Beaver Lake Dangerous Spots.

[Feathers and Fins]

If you have google earth go to the calender option on it and go to 9of2006 it will help see some of the hazards. I ran around for a little bit this afternoon more to meter launching areas and here is what I found

1. Prairie Creek. Use the furthest left 3 lanes of the ramp ( that is if you are standing at the top of the ramps facing the lake LEFT )

2. Old Prairie creek dirt road where the Army corps just put the block wall. You can launch here and appears to be in decent shape but you will have the back of your truck in water so use caution.

3. Beaver Shores ramp. This ramp is open but if you go more than 16ft out you will drop your tires off it.

4. Back of Avoca. Shoreline mud flats it might be possible to launch smaller boats but I wouldnt try launching any heavy boats here

5. Montne. The ramp looks like it is fine I did mark a large objest about 18ft off the ramp possibly block or tree stump so use caution.

6. Montne dirt USE THE RAMP the bank is mud and you will get stuck.

7. 12 Bridge, As always watch the center between the two lanes. the left ramp has a rock out in front of it about 50 ft or so, keep your motor trimmed up and go to the left. Left ramp I think will be good unless we loose another 2 feet. USE EXTREME CAUTION if you head from the ramp to the bridge it is very shallow some areas only 8inches deep I advise going around the island.

8. Rocky Branch North ramp looks good but limited parking.

9.Rocky Branch South Ramp. Use Caution stay as close to the dock as possible many chunck rocks on the right side of the ramp and its now to a point you will be in sand to launch so have a 4x4 if you have a long trailer.

I tried to do some math on that ramps and estimated distance from them to still safe for my boat 18ft from shore and if the lake continues to drop another foot to 14 inches the ramps will start becoming interesting to say the least.

I used both my upand down and side scan to try and guage the ramps. This by no means is 100% accurate just trying to help save some people costly repairs Check each ramp and use it at your own risk everyones launching technique is diffrent as is the length they need to properly launch.

Other obsticles to beware of are the stick ups in Avoca, Many large concrete blocks and other obsticles in the back of Prarie Creek, The points on the island closest to Prairie Creek Marina on the North side of it extend a long way out and will eat your lower unit. The island in front of rocky branch Northeast side has several sand/rock bars out of water but also alot of them still under water. Montne south side is decent but some trees i never knew were there so use caution.

If anyone else has anything to add please do, Ya i know i just gave some hints to good bass spots when the lakes back up but i rather see people fishing them than sinking their boats.

[wc1063]

Scott, thanks for the info. Looks like you did some homework on this, great job!

Now, we need tips on where the walleye and striper are hiding!!

[Feathers and Fins]

Oh i found the Stripers and have a good idea where the walleye are but im waiting on a birdy to tell me if a rumor is true.

[Feathers and Fins]

Oh i found the Stripers and have a good idea where the walleye are but im waiting on a birdy to tell me if a rumor is true.

[Guest]

the 412 boat ramp is dry, Blue springs is open.

Not sure about war eagle.

If you run up the rivers, you have to run dang near up on the bluff wall. (wiggle warts)

theres lots of stumps on the mud flat side up there. (good spots for a square bill)

If you get out of the channel by a couple yards, it could spell disaster.

Do any of you run way up river past Neils bluff?

I know a guy that runs a square back canoe with a 3hp outboard and drags shoals.

He swears the crappie bite all winter if its not frozen solid.

[wormer]

Hickory Creek park launch is closed. You can launch at the marina. On Sunday I could not get up to Neils bluff because of ice.

[Quillback]

Thanks for the info F&F, and thanks Wormer for the Hickory info.

Anyone know if the Horseshoe Bend COE launch is still usable?

[kjackson]

Has anyone been at the Dam Site parks? I tried launching at the Holiday Island marina today with no luck--had to run to Eagle Rock instead--so I'm thinking I may focus on Beaver if I can launch there.

[Feathers and Fins]

Quill when i went past it a boat was on it looked like loading so I am thinking it is open. but I didnt graph it something with white cheek patches had my attention

[Quillback]

Has anyone been at the Dam Site parks? I tried launching at the Holiday Island marina today with no luck--had to run to Eagle Rock instead--so I'm thinking I may focus on Beaver if I can launch there.

We launched at the Lost Bridge South COE ramp a couple of weeks ago and it was fine, got plans to launch out of there Friday, I'll let you know if there are problems but I anticipate it should be fine. It's about a 10 minute drive from the dam site launches so it's a good backup if those ramps are troublesome.