Dupont Forest

 Palmetto Guide took a group form Brookwood Church out to Dupont Forest in Cedar Mountain, NC. We started off the day by meeting up at Stax Original and having a very good breakfast before hitting the trail. By 8:00am we were up at Dupont and ready to hit the trails. We decide that we would park at Hooker Falls parking area and complete the "Waterfall" Tour. The "Waterfall" Tour consist of us visiting Triple Falls, High Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. If the group felt up to it we would go see Hooker Falls on our way out. We started off with a short but fairly steep hike up to the viewing area for Triple Falls. Triple Falls is simply breathe taking, without a doubt my favorite Waterfall around. This is where I asked my Wife to marry me, and it is so picturesque.



 Palmetto Guide and our group for the day, minus the lady taking the picture of us.

 



After leaving Triple Falls we hiked along the river and arrived shortly at High Falls. High Falls is quite spectacular in it's own right. There is a beautiful covered bridge that sits at the top of the Falls. High Falls is probably photographed more than any in Dupont Forest, because there are two easy trails that lead you right up to it.



This is a creative shot I have been trying to get for about 6 months with my GoPro...The picture was shot with the camera half in the water and half out of the water of High Falls.

A few more shots of High Falls, the upper shot is from the base of the falls, and the lower picture is from the High Falls viewing area.

 



We next made our push out to the beautiful and inspiring Bridal Veil Falls. From High Falls it is about 1.5 miles to get out to Bridal Veil Falls. On our way we passed by Lake Julian, and the spillway of Lake Julian. This lake is a great place to take a break or eat some lunch. It is also a great place to go kayaking, although a little tough to get the kayaks back this far it is well worth it. Great fishing and extremely clear water makes it a great place to go and see.

 

The weather was really playing to our favor on this Summer morning, with nice temps ,and a slight breeze it does not get much better. We continued to make our way out towards Bridal Veil, but you must stop and admire the Lake Julian spillway area. Dupont uses this area to plant small tree growth, and the spillway is the start of an amazing small river, which also produces great fishing.

Lake Julian Spillway, absolutely breathe taking....

 

Once passing by Lake Julian you are not far at all form Bridal Veil Falls. The hiking was quick and ease because of the gravel Fire Road. Within about 15mins we arrived at the very unique and picturesque Bridal Veil Falls. You may ask why is this waterfall so unique, well the movie Last of the Mohicans was filmed in this area. Also the upper section of Bridal Veil you can climb in behind the waterfall for a different look at the falls. If you decide to climb behind the falls be extremely careful, and watch for slick areas for the mist coming off of the waterfall.

This is the first view you have of Bridal Veil Falls, very beautiful and very peaceful. This is where we decide we would take a break, relax and have some lunch. After lunch Dave and I made the choice to push up to the Upper Section of Bridal Veil. Dave had never been up to the Upper Section, so I guided us up along side the Lower section. Of course I could not resist the temptation of climbing in behind the Upper Section of Bridal Veil.

Dave and I heading up to the Upper Section of Bridal Veil Falls, in the distance is the Upper Section.

 

Palmetto Guide in behind Bridal Veil Falls, you will get a little wet, and please be very careful if you decide to go behind the falls. It is safe, but it also slick, because of the heavy mist from the falls.

 

 

After messing around long enough we decide to meet back up with the rest of group and start making our way back towards Hooker Falls area and parking lot. We had about a 3 mile hike back out, but we were able to make quick work of it with everyone refreshed after our lunch and break.

 

If you get a chance head up to Dupont Forest or if you would like a guided hike please let us know, and we will be more than happy to show you around the entire Dupont area. Dupont Forest is very well maintained by it's great and helpful Rangers. It is very easy to access Dupont since it is just across the SC?NC State line. With over 11,000 acres for you to explore and over 100 trails this is one special area of the country.

Lake Oolenoy

Palmetto Guide loaded up and made the short trek up to Lake Oolenoy near Table Rock, SC. Without a doubt this is one of the most gorgeous places we have had the pleasure to paddle yet. This small mountain lake is built for paddling and eclectic motors only. As soon as we paddled out form the boat ramp this is the view we were welcomed to. Simply amazing and surreal, it was hard to find words for this beautiful mountain paradise.

AS always we explored around taking in the breathe taking views ,and then we decide to wet some lines. the water was crystal clear, you could see down about 15 feet. Right away we managed to score a few nice mountain bass, then we decide to go exploring up a creek that lead into Table Rock State Park and Pinnacle Lake.

 

Palmetto Guide up in a mountain creek taking it all in.

 

 



Kris in tow, the water was cool and clear

 

 





We Made our way out of the creek and paddle around to the back side of the lake. As we rounded the corner we came upon a spillway and the dam. I decided to throw a Black Rooster Tail across the front of the spillway and it was on. The colorful and strong mountain Bream were stacked up. we probably sat there for about 30 min. laying into them. These Bream were so colorful and very strong. In my opinion there is nothing better than catching big slab bream on Ultralight Tackle. Bending rods and ripping out the drag, these little guys put a huge smile on our faces. We finished up the day with 6 Slab Bream and 3 Bass.

 

Off for some more exploring on the far back side of the lake. This sand bar was surrounded by crystal clear deep water and feed by a cold mountain stream. So Kris and I decide to get out and go trekking on foot and see if we could not try and find some trout. Lake Oolenoy is a very peaceful ,beautiful, and majestic lake you can defiantly feel the sprit of Mother Nature here.

 

 

 

Once again the WS RIDE 115 AA preformed well above my expectation. We probably put in about 6 iles of paddling and thanks to the design of the Wildy it only felt like I paddled a mile or so. Please let us know at Palmetto Guide if you would like to head out on the water, or hit the trail...heck we might even be able to combine the best of both worlds.







Boyds Mill in Laurens, SC

     Palmetto Guide loaded up and headed back down to Boyds Mill in Laurens, SC on 6.1.14. AS you can see form the image above the water was muddy from all the recent rain we have been having. We figured this would be the case but when the water is calling you to come paddle you can not resist. So we went down w/ this in our minds, so we spent a good bit of time exploring....until we found some clear water.
      Boyds Mill is a great little reservoir in Laurens, SC that is feed by the Reedy River. Boyds Mill has a brand new boat ramp, dock, and the park is very well maintained. The upper end of the lake is very shallow and this is where the boat ramp is located. If you head to the right or up the lake you immediately find yourself paddling in the current of the Reedy River. We usually spend most of time in the river section of the lake and  have managed to paddle about 3 miles upstream. The fishing and scenery is great, and it is an easy paddle.

You are pretty much own your own once you get up in the river, and it is very peaceful. It is shallow starting out, and this only allows canoes and kayaks to have access to this section. There is amazing wildlife up the river, we always see an abundance of bird life, and usually a few deer. Not to mention the fishing is usually pretty strong up the river.

Palmetto Guide and the crew taking a short breather and stretching the legs for a bit.

 

Although the water was very muddy we managed to have a blast and make the best of afternoon out on the water. As we came back down the river and entered the body of the lake we pulled up into the left side of the lake and the water was pretty much clear. this was due to a long point/peninsula blocking the river current from coming into this section. We all looking in disbelief at one another, and busted out the fishing gear. Jon found the Bream right off of the bat and I worked my way around the right side. Kris was working the left side and we were all catching fish, but Jon was all over the bream. After a few times out in back in the cove I was working I decide to go over to Jon's spot. Jon and I had a blast with the Bream, most of the were slab size. We sat there for about an hour catching them one after another. In four hours we caught 48 fish, 45 Bream and 3 Bass!The fishing was amazing and so was the fellowship with my brothers.



 I can not say enough about my Wilderness Systems RIDE 115 AA, not matter where I take this yak it preforms like no other. Hands down the best boat I have ever paddled and I will always be in a Wildy. From rivers, to flat water, to intercostal it simply does not get any better. Super stable, agile, tracks straight as arrow, and paddles with ease. Load it down or keep it light you will not be disappointed with the Wilderness Systems RIDE series of Kayaks.

Lake Moultire on the Santee Water System

Palmetto Guide and the Crew headed down to Lake Moultrie on the Santee Water System on 5/2-5/5, and the only word that keeps coming to my mind in EPIC. E- Exceptional, P- Pure, I- Incredible, and C- Calm & Colorful. From the time we arrived at Black Camp in Cross, SC the amazing time started, and did not end until a few days after we arrived back home. If you ever get a chance to paddle on the Santee Water System, take it from me....go you will not be disappointed.

The first day we were there it was slightly cool, and cloudy but that did not stop us at all. In fact we could not get our yaks unloaded quick enough. By 8:00am we were out on the water starting our journey for the weekend. Little did we know that this trip will stay with us for a lifetime. The incredible amounts of wildlife, and scenery was endless. Without a doubt we saw 100 different bird species, and the Ospreys were everywhere. At time we were able to get right up to the nest and look up right into the eye's of many different Ospreys.

We continued to explore the lake by making our way into the backwaters of the lake. At times it was surreal, almost like stepping back into time. The water was warm, and dark, but the fishing was good. Through out the weekend we spent 80% of our time in the backwater areas of the Lake Moultrie, in between Blacks Camp, the Diversion Channel, and the many Cypress Groves. The water was dark, but surprisingly very clear, after talking w/ a few local this is common, and surprises most people. The first day we put down around 8.5 miles paddling and fishing.

The next morning we were awakened by Kris making us breakfast, and we were back out on the water around 6:30am for another day of exploring and fishing. We immediately headed to the right out of Blacks Camp and started working the thick grass cover and lily pads. Within 5 minutes of being there I missed 2 bass on my Live Target Frog. We regrouped and headed out to a long sandy flat area that had spotted Cypress Trees. By this time the birds were up and showing off for us. From Cranes to Egrets to Ospreys to Sub-Tropical type birds they were out, and putting on a show for us. I was just waiting for a "Discovery Channel" camera crew to come walking out of the woods. The Santee Water System is one special place.

Jon, Kris, and myself then decided we wanted to go float down the Diversion Channel that separates Lake Marion for Lake Moultrie. This was a nice change, once we got positioned in the current we were off to a nice float. The current was a nice pace ,and we took this time to relax, goof off, and enjoy the diverse scenery. Once we arrived at the end of Channel our plan was to paddle up to the Angels Cove area but eh wind was getting up pretty bad. After getting our heads together we decided to make a hard push across a portion of the "big" water. After digging deep, fighting 10-15mph winds, and 2 foot waves we made it back to the protection of the flats.

After a short rest and lunch we headed back out to try our luck at some Bream and Shell Cracker fishing. The fishing instantly heated up for the Crew, while I was still trying to catch that "monster" bass. I was able to get a huge bass to hit the Live Target Frog but after a short battle the bass spit my lure/ pulled the hooks. Never the less we kept after the fish for a few more hours before we decide to go exploring. As we rounded a corner into to a beautiful backwater pond area we finally saw our first Alligators. We were able to paddle around 15 miles on the 2nd day, and made some lifetime memories!

 

As you can see Lake Moultrie has huge amounts of diversity and the wildlife is simply incredible. Since we arrived back in the Upstate, there as no been a day go by where I have not reflected on our trip. Palmetto Guide will definitely be going back, and doing even more exploring and fishing. This trip will not be forgotten and we look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you in the near future. Please let us know if you are interested in a Recreational Guided Kayaking or Hiking Trip, we look forward to hearing from you, and thank you all for you unending support, Palmetto Guide.

 

 

Guided Trip on Lake Cunningham

We did a small guided trip with Kris and his daughter Olivia back out on Lake Cunningham. The water was warm, crystal clear, and for the most part calm. We launched out yaks on the north end of the lake from my Mother's house. We headed across the lake and started fishing, there was quite a few people out on the water. I was surprised at how many other kayaks were out enjoying the beautiful spring day. I think I counted a total of  7 other yaks out playing, some were just out paddling and other were fishing like us.

We fished most of the "blow-downs" on the right side of the lake and had some pretty good success. Olivia and I both missed two nice fish and Kris was able to land a few. Kris actually caught and Large Mouth and a Bream at the same time. We made our way down the lake to a beautiful field area that usually always hold fish. This gave us time to put the rods down for a few and enjoy paddling together in a small group. I was in my WS Ride 115, Kris was sporting a Perception Caster AA, and Olivia was in a Perception Pescador AA.

Cunningham is such a great little hidden gem of a lake. The Fishing there is incredibly great right now, and the paddling is always wonderful. For a small lake it is very diverse with all of it's wildlife. I really enjoy watching all of the birds and turtles. We were very fortunate to see a Paragon Flacon, the "fighter jets" of the bird world. It is truly amazing how fast the Paragon is. The Blue Cranes were also out all over the lake, believe we saw about 6 of them.

All of us really enjoyed our time out on the water together. I love taking groups out big or small, it is all about sharing an experience with someone. We were able to get some really amazing images, caught some good fish, and got some much needed time out on the water. Please let us know if you would like to go out on a Guided Trip with us at Palmetto Guides. We can provide all the gear you will need,  this is great opportunity for beginners paddlers or someone who has always want to try Flat Water Kayaking. Please leave a comment if you are interested in a Guided Trip with us, and be sure to check out our Palmetto Guide Facebook page.

We are getting ready for our big trip to Santee, we are going to head down to Lake Moultrie on 5/2, and be gone until 5/4. This should be an amazing trip Jon, Kris, and myself have been looking forward to this trip for quite a while. Keep your eyes on the Blog and on the Palmetto Guide Facebook page for updates. We will do a full write-up on the trip as soon as we get back into town. Stay safe out there, and be sure to let us know if you would like to head out on the water or hit a trail with us at Palmetto Guide. Thank you for all your support....

Palmetto Guide Yak- Wilderness System Ride 115 AA

This is my Wilderness System Ride 115 Advance Angler. Words can not hardly describe this yak, and all the features it is outfitted with. First of all, this yak is incredibly stable, this is due in part to it's Double Chimed Bottom, a first of its kind. The Kayak is so stable I can stand up, stand up paddle, and even walk from end to the other. The Ride 115 weights in at 75lbs. and is 33 inches wide and 11 feet in total length. This make for a very verse and pleasurable yak to paddle. You can run Class III rapids, take it to the ICW/ Saltwater Creeks, Down Rivers, or Flat Water. Two built in rod holders, so as you can see the WS Ride 115 AA can handle just about anything you throw at it.

Some of the features that come on the WS Ride 115 AA are as followed; an unreal amount of storage, internal and external, rudder ready, fully adjustable foot braces, 4 comfort carry handles, resign molded over laid with plastic mold-this make the Ride super strong, skid plate at the rear, Phase 3 Pro Air Seat-that is raised off the bottom of the kayak by 4 inches.
A few custom features that I have added are as followed; Quiet Traction through out the yak-for sound barrier, dry bags, dry storage, custom built fishing crate-can carry 3 more rods, multi gopro mounts, yakattack stack out pole, yakattack panfish, custom rod leashes, etc....

A view from above of the front internal storage hatch, and the smaller hatch between your legs, both hatches are completely waterproof, and the Phase 3 Pro Air Seat that is fully adjustable. In fact it adjust more than some car seat that I have owned.

 I highly recommend the Wilderness System Ride 115 AA, in fact I love mine so much that I am already looking at getting another one. This way when we are out on our Guided Trips we can let customers experience how nice the yaks are. Simply put the best kayak n the market right now, and I can not find anything negative to say about mine. Hope to see you on the water or trail soon, and we really appreciate you taking time to check out our wonderful blog. Leave a comment if you are interested in taking a paddle with us, and be sure to check us out on Facebook.