Good ramps for rookie

[Dr.Ed]

Catawba State Park is my ramp of choice from ice out till mid-June when I move to Cranberry Creek Marina and from there in mid July, it's Geneva State Park. 4 ramps and almost always someone offering to help. Wait to launch after 9 AM if there is a tournament. If possible be on the water at sunrise. There are over a million walleye within 7 miles of Catawba. All these ramps are protected from the wind. Establish which way the wind is blowing so it will push you against the dock and back in slowly, as close to the dock as possible, with bumpers deployed. I feel bow and stern lines are a must. Note your position and depth of the trailer when your boat starts to float. That's where you want to be when you run your boat up on the trailer upon your return with a cooler full of walleye. Over the years I have perfected running the boat on the trailer with just enough power and speed to get the job done and with practice you can too. I might suggest you find a ramp close to home on an inland lake that is not busy and pracitice. I'm sure you will get the hang of it in no time. FYI: Cranberry has only one ramp and it's steep. On the other hand, Geneva has 6 ramps and are the best. Catawba and Geneva have no launch fee.

[wakina]

Catawba State Park is my ramp of choice from ice out till mid-June when I move to Cranberry Creek Marina and from there in mid July, it's Geneva State Park. 4 ramps and almost always someone offering to help. Wait to launch after 9 AM if there is a tournament. If possible be on the water at sunrise. There are over a million walleye within 7 miles of Catawba. All these ramps are protected from the wind. Establish which way the wind is blowing so it will push you against the dock and back in slowly, as close to the dock as possible, with bumpers deployed. I feel bow and stern lines are a must. Note your position and depth of the trailer when your boat starts to float. That's where you want to be when you run your boat up on the trailer upon your return with a cooler full of walleye. Over the years I have perfected running the boat on the trailer with just enough power and speed to get the job done and with practice you can too. I might suggest you find a ramp close to home on an inland lake that is not busy and pracitice. I'm sure you will get the hang of it in no time. FYI: Cranberry has only one ramp and it's steep. On the other hand, Geneva has 6 ramps and are the best. Catawba and Geneva have no launch fee.

One final thing that needs to be done or at least checked and that is put the drain plug in the boat or make sure it is already installed!!!!! It would shock you to know just how many people forget this one simple step!! Reason is that most people take it out to drain the water out and to keep it from accumulating water in case it rains while still on the trailer in storage or while transporting to the point of launch.