How has the boat traffic been on Pool 2 with Taste of MN going on? I was going to fish Pool 2 tonight and I was wondering if Taste of MN creates heavier boat traffic and if the launch sites fill up? I wouldn’t be launching until 7:00pm or so. Anybody been out around fireworks time and does the river get crazy?
There is more traffic, but normally the 4th is the craziest day, I don’t think you have much of a problem. Normally too they shut down the boats crossing in front of the taste of mn, a little before the show, so be aware sometime around 9 ish you won’t be able to get by the place, until after the show.
There are a couple different launching options.. Lilydale(very close to taste of mn), and Watergate marina a couple miles upstream. Hidden Falls closes at sunset, as does fort snelling state park.
I am sure the river is going to be busy, and there is always a cluster of boats near Harriet island when the fireworks are scheduled.
There is quite a bit of parking at Lilydale, and a fair amount at watergate. I would assume the lilydale launch will fill up and tey dont have any overflow parking. I would call ahead if planning to use watergate and they will tell you if parking will be available.
I am not sure where you are thinking of hitting pool 2. I would guess there would be slightly better odds finding parking at the 494 launch… otherwise the next launch upstream is on pool 1 at Boom Island Park which is 1 mile north of upper st anthony dam… and about 8 miles upstream of the Ford dam. 3 locks on that journey to get to pool 2.
I heard rumors there are fish on pool 1 also 
but I dont think there are any fireworks displays tonight if that was your intent for pool 1.
I will probably be shore fishing watching the boats go by if I am on pool 2 tonight.
I would expect it to be busy.
I think the hours changed at lillydale too, I’d check the sign, Its right on the entrance to the ramp, 494, would probably be the best launch to use.
Dave – I’m chasing flatheads on lower Pool 2. I’m launching out of St Paul Park. It should be OK there. I wasn’t sure what impact the Taste of MN was having on river traffic.
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I think the hours changed at lillydale too, I’d check the sign, Its right on the entrance to the ramp, 494, would probably be the best launch to use.
The sign I saw said 11pm, but I don’t know how much it is enforced since 2 guys were putting in a boat at 10:15 when we were coming out and there were plenty of trailers in the park.
Dave, does Watergate have a cutoff time as far as when you have to be back to the launch and out of there?
I was down by the 494 access yesterday around 6-7 PM. I was surprised that there weren’t many rigs parked in the lot and that there wasn’t much traffic on the river. There were maybe 8 or 10 trailers in the lot. They’ve opened things up under the bridge too. It isn’t so tight sneaking through there like it was before. I did see a great big old woodchuck run through the parking lot, scared the heck out of the wife 
Rootski
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does Watergate have a cutoff time as far as when you have to be back to the launch and out of there?
Nope that’s the best part about Watergate open all night and it’s a pretty secure area as far your vehicle and trailer being safe.
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Nope that’s the best part about Watergate open all night and it’s a pretty secure area as far your vehicle and trailer being safe.
That’s very nice to know, thanks.
isn’t anyone fishing tonight!??
I’m grounded as we had fireworks at our house this morning…when I dragged my 
in at 4 am…the time wasn’t the issue…it was that we didn’t have any piggie photos. 
Brian, I got a cooler full of bullheads and a broken cat rod. I left it in the car one day and don’t know what happened??? 
Well, it’s not the smartest thing to keep a pole in the car in this heat in the first place. 
That’s my excuse.
I just got back in from the St Croix. Got 2 small flats and missed a nice fish. Beautiful night. I should have stayed out all night. Tomorrow is going to be nuts on the St Croix. Every island is packed with campers. Thursday night should be great – I’ve got a hot spot that I need to work some more. Here is a pic of one of the little guys:
Oh-oh!
C15’s on the trail of a hot bite! 
Looks like a new PFD Steve, how do you like it?
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I think the hours changed at lillydale too, I’d check the sign, Its right on the entrance to the ramp, 494, would probably be the best launch to use.
Nick.. and everyone else..
The Lilydale launch has long had a sign posting it closed at 11 pm.. The patrols dont seem to mess with vehicles with trailers because I have left my truck/trailer there countless times parked all night and I have never had a ticket.
The last outing I had there recently.. we came back to the launch around 12:30 a.m. and there was a patrol vehicle in the lot near my passenger’s vehicles and my own which were all parked in a close, organized proximity of my trailer vehicle and it looked like the patrol vehicle was running the plates just to see who was down there. They waved at me as they drove off shortly after I came up to get my tow vehicle. No tickets were handed out and it didnt look like they had any problem with us being there.
That used to be a real popular party area.. I believe the signs were put in to detour the partying and other funny stuff going on down there. The signs are enforcable.. but I have never heard of a ticket yet, and I havent heard of a broken window either with the police patroling the lot.
Hey Brian – I’m starting to have some luck upstream on the St Croix, it has been mostly hit and miss (mostly miss) with no big fish yet. My kids got me the new PFD (SOSpenders) for my birthday and they are very nice. You forget you even have them on. I spend a lot of time alone on the river, late at night so the PFD is a good idea from a safety standpoint. I don’t dare take a fish picture without having my PFD on or I will catch hell.
Thanks Dave, that’s more great info to have.
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