This is going to be my first time to fish them and was wondering if it is best to get there around 2am or the night before and launch then just sleep in the truck. I am going to be fishing with son who is 11 and this is the trail he wants to fish. I just don't want to hold up the ramp with me launching by myself. Any thoughts?

Make it fun for the 11 year old. Getting there at 2 am may or may not be fun for the little guy. Maybe you could hook up with another team that has a youngster and team up to launch the boats together.
Have fun and good luck.

Theres plenty of room down there... It will go alot quicker than you think ... you will be fine just get there 45 min earlier than you usually would or so

just back your boat in and park your truck, then get someone to give you a ride to it.

200ZX it will be a smooth early morning registration and launch. If I was you I would drive in from Kountz which is probably 1 hour and 15 mins from Umphreys, let your son get all the sleep he needs (he will need it) and go register (goes real fast, them girls that work the trailer move traffic real quick, get your boat number and you are ready to go.

Make the truck comfortable for your son to nap while you are registering and driving in to Umphreys.

I am going to send you a PM with my phone number. Me and my partner will not have a problem helping you launch early in the morning. Call me the night before to make sure that you are going to fish and to see what time you plan on coming up.

If we are in the water then just hit the launch with your boat and trailer and we will idle over to ramp and I will jump out and help out. Park truck... If we are waiting to launch I will walk over and help...

I think your son will enjoy the adrenaline rush waiting on yalls boat number to be called and watching the nascar like take off that goes on... Pretty awesome... Just hope there is some water in Umphrey's cove for all 250+ boats to take off...

John

There are four lanes at the ramp, so things go pretty smooth. 2 am is pretty early for an 11 year old. You also have the option of launching just around the corner at twin dikes and idle around to public.

Just show up 30 min early you will be fine plenty of guys to help out 2am is crazy. That Jan tourney is not fun 9 out of 10 times be carful it get's wild that time of year never fails 20 to 30 out of the north hang on it's going to be a ride awesome trail alot of good sticks.

If you don't want to wait in the long line, launch at twin dikes.

Thanks guys. I just didn't want any grumpy's whining about hogging up the ramp. I drove past it in the morning a few times in the past and it looked like a madhouse lol! Thanks John I appreciate it. I will call you and let you know. Merry christmas to everyone!!

Be one of the last ones to launch. they can't start without you! Plus there is plenty of time being the last to launch.