Wisconson Channel

  • fish_any_time
    Champlin, MN
    Posts: 2097
    May 24, 2004 at 2:04 pm #1328974

    My wife and I are coming down to Red Wing on Wednesday to fish for walleye and sauger. This will be our first trip to this area. My game plan is to troll cranks at the head of the lake. If this bite is not going we may want to drag jigs and bait on the sand flats and wood in the river. This will also be my first time in the Wisconson Channel trying to access these areas. This leads to my question: What can I expect for hazards in the Channel and cuts? Are the hazards marked? Should I consider bringing an extra prop? Any other insight would help in settling my nerves.

    Thank you in advance for sharing your advise.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    May 24, 2004 at 4:54 pm #305863

    No hazrds are marked in the WI channel. Hazards would include sand bars and submerged timber / stumps, etc. With the higher water levels we’re seeing, navigating the WI channel is not the consideration it is later in the summer when we see lower water.

    It’s always a good idea to have a spare prop… particularly when you’re running on a body of water for the first time.

    tony_apisa
    E. Moline Illinois along the Rock River
    Posts: 1180
    May 25, 2004 at 6:31 pm #306099

    Quote:

    It’s always a good idea to have a spare prop… particularly when you’re running on a body of water for the first time.


    I always change out my SS prop to an aluminum one when I’m fishing new waters with a spare one just in case.

    Schmidtty
    Lake Elmo, MN
    Posts: 63
    May 25, 2004 at 6:33 pm #306100

    I’ve always wondered this? Why doesn’t the Corp of Engineers mark that back channels, especially those that have high traffic use, anybody know?

    rmartin
    United States
    Posts: 1434
    May 25, 2004 at 8:19 pm #306124

    Their only concern is maintaining the 9 foot barge channel.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    May 25, 2004 at 11:38 pm #306151

    It would be nearly impossible to do so w/o a huge outlay of $$. Side channels and cuts change after every flood and some of the channels, the WI Channel on Pool 4 would like be one of them, would not even be considered navigable on a year round basis. They would likely be understandably hesitent to touch marking a channel for navigation when that channel has a max depth of less than 2′ in some stretches at some times of the year.

    Once we’re off the main channel we’re on our own.

    bill_cadwell
    Rochester, Minnesota
    Posts: 12607
    May 26, 2004 at 12:06 am #306159

    Like James said, the sandbars change some each year with the normally high water in the spring. I have run it many times with lower water but you have to know exactly where the deeper water is and be up on plane and out of the water as much as possible in spots. If you don’t know it well you will be pushing your boat of sandbars alot. I would not advice it if you don’t know it well.

    Thanks, Bill

    fish_any_time
    Champlin, MN
    Posts: 2097
    May 26, 2004 at 3:12 pm #306261

    Thanks for the information guys.

    When I arrive later today it sounds as though I should be in good shape with the higher water levels we are experiencing and the risks are reduced but still there.

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