Kayak friendly launch sites.

I am new to the forum and to kayak fishing. I was wondering if anyone had compiled a list of kayak friendly launch sites for the Willamette and Columbia. I would appreciate any pointers to good and bad places to launch. It would be really great if folks were willing to say what species they like to fish for from a given launch. I am not asking for secret fishing spots, just the launch folks like to use for different species.

For example, I have been out fishing once in my Kayak out of West Linn and I think it is very kayak friendly. You can launch from the old deprecated launch plus there are a couple of spots that are not too steep to roll one's kayak (I use the Wheeleez) down the hillside. Thus, I can avoid the powerboat ramp and any hassle that may entail. Plus I usually have decent success smallmouth shore fishing that area.

I was thinking of trying George Rogers park next, but I seem to remember that parking is a bit tight there. Is it pretty easy to find a parking spot and get to the water?

As I explore more I plan on adding to my list of one place Thanks in advance for any input.

I am new to the forum and to kayak fishing. I was wondering if anyone had compiled a list of kayak friendly launch sites for the Willamette and Columbia. I would appreciate any pointers to good and bad places to launch. It would be really great if folks were willing to say what species they like to fish for from a given launch. I am not asking for secret fishing spots, just the launch folks like to use for different species.

For example, I have been out fishing once in my Kayak out of West Linn and I think it is very kayak friendly. You can launch from the old deprecated launch plus there are a couple of spots that are not too steep to roll one's kayak (I use the Wheeleez) down the hillside. Thus, I can avoid the powerboat ramp and any hassle that may entail. Plus I usually have decent success smallmouth shore fishing that area.

I was thinking of trying George Rogers park next, but I seem to remember that parking is a bit tight there. Is it pretty easy to find a parking spot and get to the water?

As I explore more I plan on adding to my list of one place Thanks in advance for any input.

Call me old school but I'm still of the mindset that finding your launches is half the experience.  I have no problem taking people to launches that I've found or pointing them in the right direction when they have an idea but I can't get behind spoon feeding the entire internet. 

There are hundreds of potential launch sites up and down both rivers.  Pull up Google, drive around, take some walks.  Finding an awesome launch is like hooking a big fish. 

George Rogers does have limited parking but you can drop your kayak off and drive up to park your car.

-Spot- 

Spot, i was not asking for secret spots. I understand the joy of exploring. When I was younger I spent most every weekend doing just that in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. However, having children (ages 7 and 12) and very limited time I often can only get out a couple of times a month now. It is a bummer to ruining one of those trips by going somewhere that is painful to launch from. Thus,  I would appreciate any insight into the major boat ramp launch areas and their desirability as kayak launch sites. Also any general advice on launching at busier sites would be appreciated. Do you drive down a ramp to the water and launch? Are there special car top spots at any of the major ramps? Things like this would be helpful to newcomers.

Thanks in advance for any advice/input.

Good place to start.
http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/library/docs/WillametteRiverGuidePDF.pdf?ga=t

Good place to start.
http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/library/docs/WillametteRiverGuidePDF.pdf?ga=t

Thanks a bunch! That looks to be a great resource.

PP's site dials in the Willy. Ask the Google to find the Lower Columbia Water Trail.  Or canoe trail.  I forget what they call it now.  But they have detailed descriptions of every launch, often complete with photos of the ramps, docks, camp sites, etc.  It's a very good resource.

You're lucky to be in an area where most major rivers have active conservation groups that welcome paddlers.  They are a tremendous asset when it comes to finding launch sites.

That said, hopping a guard rail, surfing gravel, launching from a barren beach, and instantly hitting your stride is a cool way to spend a day.  But I dig what you say about limited time.

Good luck, and be safe.  It's been a sad time on the local waterways lately...

http://www.columbiawatertrail.org/

Great idea/topic.   I'm new and any new launches close to me it appreciated.   Mainly I like to know which launches charge a fee.  I have heard some boat docks charge a lauche fee.  I have yet to find one. 

I went and explored the Willamette park this past weekend.  have fished for small mouth.   

I'll be visiting this forum often.

Here is some info for the Willy.
http://www.willamettewatertrail.org/

Spot, i was not asking for secret spots. I understand the joy of exploring. When I was younger I spent most every weekend doing just that in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. However, having children (ages 7 and 12) and very limited time I often can only get out a couple of times a month now. It is a bummer to ruining one of those trips by going somewhere that is painful to launch from. Thus,  I would appreciate any insight into the major boat ramp launch areas and their desirability as kayak launch sites. Also any general advice on launching at busier sites would be appreciated. Do you drive down a ramp to the water and launch? Are there special car top spots at any of the major ramps? Things like this would be helpful to newcomers.

Thanks in advance for any advice/input.

Well, why didn't you say so?   

Sorry if I came off as a dick!  As a full time single dad I know exactly what you mean about limited time.  A couple of hours of research on the Bing or Google can get you 99% of the way to a lot of launch opportunities.   

All of the major ramps are fair game for kayaks.  Most of them have areas adjacent to PB lanes that work well for yaks.  If you use the regular load/launch lanes, be prepared to load/unload quickly and keep the dock passable. 

A good kayak cart is money well spent.  It can open up a world of opportunities off the PB ramps.

-Spot-

I put together a Google Map for this sort of thing back in 2008.
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,1494.msg11617.html#msg11617
It needs serious updating, but it would get you started.  Feel free to add to it if you want.

Invest in a Wheeleez kayak beach cart.  Yes they are expensive, but worth every penny and will open up lots of unimproved boat launch opportunities like beaches.

Brian

Great suggestions and thanks for the water trail links pelagic_peddler and ndogg. I never thought of looking at paddling sites for information. I

 did buy a Wheeleez beach cart with my kayak. For me they have already greatly improved the usability of the kayak. I used the wheels on Monday when I had a long portage to get from the parking lot to the water in West Linn. Without the wheeleez I probably would have had to just go home without fishing.

Spot, no offense take.

Here is a question for you and other folks. If you have your kayak on the cart at the PB ramp in general can you squeeze down the side or do you have to wait in line? I know this will depend upon the ramp. I guess the proper question is if there is room to you try to squeeze down the side or is this a breach of ramp etiquette that will cause problems.

If you are taking someone's "turn" you are in the wrong.  If you can use a portion of the facility without "cutting in front" of someone waiting for that access point or impeding the launch/retreive flow then go for it.  Most often at crowded ramps I rig my yak out of the way, often where I plan to park, then use the cart to get to the water.  Often most ramps have access to the water just adjacent to the vehicle/boat launch area that make for easy yak launches without using the launch ramp proper.

What ever you do (although you have as much right as any other boater) don't back down the ramp and take 25 minutes to unload and rig your yak while others are forced to wait behind you. This applies to any boaters for that matter.  Often makes for hard feelings for all parties.

When at a PB ramp, prefer not to use them, if busy I just use the walk way and drop on the outside of the ramp.  Have to agree with Spot, finding a launch is much more rewarding.  Just off the top of my head I can think of ten easy launch points from Hawthorne to Sellwood, only two are PB accessible.

Sunfish, instead of Willamette park head slightly south to Staff Jennings, far less crowded.  Explore around and you will find much better structure to work.

If you are taking someone's "turn" you are in the wrong.  If you can use a portion of the facility without "cutting in front" of someone waiting for that access point or impeding the launch/retreive flow then go for it.  Most often at crowded ramps I rig my yak out of the way, often where I plan to park, then use the cart to get to the water.  Often most ramps have access to the water just adjacent to the vehicle/boat launch area that make for easy yak launches without using the launch ramp proper.

What ever you do (although you have as much right as any other boater) don't back down the ramp and take 25 minutes to unload and rig your yak while others are forced to wait behind you. This applies to any boaters for that matter.  Often makes for hard feelings for all parties.

Thanks. That is what I assumed about the etiquette. I used the term "squeezing by" to mean not impeding someone else. My plan would be to use the beach cart to get from the parking lot to the water. Going down beside the ramp would certainly be my first choice if available!  I sure hope I am never dumb enough to tie up a ramp while casually unloading my kayak. That seems like a recipe to get "accidentally"  run over out on the water