Couple of ????? Barges,articles

Two total different questions,First question is when you see barges out in Pepin heading towards red wing and sitting I think high where are they going to fill up and if they are full where are they going to unload?

Question two I tried reading the lastest 5 articles on main page under articles nothing comes up,Is it just me or is there a problem?? Someone please try it and let me know as I know the secret to catching fish is probably hidden in there somewhere and I need to know it.Thanks

Not sure about the barge thing but In answer to your second question, I had no problems getting to the articles page and reading the articles.

FTR Articles page

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

If you could see the number of empty barges on Pool 2 you would be amazed. From just north of the 494 bridge up to the downtown St Paul area I would say there are probably 300 or more at any time. This appears to be a holding area for them.

Most of the barge traffic ends here in St. Paul. Coal, Gravel, Sand to name a few gets unloaded right downtown here. Those shipments can originate anywhere from New Orleans on up. The empty barges hang around here until harvest season ends. Then many of those barges are filled with grain and shipped downstream. (for the most part anyway)

If you have a VHF radio, tune into channels the barge captains are using. They have some very spirited conversations. I have sat for hours in my garage and listens to the stories these guy have. What a life!!

Regarding barges and fishing-

I have noticed that I seem to catch more fish when the barges are going by. I am talking about Pool 2 fishing where the river averages about 100 yards across. The barges take up a considerable amount of the river and I speculate that they push fish out of the channel (average channel depth is 15′ or so) and into MY BAIT! If this has any merit whatsoever, should a guy start trolling the shorelines along with the barge?

I may be all goofed up and only notice the times when I catch a fish and the barge happens to be there, so has anyone else noticed this?

Also, a friend of mine claims that the locks opening and closing turn off the fish for a while. I havent noticed, anyone care to shoot out an opinion?

What channels are the barge captains on?

Thanks,

Bear

I scan for them…… Usually in the mid 20’s and mid 60’s. They jump around a lot.

Dave,

I’ve noticed a direct correlation between barge passing and fish bite on wing dams here, particularly when fishing live bait. I have even gone so far as to wing dam jump in front of a barge to get settled before they pass. Also noticed that when cranking wings for active fish on the top, that seems to tail off temporarily. I believe the barges stir the bait fish, chase them out of the channel towards the wings, which in turn creates a brief feeding frenzy on the wing dam. I’ve had it happen far too often to be coincidence! Don’t know about the lock thing, except in spring when I am fishing right in the vicinity of the lock it does seem to change the location of fish for some time when the lock is opened or a barge is stirrring water.

I’d be very interested to hear others opinions on these barge ideas!

Thanks for the reply Hougie, I can get to the article page but when I click on the article’s from Dave Hoggard,Kensyl Reading or Mac big zippola. Is something different on those like format or something. All other posts come up fine.Here’s another easy one for you,why does edit show up when I post a message but not for other user’s.I was thinking I must be special or something but na it can’t be that.Thanks

Hmm. No problems here.

Here is a link to mac’s article on plastics:

Customizing plastics

I was able to view all of the articles you mentioned. Anyone who is logged on is able to edit their own posts.

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

This must be a mystery thing.I can click on your link from your post at 2:45 to the article page no problem.The page comes right up but I click on the link to Mac’s on plastics and nada thing.maybe you can just call me and read it to me.

LOL I haven’t a clue whats up.

Send me an email and we can troubleshoot it together.

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

What channel do you get them on Jon? I live in Inver Grove 2 blocks from the river, and I have never heard them.

I got an email from someone else today with the same problem in regards to the articles. He was using Netscape 4.0 and thats what I figured the problem was. I will test this in Netscape I think I have the latest version of it. We design everything for Internet Explorer so we apologize to those Netscape users for any problems but we highly recommend using Internet Explorer here.

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

Hey Crossin Eyes,

I was picking up the barge chatter last night on the following channels: 3-8-14-16-63-66-67.

Lots of talk about the barge that caught fire yesterday down in your neck of the woods. Interesting suff.

J.