navigating the ct river below holyoke dam

[topher]

Any one know where i can get some info for boating below the dam? Went down the other night and there were several shallows and rocks hidden in the river and wanted to get some more info before going back out.Beerchug Smoke1 Notsure

[fisher16]

How far south were you? Below the 391 Bridge or up above the rapids in the Bend. Hope this helps you, but go at your own risk. This is just a aid to where the shallows are remember its a river and the bottom is always changing. Go slow your first couple of times out using common sense. If it looks shallow it is, check the area before you go barreling thru and loose a prop or much worse. I hope this helps.
http://photos.maanglers.com/albums/userpics/10004/ct.%20river%20map.gif
http://photos.maanglers.com/albums/userpics/10004/ct.%20river%20map%202.gif
http://photos.maanglers.com/albums/userpics/10004/ct.%20river%203.gif
http://photos.maanglers.com/albums/userpics/10004/ct.%20river%204.gif
http://photos.maanglers.com/albums/userpics/10004/ct.%20river%205.gif
http://photos.maanglers.com/albums/userpics/10004/ct.%20river%206.gif This last section is very shallow in the summer go at your own risk.

[grizbear13]

Yikes You need to be extra carefull any place below the dam now, the water is down to about 7 ft in the deeper water. The real shallow spots will just about be high and dry now, don't try and go to far above the 391 bridge or if you are launching in South Hadley be carefull and kinda stay in the pond, don't go down to far unless you have a canoe, if you see ripples , don't go there..Grinning1 If you are below the 391 bridge stay over on the Holyoke- Westspfld side that is the main chanel ,but be carefull anyway..

[Laker One]

I fish that area all the time. The best way to educate yourself is, when the water is at "the all time lowest" eye it from the Willimansett Bridge with binoculars. If you look at it enough you can thread your way thru it. 100 yrds north of the power lines there's no way to thread it when the water is real low. You have big sharp rocks up in there with fast current.
Caution: People fish off the bridge & you can get caught in their lines.

When you hit going thru there it will be hard.

[Laker One]

I fish that area all the time. The best way to educate yourself is, when the water is at "the all time lowest" eye it from the Willimansett Bridge with binoculars. If you look at it enough you can thread your way thru it. 100 yrds north of the power lines there's no way to thread it when the water is real low. You have big sharp rocks up in there with fast current.
Caution: People fish off the bridge & you can get caught in their lines.

When you hit going thru there it will be hard.

[Laker One]

I fish that area all the time. The best way to educate yourself is, when the water is at "the all time lowest" eye it from the Willimansett Bridge with binoculars. If you look at it enough you can thread your way thru it. 100 yrds north of the power lines there's no way to thread it when the water is real low. You have big sharp rocks up in there with fast current.
Caution: People fish off the bridge & you can get caught in their lines.

When you hit going thru there it will be hard.

The first time dunk your boat in South Hadley & Drift thru it. A tin boat is a must.

[arlow]

I find Fisher16s maps to be confusing at best.

Ill try to help. There are unwritten rules about rivers.
If your not familiar you need to go slow and read the water.

Stay on the outside of the bends, the water is always deepest there.

If you launch at chicopee. Using the common sense above.

If you go north it is pretty safe untill the steel bridge aftert the 391 bridge. do not go any further unless the water is high. Even then go slow with a watcher on the bow.
Going south.
Go immediately to the center and stay betweent there and the west side untill you get to the north end bridge in Spfd. There the channel runs on the east side down to the south end bridge. Swing out wide where the mill river enters because of the sand bar below it. Going further after the bridge slide over between the center and west shore down torwards the island and stay to the right of the island where after it you move back to the east side.

That is as far as I know. Hope it helps.

[arlow]

The first time dunk your boat in South Hadley & Drift thru it. A tin boat is a must.

And then how do you get back to the ramp? Notsure