Need Tips for Safe River Navigation

[bobo1]

Am looking for all the help, insite, suggestions I can get for safe boating on the Rock and Mississippi rivers. I have very limited experience boating with a motor on rivers but plan to start hitting these two. Thank you.

[Rainman4u2]

The biggest question is where? Which pool of the Miss, and what section of the Rock?

If you let everyone know, they may be able to help you if they are familiar with the areas. Personally, I can tell you Schoe and dipper know the areas of the Rock that they fish the most.

Ray

[hnd]

the miss is fairly easy to navigate...when going long distances stay in the shipping lane. and find a good map of the wingdams.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/fishing/miss/files/images/map161.gif

the green and red bars are wing dams.

[heath19]

In terms of the rock river if you put in at Lowell Park its pretty good both directions. You can go all the way to the dam in dixon from lowell park and your ok and if you go north your ok till you get up past the big rock wall a little ways. Castle rock is pretty much all really shallow. Those are the only two parts of the rock i know. I know pool 13 on the mississippi but thats alot of water so it depends on where your planning on going? what species of fish are you wanting to chase?

[willy]

In terms of the rock river if you put in at Lowell Park its pretty good both directions. You can go all the way to the dam in dixon from lowell park and your ok and if you go north your ok till you get up past the big rock wall a little ways. Castle rock is pretty much all really shallow. Those are the only two parts of the rock i know. I know pool 13 on the mississippi but thats alot of water so it depends on where your planning on going? what species of fish are you wanting to chase?
how is the fish bitting in that part of the rock.

[dipper69_2000]

chuck this spring if ya wanna tag along i can show ya the rock. just don't mind the looks of my prop lol.

[bobo1]

Thanks for the responces. Plan on hitting the Rock around Dixon and between dixon and say Sterling. On the Mississippi I'd probably put in around Fulton, Clinton or maybe a little further north. I'm looking to target cats and walleyes on both rivers and am always happy to put crappies on the table. I have no experience boating around dams or wing dams and expect to try below the Dixon dam for walleyes and try trolling the Mississippi wing dams for walleyes and sauger. Need safety tips please. Thanks again.

[dipper69_2000]

#1 safety tip when fishing dams never never anchor just below it i know people do but i went to school with a girl who lost a father,grandfather, and uncle because of it. and i also worked with a guy that got lucky and got away with his life but lost alot of fish equipment and coulda lost alot more when his boat sunk.

[heath19]

Bigcat i havent hit Lowell park since the summer for catfish when we did pretty good a couple times. Castle rock use to be a great catfish spot but this year it just never happened around there or something. Right now ive been getting walleyes just north of there at the oregon dam. Bobo if you want to catch walleyes around the dams on the rock i wouldnt even bother with a boat. Fishing is usually pretty good from the banks around the dixon, oregon, and rock falls dams early in the spring and fall. The fishing closes on the mississippi up by the dams Dec. 1st so you will have to wait till spring now pretty much when it opens up March something i believe?

[Illinoisgiller]

For the Mississippi River, you might consider getting a river navigation map book. I get on the Mississippi as little as possible, but if I did I would have one. ole giller

[willy]

Bigcat i havent hit Lowell park since the summer for catfish when we did pretty good a couple times. Castle rock use to be a great catfish spot but this year it just never happened around there or something. Right now ive been getting walleyes just north of there at the oregon dam. Bobo if you want to catch walleyes around the dams on the rock i wouldnt even bother with a boat. Fishing is usually pretty good from the banks around the dixon, oregon, and rock falls dams early in the spring and fall. The fishing closes on the mississippi up by the dams Dec. 1st so you will have to wait till spring now pretty much when it opens up March something i believe?
thanks for the info. i got to keep my boat outside all year, shure wish i had a tiller instead . i could put it on on nice days and get out. i am gonna hit oregon before it gets real cold. thanks

[heath19]

If you get over to oregon let me know when and ill try to make a trip over there too. it would have to be a tuesday, wednesday, or thursday when im home. now that the fishing is closed by the dams on the mississippi i plan on hitting oregon alot more.