494 access

Anyone launched from or drove by the access recently? Just curious if there is any ice to contend with. Appreciate any intel.

Hidden falls was open open this weekend so I assume 494 would be. I’m not sure which I’m heading to tomorrow but I’ll post a report.

494 is open. Slick as a wet crappie. Note to self – bring salt/sand. Time for everyone to remember to drain the trailer before pulling out.

-J.

This is the 494 access as of 1PM today. The ice is starting to form up around shore. With some effort you could force your way out to the channel. But the season is slipping away.

S.R.

Looking good. Thanks Steve. Might try to get out Saturday.

Thanks for the updates guys. I’m also hoping to get out Saturday.

Please post and update on the ramps if you get out. I’m shooting for Sunday.

Ramp looks good. Some rip rap work going on today. Headed out now!

J.

Todd is on the board.

J

Nice!

Good luck Mike. I’d try and invite myself along but the whole family is coming over here for my birthday and I can’t think of any way to duck out

Just kidding. Hope you stick a big one and it isn’t a Buffalo (remember that one?).

S.R.

Kind of off-topic, but has anybody ever fished around bridge pilings/abutments/whatever they’re called, like the ones right there under the 494 bridge? I’ve driven around those particular ones a bunch looking at my graph, and it does look very fishy. Think I’ve even marked a few fish on the downstream side. I’ve dropped a jig down around them quite a bit but have never hooked a fish. Seems like they’d hold fish… probably should have just started a new topic but I’m just curious!

Bite wasn’t to bad yesterday. Good to be out in the boat again after a few weeks of deer hunting. Plenty of big saugers hitting plastics yesterday. Few walleyes mixed in to.

Went out of hidden falls this morning for a bit. Too cold to be worth it. Couple dinks on jig and minnows. Trolling motor and eyelets kept freezing so I gave up pretty easily.

Was back put of 494 today. Bite was about the same as yesterday. Was a little surprised to be the only boat out. River and ramp is still ice free but that might change by morning. Good luck to you guys getting out this week.

Took the night shift Saturday night. Wind definitely picked up and made it interesting. Was able to get on a Sauger bite toward 10pm but no big girls unfortunately.

Anyone been by the ramp in the last couple days? Wondering how bad it froze over.