Ramp at Winfield

Anybody been to the ramp on the Walnut River in Winfield recently? I am supposed to get a new motor delivered this week for my 14 ft. jon boat and I want to break it in/ do a little fishing this weekend. But I don't want to drive that far (from Andover) if the ramp is too muddy or inaccessible. We will do a little fishing probably, but really don't care too much about the fishing... I want to use the breaking in to sort of explore some areas farther up the river that I couldn't get to last summer with a trolling motor. Any help would be great, thanks.

 

Yep, thats the one. I went there once last summer just to try it out. Once I got there I was surprised with how "fishy" it looked, but with a trolling motor I only went up to a little past the rail road bridge. I'd like to do a little more exploring. I know last summer the ramp wasn't in the best shape, but I wonder if there's alot more mud washed up on it. I'm not so worried about lauching, I just wouldn't want to deal with getting stuck on the ramp or something... my luck it would happen.

 

That would be great... but if it is out of his way, I'd hate for him to make the trip.

 

Thanks, I'd really appreciate it. I think I'll try and fish down there a lot more this spring/ summer, so maybe we'll run into each other some time.

 

Well, I ended up going out to El Dorado Lake instead yesterday. I figured with the rain and snow we got... probably the ramps there would be in better shape. Probably shouldn't have gone anywhere at all. When I got there the ramp was still pretty slick with ice and snow so I chickened out and didn't even get the boat and new motor in the water. Even with pretty good 4wd, the last thing I wanted to do is to dunk my truck. I'm really getting cabin fever with this weather... maybe next weekend:angry::big_smile:.

 

Well, I couldn't hardly pass up the opportunity to get out on the Walnut today. What a nice day... little windy and I was worried about that, but with the high banks it was hardly noticeable in most spots. Got to play around with the new motor for a while, probably went 2-3 miles upstream from the ramp and found some places that look like they could be good to fish. We finally decided on a place to sit and fish for a little while just upstream from the second railroad bridge where it y's off. There is a big log jamb there and it looked decent. No bites today, but it is still early. We did see 10 big ole gobblers on the bank so I idled up as close as I could, then shut the motor off. Watched them one by one hop up and fly down to the bank on the other side making that cool cackling sound. Also saw a nice buck and doe running along the bank. It really did my soul good to get out today, cabin fever was getting to me.

I think that river looks pretty fishy, I haven't found where they are but to me they have to be there.... am I way off? Is the fishing still good upstream of the ramp or is it only good down by the dam? I plan on heading out there as many weekends as I can and get to know that river and find the fish... unless I'm way off about it looking like it holds some good fish.

 

Hey chris, do you mainly fish for flatheads on the Walnut or are you able to catch alot of channels too? April/May sure seems like a long way off to wait for the good flathead fishing... are you still able to find good channel fishing this time of year through the summer?

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to ask. When I was out there Saturday I noticed a few campers out there. While I don't have a camper, I do have a tent... do you have to pay to camp out there? It would be nice to just make a weekend out of it every once in a while instead of driving 90 miles round trip in case I want to fish it two days in a row.

 

The ramp was pretty muddy in Winfield, there was probably 6 in. of mud but there is solid concrete underneath it so I didn't have any trouble. Still I would be a little hesitant if I didn't have 4wd. I don't know the condition of the ramp too far into the water, I have guide on bunks and a light boat so I just put my bunks barely under water and winched the boat up. I would imagine it isn't all that bad.