Parker's Island Kayak Trip

Summer has officially arrived in my book!  Mr. Clean (see Sipsey Quillian Creek) and I arrived at Fort Toulouse to launch our kayaks on the Tallapoosa River.  Ft Toulouse is located about ½ mile from the end of the Tallapoosa where it meets the Coosa River. 

Our plan was a) for me to try out my new kayak (review on new kayak to follow!)  



Elie Strait 140XE




 

b) to explore some creeks and fish c) finally convince Mr. Clean to take the plunge and purchase his very own kayak!  His kayak has been affectionately referred to as “The Barge”; “The Turtle” (slow and steady), and most recently “Hurricane Evacuation Shelter (HES)”.  You could survive a Cat 4 hurricane under this thing!



HES



So we set out at 0800 hours.  We immediately started fishing in the coolness of the morning light.  Seeing how it was going to reach 95 today, at 0800 it was already about 87.  So we decided to take advantage of the cooler weather!  We fished the half mile stretch until we hit the Coosa. 

From here we took the Coosa around like a NASCAR track…left all the way.    This is what we were kayaking around, Parker’s Island.  Parker’s Island was formed in 1886 by a massive flood that hit the Tallapoosa River and forever altered its course and by doing such, formed the Island.  Parker’s Island is about 5 miles in diameter.

The Coosa is a relatively narrow river, so looking for wildlife is very easy.  We came across a creek that years ago my dad and I took shelter from a tornado that came real close to us while we were fishing.  The creek goes way back about a mile.  We ended up catching a few fish out of it before we headed out.  Around the bend we passed the canal that enters the river from the Walter Boultin Dam, which flows from Lake Jordan.  Later on we pass a ferry that takes farmers and hunters to the Island.  Here we had a stare down with a deer standing in the road that came down to the ferry.   As I reached down for my camera, it trotted off.

A few miles down we passed by Dead Lake and then hit what is known as the Dead River (but is really an extension of the Tallapoosa River).  We stopped at this junction for a stretch and lunch.  This is also where the three rivers meet.  At this point the Coosa turns into the Alabama and the Tallapoosa runs into it here as well.   

We start up the Dead River and started back doing some fishing.  There are a lot of stick ups here.  Mr. Clean was having much luck with pan fish, and I was determined to catch another bass on my spinnerbait.  Which I did! 



Parker's Island ferry



At about 1445, we ended up back at Ft. Toulouse.  The trip was hot, but enjoyable.  We saw no snakes, 1 deer, and multiple great white and blue herons.  We took our time and this was a great day trip that we will be making again, especially in the spring to catch more fish!