The new Albin boat launch will close again soon due to rising water. Adding about 12 loads of gravel to the access road at 3 places near where the road enters the parking lot would enable critical mid-pool access to the West side of the River.

Recently, this access was closed for about 10 days. looks like this is gonna happen again by Monday. In both instances down time would be cut in HALF with judicious placement of just a few roads of gravel.

Several jurisdictions maintain this access. USACE is the bureaucracy with the final say. They told me an environmental impact study would have to be done before they could authorize some gravel placement on an existing road in the flood plain.

This is a huge raft of CRAP! Trees fall in the River every day more than equal to impact of a dozen loads of gravel inland. Does this require ‘study’?

Those who access pool 9 from the west side of the River can launch 2 places on highway 82 until this fall…then these access points will be CLOSED UNTIL 2027.

Any emergency response from the west side of the River on the upstream FOURTEEN RIVER MILES above Village Creek boat launch on the south end of Lansing will be the ONLY workable rescue option once Blackhawk Bridge closes and the River goes to ‘action stage’ at Lock & Dam 8.

In an average year there is about 6 weeks where the River has gone past ‘action stage’ to minor flood & beyond. Not talking these times. Talking about the THREE WEEKS so far this year when a boat could be launched on the West side north of Lansing where 12 loads of gravel could have kept the ramp open.

Of course I have a personal stake in this issue. i’m on the River at least five days a week during the open water period. Probably 60 % of the time I like to launch at New Albin cuz its close to home. But there are hundreds of boaters who access the River from the West side every year.

What will be the impact when all these folks are forced to launch at Village Creek? PLEASE contact USACE and tell them to initiate that bogus ‘impact study’ so we can get some gravel before the bridge closes !

Water temp was 77.2 yesterday on the upper pool. Water clarity was decent once you got away from tribs dumping chocolate milk from recent rains into the system.

Some days weeds are a factor. some days not. Fog is an issue many mornings lately. This issue will increase next week when Fogust arrives.

Black buzzbaits have been a KILLER on LMB & pike over submergent weeds on muggy days. There effectiveness is driven by static tension on the surface (bubble trail)…more than 2′ and a buzzer is the HAMMER.

When weeds are a factor, panfish are an option. Gills relating to wood 5-7 fow. Crappies slightly deeper. they are also relating to American water lotus (lily pads).eelgrass mats are perch magnets. Fish within 6″ of the bottom with a tiny pinch of crawler, a red hook & a couple orange beads.

Those who go out on the River telling the Almighty what their gonna do are setting themselves up for disappointment. Success comes when the ego is buried and you listen to the River’s quiet whispers.