UMNWFR Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

[RiverRat]

I figure I would create a thread for the waters I like to consider home. I spend most of my time on Pool 9, which is roughly Genoa, WI to Lynxville, WI. The Refuge, however runs from where the St. Croix River and Mississippi converge, down to approximately Rock Island,Illinois.

We can use this thread for potential meet ups anywhere along the river, and I will update with all the interesting things I observe in the area. My family has a place on a bluff overlooking the river on the Wisconsin side, about a half mile from the borders of WI, IA, and MN.

 

[RiverRat]

 

[RiverRat]

Sorry for the winter pic, but the region can be pretty in the winter. Very, very, very cold pretty....

 

[RiverRat]

 

[RiverRat]

So I know for sure I'll be out there coming up August 14 through 18. And for sure Labor Day weekend. I'll be camping at Blackhawk Park then. I know some of my new St. Louis pals wanted to head up this way at some point, not sure of you're looking to do that this year yet. It's about 7 hours for you guys.

 

[RiverRat]

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/river.php?wfo=lsx&wfoid=18707&riverid=203833&pt[]=143945&allpoints=143846,142736,143816,143998,145144,142659,142234,145887,144081,142375,143866,141506,142962,143885,143323,144201,144542,142873,143260,143099,142560,144186,143177,142054,143945,144055,141370,143630,141931,142812,141676,142534,144568,143535,144589,143030,144031,143079,144282,141445,141722,141383,143445,143646,143787,143574,143545,142773,141629,144517,142500,143196,142105,142509,142418,144108,141463,141839,143934,141618,146423,143366,147048,142172,141493,142940,144619,144798,144609,141308,144449,143828,142711&data[]=all

This is the site I use to monitor water levels and flow, but it can be adjusted to see any pool on any river!

 

[RiverRat]

Wow, that's a lot of code!

 

[ar240owner]

Looks nice up there !!! This is our go to web site for pool 26 info !!http://www.riverbills.com/

 

[RightStuff]

Looks awesome down there. I haven't been on the river for years (and never with our boat), but one of these days I would like to check it out. I doubt we would get as far down the river as you are since we would be putting in somewhere around Red Wing, MN.

How far north do you get on a normal day on the water, or do you stay in the same pool? Also how far does it make sense to travel along the river in a given day?

 

[RiverRat]

I generally stay on Pool 9, but occasionally I'll lock through and head up to La Crosse. The nice thing about the river is the abundance of boat launches, making it pretty easy to trailer up and down the river and launch near where you plan to be for the day.

 

[jcyamaharider]

That would be awesome for sure!!!! Too bad we already have some campouts scheduled 3 weekends in a row. LOL

 

[RiverRat]

That would be awesome for sure!!!! Too bad we already have some campouts scheduled 3 weekends in a row. LOL

Sounds like a good problem to have!

 

[jetboater4life]

I launched in Wabasha and beached on Federal Island just south of the launch. We had a great day grilling and hanging out. Because the water was so calm we were able to do some dual slalom criss crossing behind the boat. Here is a picture from our spot.

We plan on going to this area again this Sunday afternoon.

 

[Bilmon]

Bout 80 degrees and the Mississippi looked like this today. A few boats did show up later but it sure was a gorgeous, peaceful day

 

[Bilmon]

bonus outing yesterday on pool 13, 70's and calm.Water was like glass and not a single other boat on the beach all day

 

[buckbuck]

Wow, wish I was there to stir the water a bit.

 

[RiverRat]

Towboats appear on Mississippi a week earlier than usual http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_2c1960c3-9458-571c-bdb4-f5fdd5e7e698.html

Boating season is getting close!

 

[RiverRat]

Kicking off the 2016 season. 77 degrees and sunny. Compared to a high of 39 with snow flurries last Saturday. Gotta love spring in the upper Midwest!

 

[Bilmon]

Same here, spent the day on pool 13 and got a pretty good sunburn. Truck was showing 81 when we left around 6:30

 

[Bilmon]

couple of random pics from just above lock and dam 13