The Bad news, Trying to take a boat out on the Satsop DOW boat ramp. It's just a matter of time before someone drowns or dumps their boat trying to use this poorly located ramp. Gee, could it be a liability issue ?

Good news, The ramp at White Bridge is brand new. There is still only parking for the first hundred vehicles that use the lot during steelhead season. The ramp is the same
design as the Satsop but better located.

Local:

I agree with you.....Satsop ramp is "a pain in the ass", my new painted boat has marks from the rocks, along the bank on the down river side. If they would have "angled the ramp" down river just a bit, would have helped. I just unload and load by boat by having trailer off the ramp but on the blocks downriver, works for many of us.

WDF---really needs to budget more monies into boat ramp maintance, repair, and replacement. Just more and more people using these ramps In Grays Harbor.

WDF hides behind the "no money" bit.......but check the salaries of WDF personnel and you'll see why "boat ramps" are not higher on the list of "need to do".

South Monty, Satsop(at the hiway briges), and West Fork of the Satsop...........need to be in a 3-5 replacement list.

I've been saying the "South Monty" ramp is bad for 15+ yrs......Used to extend out into the river 10-15 more.....the WDF takes care of the problem by posting signs informing of the danger. Guess that makes them feel better!!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!!!

Seems I remember when the vehicle stickers were 1st required.......the money was to go for boat ramp maintance and replacement. That sure got changed quickly........

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"........

Local:

I agree with you.....Satsop ramp is "a pain in the ass", my new painted boat has marks from the rocks, along the bank on the down river side. If they would have "angled the ramp" down river just a bit, would have helped. I just unload and load by boat by having trailer off the ramp but on the blocks downriver, works for many of us.

WDF---really needs to budget more monies into boat ramp maintance, repair, and replacement. Just more and more people using these ramps In Grays Harbor.

WDF hides behind the "no money" bit.......but check the salaries of WDF personnel and you'll see why "boat ramps" are not higher on the list of "need to do".

South Monty, Satsop(at the hiway briges), and West Fork of the Satsop...........need to be in a 3-5 replacement list.

I've been saying the "South Monty" ramp is bad for 15+ yrs......Used to extend out into the river 10-15 more.....the WDF takes care of the problem by posting signs informing of the danger. Guess that makes them feel better!!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!!!

Seems I remember when the vehicle stickers were 1st required.......the money was to go for boat ramp maintance and replacement. That sure got changed quickly........

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"........

Your both totally right,the west fork ramp suck's and also the ramp at the HWY is stupid.Poorly designed.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I put a pretty respectable dent in my boat taking out on the Satsop last weekend. There were several boats waiting to pull out and I had to pull over above the ramp to wait. After I retrieved my truck I roped the boat down as best I could, except I let out a little too much line and the boat picked up some speed. I came tight to slow it down and it swung into the trailer. Ouch! Angling the ramp down stream would definitely make it safer and easier to pull out.

Nice to hear that the there is a ramp at the 'nooch now. I accidentally pulled my truck too far ahead and hit a boulder last winter. All it did is rip my license plate off, which of course I didn't realize until I got home. That was last March and I was sort of hoping that it would still be there this winter. I suppose if they re-vamped the ramp it definitely got pitched. Oh well...

Yes the Satsop ramp suck big time.New ramp on the Noochie at white bridge that great is it two lanes and did they pave the parking lot.

It just so happens I was s-run fishing the white bridge area this summer as the WDFW employee was putting the final touches on the new ramp......it's still one lane. We shot the breeze for half an hour and he enlightened me about ramp construction and replacement in this state. As he stated it:

1) The reason the satsop freeway ramp is constructed the way it is is a matter of bankside habitat and protection for fish. The biologists were nervous about cutting approximately 15 ft. of bank that would have allowed the proper angle for that ramp. Form your own opinions on that one. The department has very strict designs for their ramps-right down to angle of entry and deviations from that design aren't usually allowed.

2) There is money available for ramp replacement. We must keep in mind there are deteriorating ramps all over the state......not just grays harbor. Like any agency, they prioritize according to need and PUBLIC INPUT. As he put it "the squeaky wheel gets the oil".

The employee was very knowledgable, helpful and friendly. He took time out of his busy schedule to sit down and talk with me about statewide ramp maintenance and I've got to admit, his info. changed some of my perceptions.

Individual gripes probably won't make WDFW take action but an organized, larger scale request (ex: via fishing clubs) may result in something positive.

Eric:

Relative to the Satsop........what is there is dangeous, during periods of most winter flows. Fishermen have made the adjustments, but there are major headaches.

I noticed you didn't speak to the S. Monty boat launch........the "wheel has been squeaking for 15+ years" or the launch on the West Fork of the Satsop.

Bottom line, is that more man power needs to allocated to maintance kinds of things and less to the hide in the office personnel, trying to justify thier positions.

Whether we like it or not........people want to fish......and as the retirement group gets larger and larger, with more money for "toys", Grays Harbor is a traget area for those that search for what you and I take for granted. Gone are the days of few boats and few people on the local rivers. The State needs to improve the exsisting facilities and "heaven forbid" create new ones.

"worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

Drifter,

Everything you say is true and I don't disagree with any of it. I too have had issues with the satsop freeway ramp. That's why I mentioned that particular ramp to the employee and questioned why it was put in the way it was. I was just relaying his reply. I didn't mention the S. Monte ramp to the employee because I wasn't aware of it's condition (don't use it that much).

As to the W. Satsop ramp (if you can call it that) being mentioned for years as in need of repair, I'll repeat what he said.........a larger, unified voice from a group of fisherman may net better results. I gave him an earfull about that ramp myself.