Pre Hontoon Gathering short trip to DeLeon Springs

T

thataway

Active member
Marie and I should launch on Friday the 1st. We will probably head to Hontoon for the first night--gives us time to get all organized, the dinghy inflated, etc.
On Saturday Morning, we will probably head to DeLeon Springs, Stay there Saturday Night, and hit the Pancake's at the Old Sugar Mill early Sunday Morning.
Then cruise back to Hontoon.

If we launch on Thursday, we may go to Silver Glen Springs Friday night (not state park--part of Ocala National forrest.). Very clear, warm water anchorage. Then to DeLeon Springs on Saturday. Or we may go there on the way back to Hontoon. Sunday afternoon/and night.

If anyone is interested, please sign up here. Unfortunately Tom and Joyce appear not be able to lead this excursion. We have done it 3 times, so feel reasonably qualified. Tom Says the water has been high, and they have been to DeLeon Springs 4 times recently.

See you all on the River!
 
Hi Bob. Rosanne and I are departing here after work on the 27th, but plan on launching Saturday afternoon (the 2nd). Not sure yet if we'll head down to Hontoon then, or up to DeLeon. But I'd say chances are better leaning on the Pancakes as long as we have enough daylight to get up there. :D We'll try calling you on the radio when we launch, and I'll also have my AIS on. Colby :D
 
Colby,
I believe you have my cell phone # (I have yours), there may be a better chance of cell phone that radio--depending on where each of us is. (or if we are on land at the Springs. We usually go for a walk with Angel when ashore.). We will also keep an eye out for your AIS. We would love to have your all company for breakfast!
 
Yep, still have it in my phone. I think. I just have to go look up your last name. Short memory. lol. Found it. Yep, you're in there. :) Colby
 
Hi Bob!
We'll sign up. We snagged a suite at JAX NAS Friday night Mar 1. We can cancel up to 6pm that night if making great time, but it would be a very long single day and unlikely. It's under 2 hours towing to launch at Ed Stone on Sat Mar 2.
Looks like there are multiple ways to navigate to DeLeon Springs. If we need hints will ask later.

PS
Colby, if you tow via I-75/85 straight through Atlanta a few times, Nashville will seem like a piece of cake. Your palms will sweat a bit, though, so you will both need separate bath towels for that.
Happy Travels!
John
 
Great John!
We usually take the first day to about where I 75 cuts off of I 10. Stay either at "in and out" RV park, or "Casey Jones", RV park (both exits have nice motels and restaurants. Then we are at the Ed Stone Ramp by noon. The distance you go, is only about 25 miles and 30 minutes further than the shorter distance we travel.
We leave I 75 at exit 358.

I would guess that a mid day launch on Saturday at Ed Stone, might be a bit more crowded than Friday.

We have gone two ways, several times each. Probably the most direct from Ed Stone, along the Highland Run to Ziegler Dead River (Just North o fG 39/across from R38 on the East side of the River. This leads to Norris Dead River, and Lake Woodruff. A little tricky at the East side of Woodruff. . Leaving Woodruff going to Spring Garden Lake--the crossing of Spring Garden Lake is the trickiest--if there is not really high water it must be done on a plane--or your stuck in the mud...sort of. We can come down from the anchorage, and escort you across if necessary. This depends on no deadfalls or branches snags. Some have hit snags, so we go slow along many parts--at least until someone has clarified that the run is open. Our Garmin charts of the lakes was pretty good. Our "new" 25 has Navionics which look good on the chart viewer for this area. Just don't have all of those old tracks on them to follow!

You have my phone #, so keep in touch.
 
thataway"--if there is not really high water it must be done on a plane--or your stuck in the mud...[/quote said:
Nerves of steel Bob! I spent years boating out of Long Point Inner Bay(Lake Erie). No shoals but very shallow and heavily weeded. You could not set your depth alarm unless you wanted to listen to it all day. Marinas would set out stakes in the spring that you had to follow in and out. The last one we were at(Big Creek Marina) it was over 2 miles out a narrow channel to clear water. If you dropped off plane your skeg would be in the sand. If another boat was coming in while you were going out both stayed on plane and passed with a quick turn of the wheel to starboard as you met and then to port after passing to cross wakes then back to starboard to straighten out in the channel.


One time going out we got weeds sucked over the water intake and fried the pump. The next time our grand daughters were with us so I asked the oldest to watch the tell tale and tell me if the water stopped. She never took her eyes off it! When we got our new boat(I/O) the first time she was with us she said "Grampa, I can't see the water" - it took me a few minutes to realize what she meant - she couldn't see the tell tale!


Nerves of steel Bob! Or just don't look down!


Rob
Click to expand...
 
Colby, if you tow via I-75/85 straight through Atlanta a few times, Nashville will seem like a piece of cake. Your palms will sweat a bit, though, so you will both need separate bath towels for that.
Happy Travels!
Click to expand...

Been through ATL a few times. It is a pain. BNA isn't too bad unless there has been an accident or something, or it's rush hour. We stay at my wife's Uncle about an hour north of Nashville. And you know how I am about getting up real early, so it's usually pushing 8:30 before we get to the north end of Nashville! I just hate the stop and go when it gets down to that point!

I think I've launched around 1 or 2 pm on a Saturday the past two years, and it has worked out ok. Still parking room. But going back by later on Sunday to pick something up at the truck, most all the spots, even away from the ramp, are full. I think most the fisherman are using the ramp early, and then later in the afternoon. Assuming we spend the night before at the Flying J truck stop just west of Tallahassee, I expect we'll launch again this year on Saturday around 1 or 2. That being the case, we'll likely make the run up to DeLeon Springs via the Norris Dead River. I've gone both ways Bob has mentioned, and have both tracks on my chartplotter. If you have Garmin, I'd be happy to send you my file for the Hontoon area with all my routes and tracks. Use at your own risk, but they've stayed proven for me the past couple of years. :mrgreen:
Another 6-10" snow in the forecast between tonight and tomorrow night. It's getting old quickly. Looking forward to Hontoon! Colby
 
See my posts on what did you do and the Hontoon gathering. It appears as if we are going to be at least a day late. Marie has all of the food lined up, but I have to finish cleaning up the boat, putting things away, and then loading. We both have doctors or DDS apts. Wed. , so we may not get away on Thursday. One day to launch would be a push for us--we loose an hour as we cross into Eastern Time Zone near Tallahassee. IF we leave on Friday, we probably would not launch until Saturday--There is a good possibility we will not be able to lead those who wish to go to DeLeon Springs. However, I talked to Tom, and he is going to be there on Thursday or Friday--so the Professional guide is in business!

We will post updates on this thread.
 
If all goes well for us, we hope to launch at Ed Stone early afternoon on Saturday, and then likely make the run north to DeLeon Springs. Colby
 
Well, looks like we’re out of the pretrip here. Rosanne has some excruciating tooth pain we need to take care of today so we won’t be launching until later Sunday.
 
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