Safe Ramps

[catman70]

I've never fished below Bagnell and wondered if someone could tell me if it's deep enough to run a bass boat all the way up to the dam, or what the best ramp would be to put in/how far up to go. Thanks!

[Linhardt]

There is a nice concrete boat ramp about a mile down river from the Dam. It should be fine for your boat. You can get there by turning off Hwy 54 on the outer road that goes up to the dam.

[catman70]

Thanks for the info. I've read back about looking for walleye on the channel swings. I've also had someone tell me that there aren't many walleye up close to Bagnell becasue of the mud bottom. Is it good water for walleye and whites from the dam down to the Missouri, or what should I be looking for?

Thanks again!

[Linhardt]

I do not have much experience in walleye fishing around there, only caught a couple here and there. I am not sure what they mean by mud bottom, but it is all gravel bottom from the dam down. In fact there is a gravel plant about 2 miles down and they come up stream close to the dam to get gravel sometimes. There have been quite a few people who catch walleye below the dam. My guess would be to concentrate on up stream of deeper holes where it meets the riffles, and bounce a 1/4 jig or larger and minnow combo to get down to the bottom and keep it vertical. Whites are abundant and should be running soon, hit the fast water for them around structure and up stream from deep hole where riffles meet. When the dam is generating water then the fishing can be good, when no generation I would focus more downstream in the areas with current. I do not have a boat and have only fished that area out of a boat once, so my experience is limited that way. But I have fished the bank up near the dam for a long time, have done well on whites and hybrids when they are running and the dam is generating water. Hope this helps a little.

[catman70]

It helps a lot. I've got a couple of buddies meeting me up therre this weekend, but maybe I could talk you into joining me sometime. Thanks again!

[Linhardt]

You don't have to twist my arm much to join in a fishing trip. Just drop me a line any time on my email addy linhardt@mowaterfowl.org and I would be happy to meet up with you and fish. Good luck, and reply back how you did.

Forgot to let you know, if you do go up to the dam, make sure your boat does not go any closer to the dam than the yellow line on the shore. You might get ticketed