format, the stretch between Harmon and StateDock would get almost unnavigable at times during this weekend, particularly early Saturday morning. Up until the last fatal crash, they would stage flights of boats, fastest first, and they ran a scheduled route, including lunch back at the StateDock. This led to spectators lining the Main Lake, fairly densely in some areas, and the water would border on violent even before the boats would fly by. I'm really surprised, looking back, that there was never any of the smaller boats that were sunk just from the waves that would build up. After the third fatal crash, presumably caused by the rough water and spectator interference, they spread the PokerRun out over two days, starting on Friday, and eliminated the schedule. To me, this killed a significant incentive to even put in unless you were planning on actually running the the PR, but the popularity doesn't seem to have suffered for it, so, I guess I'm the one that's wrong here. The result has been zero significant accidents and much calmer water, so, I guess it's for the better. Unless you're into it for jumping waves and breaking boats.

The "tight" turns and "narrow" channels are the main attraction of Cumberland over most other lakes, particularly what I call "flat country" lakes. Again, the topography is to credit here. I'm in SW Ohio, and we don't have anything I'd actually call a lake. We have a couple options that we exploit when we have a day to go play, but we go to Cumberland when we want to go BOATING. But, if you think the big end of the lake is "tight" and "narrow", you really need to check out the other end. Beyond Burnside Marina is the South Fork, where you can go 30+ miles in a single channel, with only a small handful of coves that extend beyond sight. If you're looking for solitude (why my dad always liked it), this is it. If you go much beyond "The Watchman" (you'll know it when you see it), the boulders can be unnerving, but I've been well past this point countless times. The water isn't nearly as clear, but the solitude and serenity...... There is one "Party Cove". It is marked with a single no wake buoy at it's mouth, and it goes back several hundred yards, turning left, then right, protecting it from lake traffic waves. It is a far more family friendly party cove, but you'll often find several dozen boats anchored and lashed together, with the "kids" jumping from several cliff points.

Yes. Bring plenty of rope. What you see the bank doing at the waterline is pretty much what it keeps doing underwater. That incline usually continues until it meets the incline on the other side in the middle. There are several spots along the length of the lake and its creeks that are 200'+ deep, and much of it is at least 100'. However, I have 150' of rope in a single strand, and I've never found a spot I actually wanted to drop anchor at that I didn't have enough rope to reach bottom with.

I would highly encourage y'all's to return on a non-PokerRun weekend, even July 4th week, and see the lake's other personality.

Thanks. Brad.
Model Machine and Precision LLC
(937)545-8991

Eileen says we are in Justin

$hitshow Extreme!!!!!!! My thought exactly on a nice boat. And you don't see many for that reason. So many dip$hits in there in makes it retarded. They stop for 10 minutes begging some chicks to show their tits. Meanwhile, the wind and slight "current" have boats behind them drifting all over because they cant maintain even the slightest speed to gain control. Then somehow other goons end up totally sideways in the gauntlet.
I ran a dinghy through there, even was WTF'ing with that.

I tried twice and both times after idling for 15 minutes I wasn`t even in there and it was a mess i did not want to get stuck not being able to turn around or hit a boat or someone hit me.. $hit show in there . and I heard an hour to get thru . I had to pass but wanted to do it .


EDIT : CHEECH, well now I`m glad I didn`t go. If I got a scratch on my boat I`d lose my $hit

Cheech,

Nah... We went through it. Ain't no thang. We decided it would be easier to separate my buddy's boat from our pack than ours, so three couples left two boats behind on anchors and took one boat through. He's only been a boat owner for one summer (we sold them our boat when we bought our new one this spring), but it was his boat so we let him drive. He did fine. There is no current and, where the gauntlet is, there is usually no wind to speak of, as it's sheltered on three sides. Even with a single, we were able to manage to keep it off the other boats and avoid chopping up any swimmers. The twins don't have any trouble at all. It does get tight, and is usually all but a dead crawl, if not completely stopped sometimes, but you keep your head on a swivel, bump shifter with proper sawing on the wheel, and it's a cakewalk.

I've gotta be honest... Until we decide to drop the coin and actually run in the PokerRun, Harmon Creek is the only real reason for me to even get our boat wet. I love going to StateDock and checking out the boats, but, without the schedule, there's almost no hopes of them all being there, or even most of them, at any one given time. We still go, but, as has been stated, it's getting to be less and less.

Thanks. Brad.
Model Machine and Precision LLC
(937)545-8991

Oh I've been through there countless times over the past 10 years, I know how to do it. And I've been tied up in the middle of the gauntlet before, where the boats are drifting back and forth, closing and opening the gauntlet.
And keeping an eye on the row in front of ya and jumping to keep your nose off the other row.
It's sheltered but not totally impervious to wind.
Pontoon next to/ behind us was all askew when we went through from a slight breeze on Saturday. Had his chick out with the boat hook to keep of us once we were in front of him.
For every good boat operator there's probably 10 that can't in there.

I was there as a designated captain, other than that I'd been home on the couch, that's my take on "The Poker Run"
State Dock or Harmon, all just a MEH in my eyes.

You missed nothing. Topless women? Ok but that got old once I hit 18. Quiet a few had pasties on, that's LAME! If they aren't in my hand or mouth what's the use?
And I'm impatient with dip$hits!
Very few in there even know where State Dock is probably and still ask when do the boats "race".
Also do believe there was a post on Facebook where some a$$clowns were sling shotting frozen water balloons. :waffen093:

Your boat is nice, I'm with ya!
I don't know when that pic you posted was taken of Harmon, but that would of been a decent time to go through as far as congestion.
Who the fack wants to wait 15 minutes on dip$hits that cant maintain idle speed and cutting in front of everyone and whatnot?

Just Youtube one of the videos!

I saw ICDEDPPL Saturday getting gas. I would’ve said hey if I could’ve. Nice boat by the way. Yes the ramp at Jamestown is steep. I keep mine in 4 low until the top.

Going through Harmon was tight in some spots this year. Especially towards the end when you had to turn left. I don’t understand why people want to go 3+ wide through there?

Someone mentioned the boats moving in the middle. I was able to tie up to some houseboats on the side. Much better not having to worry about moving around.

As for restaurants, Rowena looked really nice. Didn’t get a chance to eat but I’d like to one day.
We stay at a State Dock boatel. Either cook out or get food from the trailer parked close to the marina. Don’t usually eat much on this trip.

I was looking around at people getting pulled over on the way out. Watched one that wasn’t acting crazy or idling too fast. Maybe life jacket check?

This sort of thing could have been the reason for the organized start going away. Comments from people on the spectator boat are fantastic.

I got pulled over for a wake violation, sorry can`t go any slower , nothing I can do.Pretty lame reason .

Pretty sure they just wanted to check out my crew. Good thing I was dead sober.

Ice actually and thank you ...that`s the other thing , fill up on land at $3.30 something vs. $4.65 at State .



lol that cracked me up but so true.



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