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Swallow Bluff Island

Location: Tennessee River
Mile Marker: 169.4
Lat / Lon: N 35° 23.340' / W 088° 09.550'
Depth: 10-20 ft.
Description:
No trespassing on island, enter and exit from east.

4.60

(5)

4.60 out of 5 stars

Holding:

4.40

Fair, Mud. Approvimately 100 yards from the channel bottom is gravel.

Wind Protection:

4.00

Somewhat exposed SW and SE

Current Flow:

3.40

Wake Protection:

3.80

Somewhat exposed SW and SE

Scenic Beauty:

4.60

Ease of Shopping:

1.00

Shore Access:

3.25

Pet Friendly:

3.25

Cell Service:

2.60

WiFi:

1.00

Review for Swallow Bluff Island

Reviewed by: Dick Heusinkveld, Nine Lives, on Oct 5, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

4

Wake Protection:

3

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

4

Pet Friendly:

4

Cell Service:

2

WiFi:

1

We anchored in 25 feet in the center of the channel. You will find less depth if you go farther up the chute. Approach and leave from downstream/north end only. Current will usually keep you aligned, on one occasion for us it didn't. Wakes from local boaters calm down after dark. No wakes from tows. Well sheltered from N/S wind direction. Anchor dug in well and held in sand, came up clean. Access to the island is not allowed but easy beach access to the shore or the small island at the end of the chute. Very pretty location.

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Review for Swallow Bluff Island

Reviewed by: Janet Jackson on Oct 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

5

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

4

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

5

Pet Friendly:

5

Cell Service:

3

WiFi:

1

So thankful for What yacht to Do's comments on this anchorage. Saved us from having a similar incident. Got into it around 7pm. Didn't go to far in depth 18 ft. Fishing boats in the morning. Beautiful spot. Great hold. Very little current. Come in from the north.

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Review for Swallow Bluff Island

Reviewed by: Capt Sam, Here's To Us, on Oct 24, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

4

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

3

Pet Friendly:

3

Cell Service:

3

WiFi:

1

WhatYachtToDo dropped anchor (Rocna 25kg) at N35-23.227 W088-09.968 (1/8 mile east and just downstream of Dickey Towhead Island in 18 feet. Anchor held immediately. Let out 100 feet of chain and Mantus snubber held firmly. Did not budge all night. Very quiet anchorage. Verizon okay signal enough to stream Netflix. T-Mobile poor to non existent. Current about one mph kept us straight. Anchor came up clean. UNFORTUNATELY, I tried to scoot out west rather than following my bread crumbs back east and join the channel. Soft grounded at N35-23.337 W088-10.395. Luckily I was in idle sounding it out but it went from 6 to 3 very quickly. Local Hardin County Fire and Rescue came out and pulled us off with coaching by another local fishing boat. Also had help from fellow loopers in the main channel making wakes to help float us off. An example of What NOT To Do! Sam & Rev Carver504

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Review for Swallow Bluff Island

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel, Contributing Editor on Oct 9, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

4

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

2

Wake Protection:

4

Scenic Beauty:

4

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

1

Pet Friendly:

1

Cell Service:

2

Enter from the north mid channel RDB with 22 foot depth at north tip of island, 22 feet at icon, and 10 feet winter pool at the south end of the island behind Dickey Towhead. Anchorage has full current running through it. Good holding and protection from wakes and wind from most directions. Less current when you tuck in behind Dickey Towhead. Okay Verizon and fair ATT and T-Mobile service. Shore access at Point Pleasant Landing LDB mm 170.5. Last good anchorage before Wolf Island at mm 192

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Review for Swallow Bluff Island

Reviewed by: Richard Sauder on Oct 2, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 4.5'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

3

Wind Protection:

3

Current Flow:

2

Wake Protection:

3

Scenic Beauty:

4

Cell Service:

3

We anchored here in 22 feet of water with light wind and a 1 knot current. North/South wind protection.(Pickwick Tailwater 365, Savannah Gauge at 365) Good scenery, quiet, occasional local traffic. We got a good, solid set in, what sounded like gravel, on the second try with a Vulcan.

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