Elk River Hwy 101 Launch - Smash-n-Grab (but the fishing was great!)

[Aquaman01]

Our truck was smash-n-grabbed at the hwy 101/10 launch in Elk River. Pioneer Stereo, 30 cd's and the driver's side window. I wasn't really pi$$ed off until I went to punch the button for the hatch-window and realized the button wasn't there any more - they gutted the dash. Bass turds.

The fishing and navigation adventure was top-notch, though (for this angler of modest expectations). We went upriver and didn't start hitting rocks until after the big concrete out-flow, then I rowed us over to the small island across from the out-flow to beach and maybe fish. The tail-out of the island didn't look too appealing, so I decided to portage the boat (12' aluminum that Washington took across the Delaware) through that back-channel (4"-18" of water and very little current) by just dragging it through. That got us past the worst of the shallows. Our objective was the big islands upriver from the Main Street bridge.
The kids (3 & 5 yrs.) wrangled up a 1/2 dozen river clams and we caught some big redhorse, goldeye and a nice 6 or 7 lb. channel cat on them.
When I could, I took a quick trip wading around a little island with deep rip-rap, fallen logs and timbersnarls. I was using a 3 1/2" plastic Mad Tom (pale yellow) on a 1/0 G-mag hook and pulling a smallmouth out of almost every log-in-boulders I cast at! What a BLAST! Nah, they weren't huge, but I don't mind. Just finding 'em and duping 'em into trying to eat rubber is good enough for me.
Water clarity is dynamite! You can see the bottom in 2 1/2' of water!
You can FEEL the bottom, too. Right now that stretch is reserved for jets, jons, canoes or dumba$$es like me. There's plenty of deep holes to be had, but even the main channel is only 9"-12" in spots. I'm lucky - I was going really slow with a 5.5 horse putt-putt, so when I hit rocks I didn't do it with a lot of torque. My Rivva Po' is none the worse for wear!
Oh yeah, so anyway - the crime was in broad daylight on a weekday. Be careful. Grrr - they got my Oingo Boingo, Sublime, Jethro Tull, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Beasty Boys and Steve Miller. Bass Turds.

------------------
Aquaman
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"The bow is set to distant shore,
then loss is gained and gains once more.
When beach is reached and sails are torn,
the journey is it's own reward."

[This message has been edited by Aquaman01 (edited 10-07-2003).]

[erikwells]

Aquaman, I saw you yesterday. I was on shore doing my 15-20 minute casting routine that yielded 2 smallies. Last week in the evening I found a hole in that area that yielded a couple of 18 inch eyes. Sorry to hear about your theft. This is the same area I fished last year and watched a drug deal. Be good and the Oingo Boingo cd was no loss and likely punishment enough for these thieves (just kidding). There were days that you could shoot trespassers and hang thieves with witnesses. Ahh the good old days.

[HawgTide]

That's very disturbing to hear. I was off yesterday and considered trying to get the boat in at Elk River, but went to Champlin instead.
Hope they catch the 'turd.

[riverbasher]

Aquaman,
I fish that section of river all the time when I am not deployed to Iraq...lol. I live only about 2 miles from that launch. I see all kinds of stuff at that launch and have called the police from my cell to report many times. They usually respond relatively quickly too. I like to fish on the downstream side of the big island right on the bend of the river where the high banks are. I catch anything from catfish to suckers to smallmouths all over that area. I'll be cruising that area in my "new" jon boat next year title the Riverbasher 2.....hopefully we'll find each other one of these days and cast some lines, and maybe a brew or two together man...Later

Jeremy

[HawgTide]

See what happens when you buy that kind of music? Just kidding, I like Sublime myself.

[This message has been edited by HawgTide (edited 10-08-2003).]

[erikwells]

This is a great stretch of river that is usually not too busy, good fishing, and close to my house. I personally have seen drug deals in this area and have called the cops before. What really confuses me is why is this a chosen area for these people? I supposse it's close to the hiway. Anyways keep calling out the cops on these turds. I really don't want to have to explain drug dealing to my son while we are fishing.

[Aquaman01]

Erik,
I saw a couple of solo adults near the bridge as the afternoon was waning on. Were you the fella at the Main St. bridge on the Hwy 10 side? I also saw a guy after 5 or 6 (I didn't have a watch) at the bridge, but on the other side. I'd like to know how he got there. If you had gone down to the condos - you could have waded to us. I saw a dog run through it.

Jeremy,
That island-tail was where we were fishing! Nice beach, and with the water low and clear I got a real good recon of the structure and holes. The side of that island towards the town-shore is dynamite! I'm going back when I can! I'll just have to remember to leave the windows down next time.

Nothin' wrong with eclectic tastes in music! The Hank Williams III was at home, and the Frank Sinatra was stolen by a more insidious kind of thief....
AN EX-GIRLFRIEND!!!!!

[Aquaman01]

Erik -
Was that you under the bridge on the town side? I saw two adults - one on town side and one on the other side.
I remember the drug-dealing thread from last year. I wish there were another access nearby, or that the ramp was right in the park, instead of back practically under the bridge.
At least all my tackle & rods were with me.

Rob

[The Yeti]

Sorry to hear about this. Sometimes people can just down right suck! How does that one country song go "we raise up our glasses against evil forces.. whiskey for my men and beer for my horses.." or something like that.. Ahhh to have the good ol days back.

p.s. I have fished that stretch of river many times and did well.

[erikwells]

That was me brother; farting around the bridge. I tried both sides. The south sid e is rather shallow and I doubt you will ever see me over there again but the north side with the storm flow is deeper. I have caught some decent eyes there. The bend by the condos you speak of is a cat hole in the summer.

[metro 1]

That's sad to hear about the truck break-in.I have been fishing out in Wright co. and avoid certain accesses ,now that sucks. I bought an engraver and I put the phone# and my initials on EVERTHING! Check that pawn shop in Monticello for your stuff in a few days. metro

[riverbasher]

Rob,
I also fish a little further upstream from the main street bridge at the very next bend right on the tail of the outside island there. I sometimes go all the way up to Otsego park and drift the banks for smallmouths too. I'd like to get further up than Otsego park but most summers my prop boat can't go much further than that. My buddy and I also fish the river up in Monticello near the power plant and drifting the banks between Monti and the power plant. We catch walleyes, cats, and smallies all over the place there, usually a lot more boat traffic than Elk River though.

[Dragon Fish ll]

Im working in Elk River right now for a couple week and was wanderingif shore fishing is any good along there. water looks kinda low right now. ANY tIPS

[Aquaman01]

Hey Dragon!
If ya don't recall - I'm that guy who camped with his son at Carver. You the same guy who was with Rushing? Or are you another Dragon?

Between the Main St. Bridge and the big concrete platform is a series of deep holes on the Hwy 10 side of The River starting around the storm drain that taper into a shallow tail-out downriver. I marked BOUKOO fish there on the drift out. Wear yer hiking boots though - and don't fall in.

The Sunset Grill (or something like that) on Main St. is uphill from an island tail-out that has a nice hole, too, on the streetward side.

I have one more spot in that area - e-mail me
[email protected]

Peace,
Rob

[erikwells]

Aquaman is right on. Fun stretch of river and now is the time to hit it.

[panolo]

I was looking at old topics and my truck was hit near the same time yours was at the Clearwater Mississippi access. Same type of stuff with a smash and grab. The funny thing is that release button was also trashed. They got me at about 8:00pm. Did you have any luck recovering stuff? They found my wallet which I had hid real good under the seat in a ditch by Lake Orono.

[scotty18]

Hi guys, I happened across this topic tonight. I have fished the area from Monti to Elk River all my life. It's probably some of the best fishing in the state. I stay away from Babcock Park(hwy 101 launch) like the plague. If you park your vehicle there leave the doors unlocked, less damage will be done There are several launches along Wright Co. rd 39. I also fish them at night for cats. I have never had any problems at either of these launches. Usually there is more water than at Babcock Park.
Ok everyone knows this is a good area for small mouth, walleyes, cats etc. but does anyone besides me fish for muskies? I have had monster follows and I'm wondering if anyone accually fishes for muskies in this area. I believe In-Fisherman did a segment in the stretch about half way between Monti and ER.

Thanks,Scotty

[Long Gray Line]

I don't like that launch either. I've seen individuals head back into the woods there by the launch, saw what looked like money and small packages exchanged and then both drive off like a bat out of hell. Saw it on a couple of different occasions. Couldn't get a good enough look to stand up in court though. That place is getting a bad reputation!

[Daze Off]

I work in Elk River and pass by the landing every day - I had not heard anything about what was included in the previous post but I have always heard that it is one of those places where perverts get together and do things (as was featured in one of the news reports a few months ago). There are always individuals parked in there at odd times and they are NOT fishing. For that reason I have never considered launching there. The few times I have fished that stretch of river we have launched from Dayton and come north.

Daze Off