Lost Paddle

[Carroll Birge]

I lost a Werner Sidekick fiberglass straight shaft kayak paddle, black shaft and cream or white colored blades on the Illinois Bayou Saturday, June 14th in a very thich willow jungle just above the guard rail hole above the Hector Bridge. No name on the paddle.

[Carroll Birge]

Scot Wright and I went back to the Illinois Bayou on Thursday evening, June 18 and found the paddle in the same willow jungle that I lost it. Everybody needs to walk this willow jungle, because it is next to impossible to paddle through it.

[Cowper]

I was in Dover yesterday, so I make a quick trip from the campground to the bridge in hopes of finding your booty. Launched at about 7 PM, took out at, 8:28 (local sunset, exactly). Is it true, do some people really take out before sunset?

I'm almost glad I didn't see your post sooner; I would have not gone, and it was an interesting trip. The water level was a bit too low, but I was able to paddle all the rapids except for maybe 3 portages forced by complete blockages in the willow jungles. In a WW kayak I probably could have hand-walked or squirmed through all but one, but in DeBo's 13.5' touring canoe I couldn't quite pull off that stunt.

My main reason for posting is to second what Carroll has said - EXTRA CAUTION is needed for those who haven't floated IB recently. There are some major channel changes occurring, with some serious willow jungle and strainer issues in these newer channels. At very high water one might be able to travel the "original" channel and have no issues. At low levels, you can simply step out of your boat an portage if need be. However, at medium and medium high levels I think there will be some hazards that clearly exceed what we normally expect from a Class II stream.