spkoli
Senior Member
I can't wait for the Euharlee to Hardin Bridge to become official. I'm probably guessing Memorial day weekend is out of the question for "Official" :/
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Hardin Bridge Ramp Update (Lower Etowah)
- Thread starter jcarleto
- Start date
leoparddog
Senior Member
I parked on the side of the road there at Hardin bridge a few weeks back on a Sunday. I pulled down on the dirt lot to load up and leave. I wasn't the only one.
jcarleto
Senior Member
I'm guessing you may get away with it on a weekend when they aren't working. Bear in mind that I am only guessing.
There were certainly a load of folks using the ramp last Sunday. I did notice that the construction area warning "NO TRESSPASSING OR WE'LL EAT YOUR YOUNG" signs were no longer posted. No way to tell if they were removed by authority or "accidentally."
There were certainly a load of folks using the ramp last Sunday. I did notice that the construction area warning "NO TRESSPASSING OR WE'LL EAT YOUR YOUNG" signs were no longer posted. No way to tell if they were removed by authority or "accidentally."
jcarleto
Senior Member
I went by this evening (Sunday, May 21, 2017) and it looks like they poured the boat ramp. It is a standard concrete boat ramp much like the one built at highway 411 (Nell's Landing).
The parking area was, as expected after the heavy rains last night, exceptionally muddy. There was one 4x4 truck stuck in the classic "won't go no mo" position. Judging by the tracks in the mud, some folks did manage to get in and out today. It won't take much now. All they need is about 50 dump loads of rock to finish the parking area.
The parking area was, as expected after the heavy rains last night, exceptionally muddy. There was one 4x4 truck stuck in the classic "won't go no mo" position. Judging by the tracks in the mud, some folks did manage to get in and out today. It won't take much now. All they need is about 50 dump loads of rock to finish the parking area.
spkoli
Senior Member
Sweet!
jcarleto
Senior Member
Slight Correction Update and Date of Completion
I stopped by Hardin Bridge after lunch today and was fortunate to catch the foreman on the site. The detail that follows quotes information I received from him directly.
The ramp is not completely finished. They have poured the river-end slab and are waiting for it to cure (7 days) before they push it down the slope with a dozer into the river. Following that, they will pour the upper section slabs. It is a clever technique. There is a video of a much larger ramp being installed using the same method here:
Their plan today was to begin adding gravel to the parking lot, but the rain pushed that out a bit. Instead, they are moving most of the heavy equipment out because they are finished with the work that required it.
They are on track for a Grand Opening date of June 20, 2017. There is an event planned for that date at the site.
I would agree that unless there is a great deal of bad weather (that is not in any long-range forecast), they can easily make that date.
I stopped by Hardin Bridge after lunch today and was fortunate to catch the foreman on the site. The detail that follows quotes information I received from him directly.
The ramp is not completely finished. They have poured the river-end slab and are waiting for it to cure (7 days) before they push it down the slope with a dozer into the river. Following that, they will pour the upper section slabs. It is a clever technique. There is a video of a much larger ramp being installed using the same method here:
Their plan today was to begin adding gravel to the parking lot, but the rain pushed that out a bit. Instead, they are moving most of the heavy equipment out because they are finished with the work that required it.
They are on track for a Grand Opening date of June 20, 2017. There is an event planned for that date at the site.
I would agree that unless there is a great deal of bad weather (that is not in any long-range forecast), they can easily make that date.
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jcarleto
Senior Member
Update May 27, 2017
No visible progress since my last report. It is possible they have made some progress with the ramp, but no rock has been added to the parking lot.
NOTE: They have parked heavy equipment across the access road to block the parking lot. I am told that they won't be at all happy to find any more vehicles in there until the rock is down.
No visible progress since my last report. It is possible they have made some progress with the ramp, but no rock has been added to the parking lot.
NOTE: They have parked heavy equipment across the access road to block the parking lot. I am told that they won't be at all happy to find any more vehicles in there until the rock is down.
jcarleto
Senior Member
Update June 4, 2017
I went by this morning and saw they have more sod, the gravel entry drive and most of the gravel parking lot in place. They are still blocking the entry with heavy equipment. It looks like they will have no trouble meeting their projected June 20, 2017 open date. The remaining work to completion looks like just fiddly touch-up bits.
I went by this morning and saw they have more sod, the gravel entry drive and most of the gravel parking lot in place. They are still blocking the entry with heavy equipment. It looks like they will have no trouble meeting their projected June 20, 2017 open date. The remaining work to completion looks like just fiddly touch-up bits.
Danny Leigh
GONetwork Member
I wonder if they are going to pave the parking lot. The plans in the article showed parking spaces which leads one to believe that it would be paved.
jcarleto
Senior Member
I doubt it. They didn't pave the highway 113 ramp or the Nell's Landing ramp parking areas. However, they do run a DynaPac vibrating roller over the gravel (I saw one on the site) and it makes a pretty solid and reliable surface for gravel.
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jcarleto
Senior Member
REAL Close (June 11, 2017)
I braved walking past the "Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted. No Hunging or Fishing." signs and wrangled my way past the folks with boats and fishing gear who apparently also willing to make the same choice, to bring you these pictures.
The ramp road is sill blocked with heavy equipment and it is unclear whether they plan to pave or just go with gravel. There is a lot of rain coming this week, so I'm guessing that paving might tweak their deadline.
I like the ramp design. It makes sense!
I braved walking past the "Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted. No Hunging or Fishing." signs and wrangled my way past the folks with boats and fishing gear who apparently also willing to make the same choice, to bring you these pictures.
The ramp road is sill blocked with heavy equipment and it is unclear whether they plan to pave or just go with gravel. There is a lot of rain coming this week, so I'm guessing that paving might tweak their deadline.
I like the ramp design. It makes sense!
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jcarleto
Senior Member
"Hardin Bridge Landing" Is Now Open!
I went by today and the ramp is open and in use. The official opening hasn't happened, but the obstructions have been removed and even the picnic tables have been installed. A dozen or so boat trailers were in the lot. They even have a new sign presenting the site as "Hardin Bridge Landing."
Gravel apparently won over asphalt paving. The marked parking places in the plan were clearly an "artist's concept." Nice ramp, though. I can't wait to get time to use it!
I went by today and the ramp is open and in use. The official opening hasn't happened, but the obstructions have been removed and even the picnic tables have been installed. A dozen or so boat trailers were in the lot. They even have a new sign presenting the site as "Hardin Bridge Landing."
Gravel apparently won over asphalt paving. The marked parking places in the plan were clearly an "artist's concept." Nice ramp, though. I can't wait to get time to use it!
Danny Leigh
GONetwork Member
Thanks for the update. River was still pretty muddy near 411 today.
jcarleto
Senior Member
Yep. Rain equals mud. Also, the recent release plan from Lake Allatoona and resulting flow graph starts to look more like a heart monitor than anything else. That doesn't help.
More rain is in the forecast. Time to dig out the rattletraps and brightly-colored reflective lures. Probably a good idea to leave the spray nozzle on the hose so you can just pull in and use it right away to knock the mud stain off the yak.
More rain is in the forecast. Time to dig out the rattletraps and brightly-colored reflective lures. Probably a good idea to leave the spray nozzle on the hose so you can just pull in and use it right away to knock the mud stain off the yak.
jcarleto
Senior Member
Ramp In Use
They did a very clever thing with this ramp. Not only is it a standard boat ramp that will accommodate most boats that would be able to run the river, they also included a slide ramp for kayaks and canoes. Not a bad idea!
Lots of folks using the ramp today (Sunday June 18, 2017).
They did a very clever thing with this ramp. Not only is it a standard boat ramp that will accommodate most boats that would be able to run the river, they also included a slide ramp for kayaks and canoes. Not a bad idea!
Lots of folks using the ramp today (Sunday June 18, 2017).
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cophunter308
Senior Member
What's the depth range on the river from around the 113 bridge down towards 411?
What type of baits do you guys have the best of luck on on this river. I'm going to finally fish it this week and I just re-spooled 3 rod and reels that I've got to decide what to fish.
Thanks for any input.
What type of baits do you guys have the best of luck on on this river. I'm going to finally fish it this week and I just re-spooled 3 rod and reels that I've got to decide what to fish.
Thanks for any input.
spkoli
Senior Member
Anywhere from a foot to 10-15 ft. My success comes from slinging a black and blue senko around the laydowns.
zacherwalker
Senior Member
Any tips on what section is best for trying to land a striper?
Has anyone tried to put in and paddle upstream? I called the River information and I believe its stuck at a solid 3200 cfps?
Just wondering if its doable as it seems they have moved out of Allatoona.....or I just cant find them
Has anyone tried to put in and paddle upstream? I called the River information and I believe its stuck at a solid 3200 cfps?
Just wondering if its doable as it seems they have moved out of Allatoona.....or I just cant find them
jcarleto
Senior Member
River depth is usually 10-15 feet MAX. There are areas of near 0 feet, especially when the water is low and slow. I've never had to drag a boat, but I have bumped the bottom a few times. I have revised my opinion of back-paddling after a good experience from the Hardin Bridge ramp recently. Now I believe that SOME ramps are in parts of the river that make paddling upstream possible when the water is not too high. Other ramps, like Euharlee Bridge, are at a spot in the river that will make you very old, very fast if you try to paddle upstream.
I use the river gauge at Highway 61 as my "Lower Etowah Baseline." I like to see it at about 1500cfs and 5 feet depth for best results. That gauge is here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/uv/?site_no=02394670&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00062
There are stripers all through the lower Etowah. Bait works (chicken liver). White flukes sometimes work. Jigs sometimes work. Rattletraps sometimes work. If you can net some live shad, that's gold....if the turtles don't get them.
I use the river gauge at Highway 61 as my "Lower Etowah Baseline." I like to see it at about 1500cfs and 5 feet depth for best results. That gauge is here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/uv/?site_no=02394670&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00062
There are stripers all through the lower Etowah. Bait works (chicken liver). White flukes sometimes work. Jigs sometimes work. Rattletraps sometimes work. If you can net some live shad, that's gold....if the turtles don't get them.
zacherwalker
Senior Member
Thank you!
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