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Best boat launches

Craigums
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Craigums Experienced

Craigums

Posted
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What are some of the friendliest boat launches near south st. paul? Just bought my first big glass boat and want a place to practice dropping it in and pulling it out. Took it to big marine but thats just a bit farther than id like to go

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RuKiddingMe Proficient

RuKiddingMe

Posted
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Most of the main lakes (Tonka, Waconia, BE, Flake and many others)are all pretty good, depth and maintenance wise. The WBL launch may be a bit of a challenge, but might also be worth trying so you can learn your limits.

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EBass Grand Master

EBass

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If you want to master loading and unloading your boat go the the river. Hidden Falls to be exact. The current will give you headaches, but once you get to a lake it will be a breeze.

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Craigums Experienced

Craigums

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If you want to master loading and unloading your boat go the the river. Hidden Falls to be exact. The current will give you headaches, but once you get to a lake it will be a breeze.

have you ever used the launch under 494 bridge? that one is right by my house.

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EBass Grand Master

EBass

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Yes - I don't think the current is as bad there as it is at Hidden Falls. It's just that Hidden Falls has ripping back current. So you're going one way then you pass the seam and now you're going the opposite. It's a pain. Prolly not the best idea for your first time now that I'm thinkin bout it.

But yeah rivers are way more of a pain than a lake. Of course 30PMH winds blowing into a ramp at a lake will suck to.

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pinkfloyd4ever Mentor

pinkfloyd4ever

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Because its close to my home I hit spoon lake, it has a decent access, no docks, the only draw back is it always seems the wind is screaming out of the south which can make loading a pain.

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WhopperPlopper Rookie

WhopperPlopper

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Just tried 494 ramp myself for the firs time on sunday.

It is MUCH easier than hidden falls. i dont recommend HF until u have more experience or until its warmer out, because u will probably just end up with wet shoes!

494 has minimal current, a fair to high amount of approach space, and the most important aspect- A Dock! (hidden falls has none)

Just remember to pull your plug before leaving- save our lakes and save yourself a ticket!

Good luck, and thanks for practicing!

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Kyhl Proficient

Kyhl

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If you want to master loading and unloading your boat go the the river. Hidden Falls to be exact. The current will give you headaches, but once you get to a lake it will be a breeze.

I've seen some funny stuff happen at that launch. The best was watching a guy try backing his empty trailer down the ramp over and over. One of his attempts had the trailer at a 90 degree angle on the ramp. Probably was jack knifed. It was hilarious. He must have tried it 10 times before the owner beached the boat and backed the trailer in all Pi$$ed off. Peeling out on the ramp without a boat.

We were watching from the water while we waited for a friend to show up. Ah, good times.

To the original poster. Just relax and take your time. There will always be someone else in a hurry that will screw it up worse and you can laugh at them. laugh

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Kyhl Proficient

Kyhl

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Another good one might be under the Hwy 77 bridge on the MN river. No one is ever there and their is no current. Nice concrete launch.

I launched there two weeks ago without a problem. You will need a state park sticker though.

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Kyhl Proficient

Kyhl

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Launched out of Hidden Falls yesterday afternoon. They must have opened up the dam a bit because the water was higher and flowing faster than it was two weeks ago.

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hydro Mentor

hydro

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If you want to master loading and unloading your boat go the the river. Hidden Falls to be exact. The current will give you headaches, but once you get to a lake it will be a breeze.

Now that's just plain cruel. I grew up in the area and we would set up chairs on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon just to watch the chaos as people tried to land their boats after a refreshment filled day out on the river. One day the current will be ripping by from the north, the next it will be from the south and once in a while it will be in the calm center of the eddy. Add to that the steep slope of the landing and the fist size rock bottom and lots of bad things can happen quick. Launching is easy here but to get back onto the trailer you have to be lined up as you float by in the current, and drive on as you pass the trailer. Sort of a timing and boat handling skill thing. Forget about nudging up to the trailer and winching the boat up.

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Tator2k Rising Star

Tator2k

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I would call it being pushed up stream at about 45 degree angle and then turning into the trailer. I keep my bunks a little further out of the water so the boat can grab on. I typically by myself which makes this even more exciting (read: harder)

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Aaron Carrell Collaborator

Aaron Carrell

Posted
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Craigums, in my opinion the 494 ramp would be an excellent candidate for you to learn on since its so close. Its fairly even on either side, though the right ramp (looking from the water) is a little nicer. I didn't notice hardly any current up to the ramp. The channel is a good 100+ feet to the east of the ramp, and that shallow flat doesn't have a ton of flow over it.

Good luck, and have fun with your new toy!

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