I think you'd be all right launching at Nickel Branch, the ramp is concrete - heck people launch pontoons out of there all the time.

Shoot, if you're going to be in Buzzard Rock, you can spend all day in there! If Buzzard isn't enough for you, you could easily motor down the lake to Kuttawa and fish it too. My family had a houseboat for years at Buzzard Rock and because of it I know that area like none other! There's plenty of good fish in there, especially crappie!