Favorite Landing

[Woody B]

Do y'all have a favorite landing?   Mine is temporarily closed.  They're building a swim beach and fishing area.  They said it would be closed from Nov 28 until Dec 23 for paving.  Now they're saying it will be closed until sometime in February.   This landing (South Point Landing, Lake Wylie) is huge.  There's 6 ramps with 3 docks that are in good shape.  There's also plenty of parking.  The ramps as steep enough to easily load and unload your boat but not so steep people have trouble getting their boats/trailers up the ramp.  The same people are always there fishing.  I think of them as landing guards.   

There's another landing ~4 miles down the lake.  I hate it.   The ramps are really flat.  There's no way to load your boat alone without stepping in the water.   There's 4 ramps with 2 docks.  1/2 or more of the cleats are broken off the docks.   There's a restaurant next door.  Late in the evening, or at night there's what seems like a million people hanging around the landing.   People at boat landings that aren't fishing or launching boats makes me nervous.   Sometimes there's a bunch of kids standing on the docks.  It makes me nervous to leave my boat to go get my truck.   The last time I was there I used my remote to spot lock my boat 25 feet or so from the dock, then brought it back when I get there with the trailer.  This makes me nervous that something will happen with my trolling motor, or remote and I'd have to go swimming.   

 

What do y'all like, or hate about landings?   

[A-Jay]

Think I've mentioned this before,

but my favorite launch ramps 

are hard to find, hard to launch a full rig from and usually have no docks.

Bet you can imagine why that would be the case.

Looks a lot like this . . . .

https://youtu.be/Uz-Ys3-AeJc?t=70

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

[MN Fisher]

My favorite launch on Tonka is 2 lanes, no dock - just a 'sea-wall' that the walkway is 3'-4' above water at normal levels

My closest launch on Tonka is 2 lanes, no dock

The launch on Dutch is 1 narrow lane, no dock

The launch on Little Long is 1 narrow lane - but it has a dock!

The launch on Whaletail is 1 wide lane (2 if you're very careful) with a dock.

[Woody B]

I don't mind a seldom used small landing.  I'm paranoid about break ins.   If I caught someone breaking in my truck I'd probably end up in jail.   There's a ramp on the Broad River near me but it's filled in with silt to the point it's not usable at this time.  I recently found out about another ramp a few miles North.  I'm going to take a look at it this weekend if time permits.  FWIW the Broad river in is NC/SC.  It doesn't connect with the French Broad river.   The lake I fish on as well as the landings I use are normally crowded.  Especially during the Summer.   There's a few small lakes around that require special boat permits, as well as liability insurance.   I have the insurance.  I'm currently researching a lake that requires a $600 per year boat permit.   There's also a city lake with a 40 horsepower limit.  My engine is 50.  I don't think my integrity will allow me to change decals on my engine cover to fish there.   I've got enough "real" stuff to account for on judgement day.  I don't need to add lying about my engine size to that list.   

 

I like a dock so I can launch and load quickly, by myself and not be in anyones way.   To launch I back down near the water and tie a long rope from my boat to the dock.  I back my trailer into the water and "send it".  Park the truck, then go jump in the boat.   Without a dock when by myself I'd tie the ramp up quite a bit longer.   

 

[Susky River Rat]

What are these dock things you are talking about? 
 

Most of the ramps I fish from are garbage. They are broken potholes all over. 200 yards of fishing line balled up. Beer cans and chicken livers or sunnies scattered all over them from the people catfishing the night before. One of the ramps I launch from the most doesn’t even have a parking lot. It’s a stoned area that can fit maybe 4 trucks and trailers.  That’s sadly the river rat life here in PA.  At least since there is a walking trail by most of them now the cops frequent the areas a lot more often. The drug use at the ramps used to be overwhelming. 

[Jig Man]

The lakes that I fish are Corps of Engineers lakes.  They are for flood control but have many launch ramps.  Most of them have courtesy docks.  They vary in size from a single lane to 4 lanes.  Some are good some are not.  I make my choice depending on the season and the weather.

[Dogface]

4 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

What are these dock things you are talking about? 
 

Most of the ramps I fish from are garbage. They are broken potholes all over. 200 yards of fishing line balled up. Beer cans and chicken livers or sunnies scattered all over them from the people catfishing the night before. One of the ramps I launch from the most doesn’t even have a parking lot. It’s a stoned area that can fit maybe 4 trucks and trailers.  That’s sadly the river rat life here in PA.  At least since there is a walking trail by most of them now the cops frequent the areas a lot more often. The drug use at the ramps used to be overwhelming. 

 

I fish in a lot of different places on the east coast. Without a doubt, PA has some of the worst ramps I've ever used. This is especially true of the ramps on the Susquehanna. In fact, they closed two ramps I fish, Muncy & Wysox, in the past two years because the ramps themselves have disappeared. And it seems they have no intention to repair them.

 

It also seems the PF&BC likes to put ramps on the shallow side of the river. There is one access area I fish that I have to back into the river 70 to 80 yards many days depending on the water flow. That is if I can get down the dirt section of the ramp to the beach. Fortunately, the river is gravel in front of the ramp but I'm always concerned that I'll hit a soft spot or a hole. 

 

Is it worth it? I'll say yes until I get stuck really bad. ?

[TnRiver46]

Not this one 

[DitchPanda]

Well im.sans boat so I go wherever and make it work if that means ice fishing gear, shorts and flip flops or heavy pants, long sleeve shirt and hip boots. I do for the most part subscribe to Doug Stanges theory of go beyond fork stick country. If I'm on the river or even my local ponds don't just fish by the ramp, jetty or public fishing docks...hike the trail or make your own and get to unpressured fish. Makes a huge difference.

[Susky River Rat]

1 hour ago, Dogface said:

 

I fish in a lot of different places on the east coast. Without a doubt, PA has some of the worst ramps I've ever used. This is especially true of the ramps on the Susquehanna. In fact, they closed two ramps I fish, Muncy & Wysox, in the past two years because the ramps themselves have disappeared. And it seems they have no intention to repair them.

 

It also seems the PF&BC likes to put ramps on the shallow side of the river. There is one access area I fish that I have to back into the river 70 to 80 yards many days depending on the water flow. That is if I can get down the dirt section of the ramp to the beach. Fortunately, the river is gravel in front of the ramp but I'm always concerned that I'll hit a soft spot or a hole. 

 

Is it worth it? I'll say yes until I get stuck really bad. ?

You are spot on with this. I’ve watched people bend axels on their trailers. I have been to NJ MD WV and everything is much better. The susky ramps are junk for the most part. I have been to a couple decent ones but far and few between. 
 

@TnRiver46 heck that’s perfect compared to what I normally launch from. 

[TnRiver46]

13 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

You are spot on with this. I’ve watched people bend axels on their trailers. I have been to NJ MD WV and everything is much better. The susky ramps are junk for the most part. I have been to a couple decent ones but far and few between. 
 

@TnRiver46 heck that’s perfect compared to what I normally launch from. 

Tell that to all the wheels it has shattered. Not tires, metal wheels 

[Susky River Rat]

13 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Tell that to all the wheels it has shattered. Not tires, metal wheels 

I wish I had a picture of the old Falmouth ramp where I launched from often. It was missing most the cement planks dropped off at a crazy sharp angle. Many tires, rims and axles have been ruined. The new on they replaced it when we’ll people out just put right bending trailers and axles on it because it’s to flat then drops off into the dirt. Those small wheels on that trailer wouldn’t last here either. 

[gim]

8 hours ago, Woody B said:

I like a dock so I can launch and load quickly, by myself and not be in anyones way. 

The problem with that photo you posted (I assume that's your boat) is that it is in the way.  Its literally parked right in the access point.  No one can launch or load their boat until you move.

19 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

My favorite launch on Tonka

The one at Gray's Bay is the one I use most of the time.  Its incredible.  Its honestly the nicest public access I've ever seen, anywhere.  There used to be an old dirt ramp there with a marina many, many years ago and the MN DNR bought it and built that new public access there about 15 years ago.

 

It has triple concrete ramps, 5 docks, a power washing station, indoor restrooms, deep water, and about 150 parking spots.

[MN Fisher]

39 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The one at Gray's Bay is the one I use most of the time.  Its incredible.  Its honestly the nicest public access I've ever seen, anywhere.  There used to be an old dirt ramp there with a marina many, many years ago and the MN DNR bought it and built that new public access there about 15 years ago.

I remember that one - and the shore fishing spot on the north side of the bridge too.

 

My favorite is North Arm...ya it's a little bit of a hassle - more so when I had the canoe - but primo fishing grounds close to it.

[Dogface]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Not this one 

 

That is a good looking ramp. I wish our ramps on the Susque were in that good of shape. ?

[TnRiver46]

15 minutes ago, Dogface said:

 

That is a good looking ramp. I wish our ramps on the Susque were in that good of shape. ?

It’s actually just a county road that ends at the river. The water is usually about 6 feet higher up in the cul de sac.  That’s why nobody is allowed to fix it (department of transposition/riparian, who knows) I’ve seen a lot of trucks just drive off it forward and make a big circle out in the river to launch a jet boat. I only carry my canoe down it nowadays, that photo was July 4 2015. 

[Woody B]

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

The problem with that photo you posted (I assume that's your boat) is that it is in the way.  Its literally parked right in the access point.  No one can launch or load their boat until you move

 

When the ramp is crowded I tie my boat at the end of the dock.  This takes a minute because I have to get out of the truck, drag the boat to the end of the dock and tie it.   There's 6 ramps with 4 docks at this landing.  I was the only person there when I took that picture.   When the ramp isn't crowded, and wind and current allow I just tie it to a cleat and dump it like I did in that picture.   

 

 

[Way north bass guy]

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Tell that to all the wheels it has shattered. Not tires, metal wheels 

Well to be fair, that trailer does look like it has wheelbarrow sized tires ?

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

Well to be fair, that trailer does look like it has wheelbarrow sized tires ?

Hahaha other people have broken much bigger ones . The wheelbarrow rides on (although I did have to make a late night wal mart run from there once after an oopsie)

[Way north bass guy]

Around here, most ramps are either concrete, with a dock to one or both sides, or gravel depending on the size of lake and if it’s in a larger town or off the beaten path a bit. Never had a problem launching at any ramp here, they’re all pretty well taken care of, but even some of the tougher ones are not bad, and usually worth it cause that just means they don’t get hammered by fisherman as much. My favourite one though is a little concrete ramp, with a small dock to the side of it. Just so happens to be on my back yard lake, probably about 45 sec from my driveway. 

[Woody B]

This fresh looking broken glass was at a landing I used last week.  (on a different lake)  Stuff like this is what makes me nervous about remote, rarely used landings.   

[ETnbasser]

Coming from GA & SC to east TN I find most ramps here stink. Most landings have no docks or docks you have to walk across dirt/mud to get to. The one I frequent most has docks but they are a ways off (part of marina) and require you to block half of 2 lane ramp for a several minutes to dock boat and walk back to truck. Guess I got spoiled on lakes in the states DNR actually keep up with. 

[Susky River Rat]

On 12/16/2022 at 5:06 PM, Dogface said:

 

That is a good looking ramp. I wish our ramps on the Susque were in that good of shape. ?

Did you ever take notice that most ramps in the susky have a rock ledge or boulder right behind the ramp? 

 

On 12/16/2022 at 5:21 PM, TnRiver46 said:

It’s actually just a county road that ends at the river. The water is usually about 6 feet higher up in the cul de sac.  That’s why nobody is allowed to fix it (department of transposition/riparian, who knows) I’ve seen a lot of trucks just drive off it forward and make a big circle out in the river to launch a jet boat. I only carry my canoe down it nowadays, that photo was July 4 2015. 

the ramps we used are fish and boat commission ramps and they look like that or worse. Don’t get me wrong there are some alright ones but, as a whole it’s pretty bad. 

[Dogface]

42 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

Did you ever take notice that most ramps in the susky have a rock ledge or boulder right behind the ramp? 

 

 

I mentioned the ramp at Muncy. There was a huge boulder just a few feet off the ramp. If the water was low you would see it but if the river was up it was not visible. It was in a position that if you did not know it was there you would probably hit it. 

 

I'm pretty sure it was not there when I first started fishing that ramp and it may have tumbled into the ramp during a high water event. And to be fair high water events on the Susquehanna cause a lot of damage to ramps and access areas as opposed to lack of maintenance. 

[Susky River Rat]

11 minutes ago, Dogface said:

 

I mentioned the ramp at Muncy. There was a huge boulder just a few feet off the ramp. If the water was low you would see it but if the river was up it was not visible. It was in a position that if you did not know it was there you would probably hit it. 

 

I'm pretty sure it was not there when I first started fishing that ramp and it may have tumbled into the ramp during a high water event. And to be fair high water events on the Susquehanna cause a lot of damage to ramps and access areas as opposed to lack of maintenance. 

 There is a few ramps like that I have been to. I agree high water does play a factor in it. I also can’t say I have ever seen them do maintenance to any. The only ramp i have seen them replace they made worse launching wise. Instead of replacing the cement planks they filled it in with stone then pushed a cement pad out and called it a day. The cement pad is already shifting. It’s a glorified kayak ramp now to be honest. That was after they got I don’t know how many signatures and petitions to get it done.