Safe Travels into Talquin

[Redphisher]

Where the Ochlockonee meets up with Talquin is very stumpy. Where’s the safe travel into the main body of Talquin? The other question is the obvious one. Is there good fishing around that area? There are a ton of lilly pads/off shoots in and around that whole river.

[Double Naught]

Redphisher,

You are talking about one of my favorite areas on that lake. I have caught many limits shellcrackers in those waters during the spring. The catfishing can be excellent especially up in the river when the storms swell the river out of its banks. Good number of specks are caught up there in the late spring, but most of them are so big you probably wouldn't want to mess with them.

STUMPY & LOGGY
There are monster trees up to 40 inches or more in diameter, 40 ft long lying on the bottom in five foot depths. I built a special fiberglass boat for that lake. I made an airtight sub floor. There were at least four serious punctures in the first three years. Learning the lake hazards is done by a modified braile technique. A depth finder helps a lot too. Hotspot topo maps are also good if you run a GPS well. The bottom line is if you drive slow (idle), you will be fine. Gradually you will learn the safe lane in front of the iron curtain. From there you will find the western run to Williams Landing. After you pass Williams, the main lake becomes a lot safer.
Try to find some up close photos of the lumber in front of Coe's Landing taken during the last drawdown cycle. You will not be dissapointed.

[bman]

Or go with TC, Close your eyes and pray. That man runs fast on Talquin..

[Algaegator]

Redphisher,
I've been fishing Talquin for several years now and I'm still afraid of it. I usually put in at the closest ramp to where I want to fish and with the exception of very few areas I move around very slowly. That lake can be treacherous. I wish there was some way we could get the authorities to mark the river channel all the way through. I've fished with some people who say that if you can't see anything then there's nothing to worry about......BullS**t. Be careful.....that's my best advice.

[tin can]

If you run Talquin, it's not a matter if if, it's a matter of when. You're going to hit something.

Redphisher, The area around Coes, in both directions, is the most dangerous area on the lake. As Bman commented, I run that lake, but not in that area. If I want to go to that area, I idle.

Algaegator, the state has been approached many times about marking the channel in Talquin. It won't happen, for several reasons. There is very little channel in the lake that is straight enough to run. Also, just because you're in the channel doesn't mean you won't hit anything. There are a few places with trees sticking out of the channel bank. The primary reason the state won't mark the channel is liability. Talquin is not considered a navigable body of water. Navigate at your own risk.