performance outboard gathering in La./Ms. area

[venus79]

me and a friend are working on a gathering/river run on the ouchita river around sterlington louisiana and just wanted to see who all would be interested in coming. we will launch at sterlington. it'll be on a weekend of course. we plan on camping on a sand bar at night but those that dont want to camp can get motel rooms and we can meet you at the ramp when you're ready to launch, i'll have to ask where all the motels are located.but everyone is more then welcome to bring tents and camp to. might bring your grill or habachi to grill on.my friend lives 2 miles from this river and knows it well and i have run it a few times and its a really nice place. planning a nice scenic ride or run for everyone that wants to go. theres a couple nice resteraunts on the river that we can get to by boat. ive camped on this river twice and the people are really nice. we are trying to plan it for spring or early summer but we dont have a for sure date yet but will post it as soon as possible.im sure i forgot to add something to this post so let me know if you have any questions. thanks

let me know if you are interested in coming.:cheers:

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[venus79]

anybody?

[Jason Johnson]

I'll be first, Bout time thanks

[rod2dknee]

Heck yeah count me in..... let me know the date on this cause as it stands im in iraq. thanks.

[Da Bull]

I`m interested. From where to where? How many mile`s?

DB

[venus79]

not 100% sure on how many miles yet. the friend that im doing this with lives by the ouchita river and knows it well, i'll get with him on how many miles and let you know.

[venus79]

we both work on a tow boat and get off dec. 19th and will find out which marinas have gas incase some guys boats have shorter fuel range then others. we will be camping in the Sterlington/Monroe area near moon lake boat ramp. marina is located at moon lake and will talk with marina owner and post more info. we are going to check with other marinas to see which ones will have gas. the river stages and amount of drift may determine the date of the run. going to try to have run in june or july before it gets to hot. will post more info soon

[venus79]

still working on a for sure date. when we get off dec.19th we're going to maybe take a cold boat ride and figure out where we going to run to. if anyone has any questions feel free to ask. hope we have a big turn out and can have this gathering/river run every year. thanks

[patchesII]

i'm interested. also curious how many miles. with a couple of points of reference i'm sure you could get close by going to aerial photos like on google earth and using the mileage scale on there. just an idea

[venus79]

cool, never would have thought of trying google earth. thanks for the advice patchesII.

[venus79]

we're thinking about the last weekend of june if thats cool with everyone.

[2 De River]

Where is this located? I'm familiar with the Gulfport, Hattiesburg area, how far are we looking at from there.?

Also I am looking for a 15 in stock Merc Mid, not interested in anything that has been modified, I have a 20 in. in great condition, would be interested in either a purchase or possible trade of some type. Not interested in selling the 20 unless I have a 15 to replace it with. Please put out the word in your area for me, I can be reached @ 334-791-4930. Thanks! Jimmy

[venus79]

not sure how many miles it is from gulfport but take hwy 49 north to I-20, take I-20 west to hwy 165, take hwy 165 north and its only a few miles up hwy 165, between monroe and bastrop louisiana. its going to be in sterlington louisiana. im not real good with giving directions, guess thats why i keep an atlas in all my vehicles.

[venus79]

i posted wrong date. we get off the 3rd weekend of june, so we're having the gathering/river run the last weekend of June. hope its a good date for everyone

[biohzrd]

count me in if you won't mind a bigger boat(30' velocity), and assuming i have it up and going by then. sounds like a good time. i was just thinking the other day that it would be nice to get something like this on the diversion canal/tickfaw area.

[RB in NM]

Ther's always a bunch ready to run the lower Amite area,,,, lot's of the Byuboyz always primed.... U almost need a friggin 30fter in the Diversion anymore......:cheers:

RB

[venus79]

dont matter what size boat, hell you can bring a little jon boat, having fun is all that matters. we're launching in sterlington

[venus79]

we're going to run north that saturday and maybe take a run south sunday before everyone leaves. we're still trying to decide on the destination of each run. we're checking on camping areas for those that bring campers.also checking on motels for those that want to do that. a couple of us are bringing tents and camping on the sandbar thats 10 or 15minutes from the boat ramp.

[T-REX]

Keep us posted....I may be interested...depends on tha wallet thickness and if DSRA haz a race on that weekend!!

[venus79]

sure will T-REX. hope you can make it.

[Da Bull]

a couple of us are bringing tents and camping on the sandbar thats 10 or 15minutes from the boat ramp.<!-- / message -->



That`s a damn good ideer. I`ll bring my tent. How much room is there where we will put um up. Winter time would be ok too. I slept in it down at our fanallee and it was 29 one night but i had two elect heater`s and it was great. G-Man did to and they stayed warm also. Biggest advantage,No motel bill=more gasoline!!!!

DB

[venus79]

the sandbar where we'll be camping is big enough for atleast 100 tents. theres no electricity though. its 10 to 15 minutes from the boat ramp. a few of us camped there this past summer and had a blast

[Da Bull]

Sounds great. Just let us know when. We`ll camp out and do it up right.....Louisiana style!!!

DB

[venus79]

sounds great and looking forward to it.

[Waterdigger]

Sterlington is only an hour's drive from my house.The river is really nice in
that area both directions.I'll try to make this one if I can. :cheers:

[venus79]

cool, hope you can make it Waterdigger

[venus79]

change in plans. sense the boat ramp is north of the sandbar that we're camping on, we're going to run south that saturday and run north sunday. making the run north sunday so that everyone can put there camping gear in there vehicle before the run.

[76baja18ft]

sounds fun:cheers:

[76baja18ft]

Hit up Forkin' Crazy he can tell you where all the fuel stops threw there...and the mileages.. He has ran from monroe to Felsenthal several times.....:cheers:

[elmo4x4]

Subscribed!:thumbsup: I will follow the thread and hopefully be able to attend:cheers:

Elmo

[venus79]

cool, the more the better.

[elmo4x4]

We`ll camp out and do it up right.....Louisiana style!!!

DB

:iagree::thumbsup:Fkn A right!!!:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::thumbsup:

[venus79]

yep yep going to be a blast. my wife is from new orleans. louisiana style is the bomb

[patchesII]

did ya'll ever get an idea of the distance ya'll wanna run.

[venus79]

still workin on the distance. me and the friend helping put this together are not sure about the fuel range of our boats but will figure it up soon, we get off tomorrow and will have it figured out in a couple days.

[patchesII]

thats what i was wondering. i have a 20 gallon tank so i should be ok with a decent run

[warren pender]

I'm in for a road trip.

[merctech5591]

Has Anyone Set A Date.. Never Done Any Boating In La.. Might Like To Join In..

[venus79]

patchesII a 20 gallon tank should be fine i would think. im running a 30 in mine

[venus79]

doing this the last weekend of june.

[venus79]

we're doing this the last weekend of june and hope the date is ok for everyone.

[SANTAFE]

I may have missed it, but is this going to be like a long relaxing ride down the river or a balls to the wall blast from a to b? Also will there be any side by side testing, (idle to whatever)? Just trying to decide which boat to bring. Old slow Bullet, or lower middle of the pack Mirage.:thumbsup:

[venus79]

we can run however everyone wants to. we can lay back and cruise or we can blast. not sure if anyone is going to do any testing or not. bring which ever boat you want. im sure some will be blasting and some will be just cruising. it'll be fun either way

[venus79]

we working on distance of south run and north run and will know in the next day or so. thanks

[venus79]

we were going to take a ride today to figure out the route and distance of each run, but have 30mph winds and an 80% chance of rain.

[venus79]

havent been able to get a distance on the runs yet, been big time busy with the holidays and stuff but will figure the distance soon. weather has been to ****ty to take a ride and gps the mileage and all. still doing this the last weekend of June and looking forward to it.

[malexie]

If you are looking for something sooner there will be the "Spring Bling" on
March 14th in Lafitte, LA. :cheers:

http://www.byuboyz.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24134

[venus79]

thanks malexie, wish i could make it but i wont be home for it. would like to see pics if you go.

[venus79]

we going to gps the route and mileage of both runs when we get off february 4th.

[venus79]

anyone else want to come?

[venus79]

anyone want to take an early ride wwith us when we go gps the mileage and destination of both run? we will know a date on when we going to gps it when it gets a little closer to feb. 4th

[atgill]

Venue,

Its 65 miles from here [Crossett]to Monroe by river.
The lock is 9 miles south from Crossett Bridge.
You can get gas at Moon Lake, also there is a new boat ramp at moon lake, nice parking..ect...
Moon Lake is south from Sterlington about 10-12 miles.??
Very nice sand bars around Moon Lake area.
I live at Crossett Ar, and we boat down there some, lot of action in the summer

Andy Gill

[venus79]

going to gps our route and get accurate mileage the first warm day we get after feb.4th.

[venus79]

wish the wind would lay down so we can take a ride to map and gps our runs

[venus79]

went and talked with the wildlife game and fishery today, they said side by side testing is cool as long as we dont put anyone in danger. also asked(out of curiousity) about open container in a boat and was told that its cool as long as we not acting stupid and putting others in danger.

[jallen355]

Just subscribed to this thread and I'll look into making it. I was born in W.Monroe and learned to ski on Lake Ouachita, but have never been on the Ouachita River.

[venus79]

its going to be fun, hope you can make it.

[Forkin' Crazy]

The Ouachita is a beautiful river. In fact I believe it is (or was) on the top ten most scenic rivers in the U.S.

I have been from south of Columbia to the locks at Felsenthal. Moon Lake use to be my home base.

I think the Felsenthal locks are 55 miles from the Monroe launch.

The fuel at Moon Lake is only 87 octane and is higher than a cats back last time I was there! A decent gas station is a short trailer from the launch. Moon Lake is a larger, nicer facility than Sterlington, plus Monroe is just a couple miles away, although it is cloxer to the Felsenthal run. The launch at Monroe is pretty nice too.

Which sandbar are you talking about camping at?

Also, you had not better drink a few beers even if you are putting around. The possum cops are the worst I have ever seen in-between Sterlington and Monroe. Plus there is a lot of traffic there.

I have been boating south of Monroe close to Columbia. The “Bluff” is a welcome retreat on a hot summer day! Even south of Columbia is very nice. No shortages of sand bars there! Plus the traffic is very, very low.

If you decide Sterlington is the deal, I would go north… only problem there is lack of sandbars until you get closer to the Felsenthal locks.

Any one know of fuel availability in Crossett? If there is good gas there, I’d like to go from Sterlington to Crossett and back. That would be a good ride! :eek:

[venus79]

Forkin' Crazy yes that would be a good ride. i'll get someone to check out the gas at crossett. thanks

[Corona Mike]

I didn't read this whole thread so quick question. Any info. on host hotel? Also is there a mid trip ramp to possably cut down on gas? Looks Like a good event! Mike.:cheers::cheers:

[venus79]

have a friend that lives in sterlington, will get him to check hotels and check for a mid trip ramp

[76baja18ft]

have a friend that lives in sterlington, will get him to check hotels and check for a mid trip ramp
i dont think there are any hotels in sterlington...monroe is yiour best bet for a place to sleep

[venus79]

or bring a tent and camp on sand bar with us

[venus79]

me and the friend thats putting this together are going to bristol on the 20th and coming back on the 23rd, we're going to take a pre river run to gps it and to check the fuel range of our boats a day or so after we get back and will get hotel info and post as soon as we get the info. thanks for being patient with us.

[venus79]

havent been able to gps the run yet or check the fuel ranges on our boats because my friends motor is still being rebuilt and i had to have work done to my motor also but will gps soon. thanks

[venus79]

Reminder, we are doing this the last weekend of June. Will find out about motels in a couple weeks for those that dont want to pitch a tent and camp on the sand bar with us. this is the first river run we have ever put together and hope to have a big turn out. me and the friend that is putting this together work off 30 days and home 15 days so please be patient with us. thanks

[venus79]

closest hotels are in monroe, about 15 to 20 minutes from where we're launching. found a place close to the launch for campers, just waiting for the guy to call me back with price and avaibility. we get off the 4th of next month and will be taking a pre-river run so we can gps and see how many miles we are going to run.

[venus79]

last weekend of june

[venus79]

We are still doing this the last weekend of June.

[76baja18ft]

i think you probably need to get more info on it than just saying we are doing this still the last weekend of june....Hopefully the river will be down below flood stage at that time since the predictions show that it will be many weeks before the river drops....i know up here in arkansas the Ouachita river is still 12 foot above flood stage.. and the lakes above us are way above flood stage, they are holding the water in the lakes at this point due to the river already being out of control...Have you gotten info on milages?.. gas availabity on the water?.. Local hotels?

[venus79]

marina right by the boat ramp has gas. we'll ride til we're ready to turn back or need gas. have to ask my friend in sterlington about other marinas that have gas. closest motels are in monroe, about 15 or 20 minutes from where we're launching.

[venus79]

as long as theres no logs or trash in the river we're still going to ride. probably be gettin a motel room to because the sandbars will probably still be under water which really sucks.

[76baja18ft]

at this point there is alot of trash and floating debris in the ouachita river.. maybe the river will be down by then.. as of today is 9 foot above flood stage here in south ark

[venus79]

my friend that lives in Sterlington is going to check it out when we get home June 19th.

[hrokin]

Anyone know the condition of the water ????? getting close only a few weeks.... let us know!!!!!!! Randy

[76baja18ft]

the ouachita is still way above flood stage and has all kinds of debris floating down it.....

[venus79]

hopefully the debris will be gone when we get ready to ride. if not we'll have to set another date or choose another location.

[Jason Johnson]

i'm still in too, when and where is good for me, ready always

[venus79]

talked to another friend in Sterlington and he said theres very little debris in the river and if im not mistaken there is two locks between Elderado and Sterlington. but if there is to much debris, we'll move it to the lake.

[Jason Johnson]

River is dropping hard, update please

[venus79]

we doing it. same date same place. have to talk to my friend that lives in Sterlington to make sure which boat ramp we're going to launch at and will pass that on as soon as i find out. if it would be easier we could figure out a place in sterlington to meet and then go launch our boats and ride. will do whatever is easier for everyone. let me know. thanks

[venus79]

gettin close. who's coming? thanks

[hillbilly68]

yall going to be doing another one of these runs anytime soon? i would love to do it if it's not to far of traveling time from my house

[venus79]

talked to my friend in Sterlington this morning. he's been out riding the past couple days and told me the river is still a bit high and over the sandbars. also said no drift, or debris which is good. still riding this weekend. any questions feel free to call one of us. my name is Jimmy my cell# 662-931-4800. or call my friend in Sterlington for directions, his name is Johnny and his cell# 318-235-2825. im heading over to Sterlington friday morning. we launching at Sterlington or Moonlake. any questions give one of us a call. thanks

[venus79]

im sure we will be doing another one pretty soon hillbilly68. will let you know as soon as we pick a date for the next one and hope you can make it.

[venus79]

i'm taking my yellow HST and Johnny is bringing his black and grey 79 Venus.

[hillbilly68]

how many hours/miles do you guys usually run? as you can tell by the engine setting in the back of my boat it's not the most fuel efficient engine out there. will I need to bring several 5 gallon gas cans lol

[Forkin' Crazy]

River today was 35.6, fall .5. Too high for me. You'll be camping in your boat or up in the woods with the ticks and snakes. I'll pass on this one. River is no fun to run fast when it is that high also.

http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/docs/bullet.txt

[venus79]

im getting a room in monroe.

[Forkin' Crazy]

I guess y'all don't understand. 36.5 is less than 5 feet from flood stage.

That is about when I liked to go set my lines out in the back water.

No sand bars will be out at all. I know this place and have boated there for over 30 years.

But carry on! ;)

[venus79]

we still riding. sense theres no sandbars i'll be gettin a room in Monroe.

[venus79]

riding tomorrow and sunday. lets ride.

[venus79]

was late getting to Sterlington yesterday. got there around 1pm and hung around the river til around 2:30 or 3pm but johnny was there at 9am til we left, didnt see anyone so we went to lake darbone and had a good time but i had to come home today to take care of family problems(kids thinking they are grown and far from it). sorry if i missed anyone and planning to do it again soon.