Lillydale

Anyone know if lilydale ramp is open?

has been for at least a few weeks. so is hidden falls, so is 494.

i used ft. snelling last week, no docks in but still easier than the others for solo launch.

pool2fool wrote:

has been for at least a few weeks. so is hidden falls, so is 494.

i used ft. snelling last week, no docks in but still easier than the others for solo launch.

I’ve only ever launched at lilydale, but I’ve shore fished at hidden falls. Is the current significantly easier by fort smelling, and how far down from the confluence is it?

matthewkolden wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>pool2fool wrote:</div>
has been for at least a few weeks. so is hidden falls, so is 494.

i used ft. snelling last week, no docks in but still easier than the others for solo launch.

I’ve only ever launched at lilydale, but I’ve shore fished at hidden falls. Is the current significantly easier by fort smelling, and how far down from the confluence is it?

Much easier than hidden falls. Easier than lilydale solo, because there’s no good place to beach the boat while parking the truck at lilydale. The ft snelling launch is actually in the MN river, just at other end of pike island from the confluence.

Thank you very much for the info. I’m planning to head out on Sunday so maybe I’ll try the ft smelling ramp just for the heck of it.

matthewkolden wrote:

Thank you very much for the info. I’m planning to head out on Sunday so maybe I’ll try the ft smelling ramp just for the heck of it.

Good luck! A couple additional thoughts:

-vehicle must have a valid state parks sticker, or otherwise pay the day use fee to be in the park. stickers also available at ranger station. no additional launch fee on top of that.

-park hours are 8am-10pm and gates close promptly, so give yourself plenty of time to trailer the boat and get moving. it’s a 3-4 mile drive at park speeds, 20 MPH, back to the gate from the launch.

-If launching solo there is an eroded muddy bank directly adjacent/downstream from the launch, just before some downed trees. I just run my boat up into the bank and run the anchor line out around a sturdy tree while I park the truck. it’s a well-protected little nook, but the mud is really sticky right now; I’ve been packing my boots in a plastic bag in the boat and wearing a crappy old pair of shoes while I launch. Once in the boat I toss the muddy shoes in the bag, just saves a lot of time cleaning mud outta the boat.

-less than 1/4 mile downstream from the launch there is a small backflow on your port side. Navionics has this marked as “shallow,” but it was consistently 5-8 feet last year. we often use this to cut across the SW end of pike island if our destination is the dam or pool 1. Saves a trip around pike, as well as the watergate marina no-wake zone. however, when i was in the park this winter I noticed a massive tree down right around the pike island bridge that may prevent boats from passing. haven’t investigated yet. There’s also a beaver house directly north of the pike bridge on the eastern bank. they’ll greet you with a nice tail slap if you get too close.

The no wake Watergate marina zone has been mentioned couple times by you so far, and have looked at a couple navigation maps of that section and have seen no such zone.

Would you be able to elaborate or provide a link to these such zones?

Plan on exploring much more of pool 2 this year and would like to not get tickets, nor PO anyone.

No wake zone at water gate is easy to find. Big signs on both sides of the river saying no wake. These are both above and below water gate.

The no wake zone downtown is marked on the bridges if i remember right. Been a while since Ive been through this one. Up river side the signs are on the high bridge. Down river side I think its somewhere on Raspberry island.

I’m also familiar with the no wake zone. It doesn’t take long to get through, but does slow you down.

Feeling a little douchy at the moment then. Passed by that way at least few times last year.

Finally found the map for it. Anyone else is curious
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/safety/boatwater/metro_river_guide.pdf

nhamm wrote:

Feeling a little douchy at the moment then. Passed by that way at least few times last year.

Finally found the map for it. Anyone else is curious
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/safety/boatwater/metro_river_guide.pdf

Hey, can’t change the past, just be aware of it for the future. There are big huge no wake signs on the shore on both sides. Maybe you were cruising too fast to ever see them.

I meant to post a smiley face to show my sarcasm and friendly banter there.

Mike W wrote:

No wake zone at water gate is easy to find. Big signs on both sides of the river saying no wake. These are both above and below water gate.

The no wake zone downtown is marked on the bridges if i remember right. Been a while since Ive been through this one. Up river side the signs are on the high bridge. Down river side I think its somewhere on Raspberry island.

Correct on both counts. Another way to remember the downtown St Paul zone is between Smith Ave (high bridge) and Wabasha Street bridges.

Exact locations via Ramsey County Sheriff:
River Mile 839.5 (Wabasha St. Bridge) to 840.5 (Smith Ave. or High Bridge)

River Mile 844.6 to 845.1, near the Watergate Marina

I think the signs by watergate can be a bit hard to see – they are posted on trees on your right side if you are heading down river. It’s a pretty short stretch through there of no wake.

I missed the downtown ones the first time through, too, so don’t feel too bad. I figured it out because everyone on shore was flipping me off.

More important than no wake laws, anyone getting fish? I haven’t seen boats at the confluence lately. I was debating getting out this weekend if it is worth it.

nhamm wrote:

Feeling a little douchy at the moment then. Passed by that way at least few times last year.

Jack ass!!!