Mile 720.0 - Josie Harry Bar

720 Josie Harry Bar

The Josie Harry Steamboat sank in 1878 and created a sandbar island that has now been assumed by the Tennessee/Mississippi shore LBD. If you are in the main channel through this area you will have a long uninterrupted stretch of rip rap and revetment to paddle through. Steel yourself and choose a rhythm you can keep up for the duress. On a calm day you can enjoy the steady flow and long lines of trees. On windy days there is no choice but paddle hard. Upstream tows tend to hug the right bank bottom end of the Dismal Point/Ensley Bar islands while downstreamers tend to go wide and look for the faster waters around the outside of the bend. As always be vigilant: tow pilots are as unpredictable as black bears. Near mile 719 a blue hole has been carved over the rip rap on the left bank by previous high waters. Good swim hole at medium water levels (between 15 and 25 on the Memphis Gauge). As the river approaches flood stage you can paddle over this area and go behind the highest wooded part of Cow Island which seems to have become part of the Tennessee shoreline. Watch out for snags and strainers and be ready for possible bushwhacking and channel finding along the way!