and what a beautiful day and the river was great.
This part of the river is not used much because in the summer there are so many shallow spots that a kayak or canoe will run aground. Because of that nobody keeps the trees cleared of the river, many fall down across it in storms. This happens with most of the rivers but the canoe liverys and DNR keep them clear, not so with the Cut.
I did not know what to expect so I took my small kayak as it is very manuverable. If I was gonna be dodging trees I was going to need it.
We have had a lot of rain this spring and there still had many places that would barely float my kayak and in many other places the water was over my head. The bottom is covered with trees and stumps, great cover for the smallmouth bass. Man that river has some huge bass, I saw a dozen at least as big as that dead one I posted a pic of yesterday. There was no hole I passed that I did not see bass, they were everywhere! I imagine there are so many because it is inexcessable most of the year. There is no access along the banks and there is no roads going anywhere near it in most places.
I floated for three hours and only found one piece of trash, one beer can. No paper or bait cans or anything like that at all. It is a very clear river down to wheere the Backus Creek enters. From there on it is dark from the Backus running through cedar swamps. Lots of Tannen in the water.
I saw nobody or no sign that anyone had ever been there at all. I saw deer two times but they were faster than my camera. I saw a dang turkey standing on a dead tree that spanned the river too.
There was a one mile area that it took a while for me to work my way through. There had to be a couple dozen blowdowns that blocked the river completely. I had to work to get through there.
The pictures are just some I took to show what it was like. Pictures are never enough to really give the feel for the area but you can get an idea what the shore was like. It would have been a hell of a job to hike out of there. Very thick woods.
I am thinking about doing the run again tomorrow. I sure wish you guys could join me
It would be great to have someone to share it with. What an incredable day.
I almost forgot. I was talking to a lady today that lives on the lower end, near where I got out. She told me to watch for bear. There was one spotted swimming in Houghton Lake yesterday and there were a couple cubs spotted just down stream from she and I were talking. I didn't see any sign though.
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This part of the river is not used much because in the summer there are so many shallow spots that a kayak or canoe will run aground. Because of that nobody keeps the trees cleared of the river, many fall down across it in storms. This happens with most of the rivers but the canoe liverys and DNR keep them clear, not so with the Cut.
I did not know what to expect so I took my small kayak as it is very manuverable. If I was gonna be dodging trees I was going to need it.
We have had a lot of rain this spring and there still had many places that would barely float my kayak and in many other places the water was over my head. The bottom is covered with trees and stumps, great cover for the smallmouth bass. Man that river has some huge bass, I saw a dozen at least as big as that dead one I posted a pic of yesterday. There was no hole I passed that I did not see bass, they were everywhere! I imagine there are so many because it is inexcessable most of the year. There is no access along the banks and there is no roads going anywhere near it in most places.
I floated for three hours and only found one piece of trash, one beer can. No paper or bait cans or anything like that at all. It is a very clear river down to wheere the Backus Creek enters. From there on it is dark from the Backus running through cedar swamps. Lots of Tannen in the water.
I saw nobody or no sign that anyone had ever been there at all. I saw deer two times but they were faster than my camera. I saw a dang turkey standing on a dead tree that spanned the river too.
There was a one mile area that it took a while for me to work my way through. There had to be a couple dozen blowdowns that blocked the river completely. I had to work to get through there.
The pictures are just some I took to show what it was like. Pictures are never enough to really give the feel for the area but you can get an idea what the shore was like. It would have been a hell of a job to hike out of there. Very thick woods.
I am thinking about doing the run again tomorrow. I sure wish you guys could join me
I almost forgot. I was talking to a lady today that lives on the lower end, near where I got out. She told me to watch for bear. There was one spotted swimming in Houghton Lake yesterday and there were a couple cubs spotted just down stream from she and I were talking. I didn't see any sign though.
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[attachment 28611 lowercut2.jpg]
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[attachment 28613 lowercut4.jpg]
[attachment 28614 lowercut5.jpg]
[attachment 28615 lowercut6.jpg]