My advice –
Watch out for syringes and used condoms!
That’s good advise on Pool 2.. Most the Barbie dolls, body parts and condoms get hung up on the bank before getting to Pool 4. Haha.. But most the tennis balls and plastic bottles make it that far.
To be honest I think people are blowing this a little out of proportion. Sure it has its dangers, like everything else, but as long as you have an idea of what to expect and not an idiot you’d be just fine without a guide.
Wear a life jacket, buzz down the main channel, steer clear of other boats and floating logs. If you want to go above and beyond buy a map where it shows wing dams (hence the drive down the main channel part) and a few community hole fishing locations.
With all that being said, right now isn’t exactly ideal because maneuvering a boat and putting it on and off the trailer can be a challenge with the increasing flow this time of year, like others have mentioned. For practice it wouldn’t hurt to try out Winona for a day to avoid the crowds like you said. Spent my college days down there and there are plenty of fish to be caught.
I think your last paragraph kinda voids the first one. The op asked for opinions and got some good ones…..I think what everyone is just trying to say is be careful, pay attention, and if you are more comfortable going with someone else the first time there are some great guides with years of knowledge out there.
I wish I’d had the knowledge base of IDO when I first started fishing the river. Our first trip out, pleasure cruise w/ the wife and kids just exploring, I got stuck in some muddy MN river backwaters near Fort Snelling and had to hop out and push thru. Have also been stuck in Spring Lake at night.
Knowing the risks of the river lets you prepare yourself for an emergency situation on moving water. If something goes wrong your quick, positive reaction can be the difference between a sunken boat (or worse) and a funny story.
Nobody’s trying to scare or discourage you here. Just approach the river with a healthy dose of respect and use common sense.
Knowing the risks of the river lets you prepare yourself for an emergency situation on moving water. If something goes wrong your quick, positive reaction can be the difference between a sunken boat (or worse) and a funny story.
I have been fishing and boating on the river over 20 years and every year still have the (funny story) issues. The river is always changing and teaching us every year. Knowing the risk and being prepared is the #1 factor down there. Be ready for anything and there is only one way to learn. Just have to get after it. Hate to say it but most lessons I have learned were the hard way.
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