Dardanelle Lock

For those of us that know how tall this dam is...twice as tall as all the other locks on the river...impressive!!!! The wall with the yellow paint in front, is the very top of the lock. When I go through a lock and they raise you up to the next pool, there is still a good 15 maybe even 20 to the top that you can not see over the lock wall. When a loaded barge goes in the lock, you cant see the lids, if that helps you picture this.Last edited by Joey on April 29th, 2011, 9:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 11 months ago by dbasketman.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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April 29, 2011 at 4:49 pm #322530

pointman821
Participant

wow, thats a whole lotta water movin.

April 29, 2011 at 5:45 pm #322546

dbasketman
Participant

Normally close to a 40+ drop when locking !

April 29, 2011 at 6:12 pm #322564

tae73
Participant

Just a slight chop on the water!!

April 29, 2011 at 8:19 pm #322586

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

I dont think most can understand or appreciate how much this is up on the Dardanelle lock. Years ago we would lock through there frequently to go to the Holla Bend Refuge for fishing that oxbow, though it is now dammed, except during high water. Many of you will have never been to or really heard about Holla Bend as it was dammed about 20 to 25 years ago. This is a tremendous amount of water on the Arkansas River. That lock was a 37 foot drop from memory and I have been through it many times. The bend at Horsehead by the bridge might be a little treacherous right now. I cant say that I have ever seen that much volume at the Dardanelle Dam.Rick

April 29, 2011 at 9:27 pm #322605

clownshoes
Participant

I got next to some of that flow today in pool 7. Didnt of course get in it. Hope the Elite boys have some spots picked out at Dardanelle.C.O.D. Jr. III

May 1, 2011 at 2:11 am #322620

Joey
Participant

There Dardanelle spots are now in Dumas! I did notice on the way home from the Ferry today that they have started dropping the gates. Cant see daylight through them like yesterday. But, I am sure that is going to change. 1″-2″ more tonite and more tomorrow…

May 1, 2011 at 4:33 am #322636

derek4one
Participant

Thats wild. I have been thru that lock a few times as well. Is Holla bend the backwater with a steel/plastic retaining wall you cant get around or over? I fished up to that wall a few times and always thought it looked great behind it.

May 2, 2011 at 2:53 pm #322651

arkriverrat
Participant

I had to go to the Corp of Engineer Office there at the Dardanelle Dam on 4/26. It was not quite this high, maybe a couple feet lower, but was still amazed to watch the turbid water coming thru the dam splash over the lock wall. Ive seen it get nasty below Terry L&D but Dardanelle is way taller as Rick and Joey mentioned. Unbelievable current. I told my coworkers who were with me, “The sabre probably wouldnt make it!”

May 2, 2011 at 4:22 pm #322667

dbasketman
Participant

Jason, when you round around the point at Umphrey on Rayburn , and all you see looks similar to that picture you learn fast the boats were all in have more capability than most of our hearts can take ! Its amazing how quickly you learn to drive a boat in big water, although throwing current in there would definately up the pucker factor ! I wouldnt voluntarily go out in that, but have ben on Dardanelle in 6-8rs during an ABA BWS series a few years ago in my P4, and those who saw me run the main river up to Deleware thought i was nuts !
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