Pool-2 494 Ramp.

Just checked out the ramp under the 494 bridge during lunch. (Tues) There is a shelf of fairly thick ice (3 plus inches) that extends out about 15 feet from shore. After that there is skim ice and black ice for another 20 yards out into the channel. The ramp and parking lot are clear of all snow and ice. This warm weather should loosen things up over the next few days. The river channel has some floating ice, but is clearing up fast!

I estimate that 2 guys with chissels/picks could open it up in an hour or two. I’m planning on putting in on Saturday morning. I’ll be checking it out again Friday over the lunch hour. If it’s still froze in, I’m planning on getting it open after work on Friday. The fishing should be fabulous on pool 2 this weekend!

J.

Jon,

Sounds good. I put in last week up by the ford dam just to get out. I am going to try to get in at 494 Thursday or Friday. Sounds like a little warm weather and a good supply of stamina with a chisel and we could have her open in a couple days.

I will let you know if I get down there before Friday.

How about the Lillydale ramp?

What is the order in which they open up in the winter? Hidden Falls, Lillydale, then 494? When I drive over 35E this week, everything looks pretty open right now.

Dave,

A lot of years the Lilydale ramp get’s jammed up with ice flows from the Minnesota. I may have time to take a look at that ramp tomorrow or the next day. I’ll let you know. Where would you fish if you put in there? I don’t get up that far during the winter.

J.

Probably the Airport. I have never run down river from there, but from what I can see on a map-it looks like Lillydale is about 4 miles to the dam and 5 miles to the Airport. It shouldnt take too long to get there.

I sold my house last weekend and am moving south (still looking for a house in Eagan)-so I will probably use the Lillydale launch a lot. Plus-I like the fact that there is a bait shop just down the road.

Hey Dave,

A friend of mine just pulled a hefty eye from the marina just down from the ford dam a little ways off the ice. She weighed close to 9 lbs. He also caught one crappie and had a couple more bites. Just another alternative if the Lily ramp is clogged up.

Good luck

DeeZee

Anybody been up by the Hidden Falls landing yet?? I would like to try the same areas I fished this summer with great success like below Hwy 5 bridge ect….

Waterfowler,

I was up there one day last week. The landing was in good shape. This landing stays in great shape usually all winter due to all the current here. Boated 2 small eyes by the dam. I was throwing jigs to the rip rap up on the lock side.

Good luck,

let us all know how it goes.

DeeZee

DeeZee

Check your messages.

Update. The 494 ramp is clear. Someone chopped er’ open. There was one trailer in the lot. Still about a 3 inch lip of ice but nothing unusual for this time of year. Also, the dock was pulled earlier this fall.

Dave. The Lillydale ramp is froze in pretty good. Would take a lot of work to get that one open.

J.

Thanks for the update Jon.

When I come off tonight, I will chisel a bunch away if I can.

thanks. If I may put and offer on a house tomorrow. If so-I may be on the water Sunday. It has been way too hard looking at houses all weekend when the temps are so nice. I REALLY need to get back on the water!

Thanks to Jon J and Dinosaur, the ramp is completely ice free.

No lip of ice whatsoever. Thanks guys, I must of just missed you guys last night.

See you down there soon!!

DeeZee

Could you see the flame-thrower from where you were downstream? That thing works great to soften up the ice. Then a couple hits with the pick and that ice is moving down stream.

By the way, did you get into them?

J.