Boat launch near Frenchmen's Bar

Fishing freak · 08-22-2001, 08:16 AM

Is there a boat launch on the Washington side near Frenchmen's Bar? I have fished F-Bar a number of times with friends with bigger boats after launching at Fred's or Cathedral park. I have a drift boat and it can get kind of dicey in these waters (not to mention a long trip in a slow boat) Can anyone help me out.

Gizmo Man · 08-22-2001, 09:52 AM

FF. Yes there is a small one lane boat ramp about 2 miles past frenchmans bar. I think it is at milepost 8 or 9. Look for it on your left. Make sure you have a yellow sticker on your car issued by WDFD otherwise it will cost you $66 a day to park. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Giz... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

FishinMission · 08-22-2001, 07:23 PM

Freak...ramp info is correct. Would estimate about a 20-30 minute run in your driftboat to get to Frenchman's. If you go to my "Don't let the fishcount get you down" post...you'll see the 37 pounder I got there Saturday. Been fishing there every day since last Saturday...been way slow. I think next week it will start heating up. If you see me out there say "Hi"..I WILL be there. Good luck...Mark

springer4you · 08-22-2001, 07:37 PM

Does that 66 bucks include a security gaurd???

FishinMission · 08-22-2001, 07:48 PM

Springer...no it doesn't. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but haven't had any problems there as of yet.

springer4you · 08-22-2001, 07:57 PM

I was just being sarcastic. I just thought that $66 was a little steep to launch & park.
But it is good to know that there are still some safe launches around. especially after hearing what was going on out at Hagg Lake.

rags · 08-22-2001, 08:01 PM

Giz,
How do you get to that ramp from Portland. Is it big enough to launch a sled?

springer4you · 08-22-2001, 08:16 PM

I found this website I use to locate Wash. boat launches, hope it helps.Im not sure if the launch your talking about is on there but you can put it into your bookmarks. http://www.boat.iac.wa.gov/

Gizmo Man · 08-22-2001, 08:38 PM

HI: for those of you who do not know that if you park at a WDFW access area you need to have a yellow parking decal. If you get a 2 day license to fish in WA, they do not give you one or tell you that you need the parking sticker. It is an additional $10.00. Go figure...how do they expect you to access the fishing areas when they sell you a 2 day license.

Anyway, about theft and safety. From time to time there are break ins at the parking area. A friend of mine, even had his truck stolen a couple of yrs ago. They were nice enough to take his boat trailer off and leave it.

Size of boats: I have a 14' sled with a prop. Slutgoddess has a 21' N. River. You need to watch how far you back in and at low water the angle of the ramp makes it a little hard to drive your boat all the way up to the roller. You want to go to your right or N as you head out of the channel. Once you get past the mouth, make a wide turn and head up river about 2 -3 miles and you will see the volleyball nets at the Park. If you have a female on board, you can park your boat outside of the park boundries and walk up 100 yds or so and use the rest rooms.

Direction to get there:

Take I-5 to the 4th plain off ramp and head west. You will go over the rr tracks and continue heading west for about 9 miles.

When you get to the "y" in the road just past where you get up next to Vancouver lake (on your right) take the road to the left. Follow it around. Go past the Frenchman Bar county park about 2 miles and you are there. The ramp is on your left. I think it is just about at the 9 mile marker.

good luck...

The Giz... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Fishing freak · 08-22-2001, 11:45 PM

Thanks Giz,

What is the word on the Nookie catch at Frenchmen's? A buddy of mine caught a 17lb. on saturday (40+ft). It was reportedly rather slow.