[tnridgerunner]

Just a couple of observations from an old fart who has escaped more boating mishaps than he should have.

IMHO, no one, however experienced, should get into the main channel of the Mississippi in a 14 foot jon boat, period. I'm sure some have done it, but there are lots of stories about others who didn't make it.

I would rethink that canopy over the boat. Depending on how it's tied in, it may well catch a thunderstorm gust and flip the boat. Not so good.

However channelized the Obion and Forked Deer are, there are many, many laydowns that often block the channels. I think I would start with a more friendly river trip and see how it goes over a 40 mile stretch or so. The Tennessee and Cumberland both offer good possibilities.

You could float from Center Hill Dam down the Caney Fork to the Cumberland and downstream to Nashville without being too far from help or encountering a lot of difficulty. You could catch a lot of different kinds of fish on the way. Or you could float from Nashville down to Barkley Dam.

Just sayin'.