St. Croix Valley, River Falls, Wisconsin
"Multiple Use Concept" a.k.a. "Row vs. Wade""Multiple Use" as viewed with Recreation Resource Management. Many activities occur daily along the rivers we so love to retreat to. These things include hiking, fly fishing, picnicking, spin casting, kayaking, wildlife viewing, canoeing, artists working, hunting, class room field trips, farming and more. This also includes use of private as well as public lands.
The two activities that we are mostly a part of at Kinni Creek Outfitters include fly fishing and kayaking. To this end we encourage A simple way for recreational users to simultaneously enjoy the river: Etiquette.
Kayakers are informed of River Etiquette and Rules at the beginning of their trip when they sign their waiver: 1. Never disturb fishermen, paddle quietly by. 2. Pick up all litter you see, tires too. 3. Be alert to what is ahead. 4. Wear the personal floatation device, be safe.
Recreational Kayakers are only allowed to launch during the hottest part of the day between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the Lower Canyon and between 10:30 and 4:30 on the Upper River.
Fly Fishermen are also encouraged to use river etiquette by 1. acknowledging other uses of the river and the resources it offers. 2. Kindly instructing paddlers to pass behind them, around their line, or simply retrieving the line to let paddlers pass.
***Fly fishermen have discovered that kayaking the Lower Canyon on the Kinni is a very valuable way to gain 100% access to areas of the river that were previously inaccessable through private lands. It saves them time from hiking all day as well as giving them a vehicle to store their gear as an alternate to their back. The kayak rental also includes a shuttle service. Fly fishermen MUST inquire about earlier launches.
Recreation Resource Management, as I studied at Colorado State University for my Bachlor's degree, is the study of managing public lands and waters to provide people with quality outdoor recreation experiences. Introducing people to wilderness recreation and preservation opportunities. Finally, building a career in the growing field of ecotourism. A Green career!
TESTIMONIALS
"ROW vs. WADE"
UW-RF Professor Dr. Ken Olson commented on paddlers in the river from an interview by the River Falls Journal Thursday, July 12th, 2007: , "(Ken) Olson doesn't really mind canoeists or other interruptions. He said the trout come right back after a few minutes."
Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop owner Mike Alwin posted on his website in August of 2007: "...but for years I grit my teeth and uttered a silent curse. And then I made an amazing discovery. Guess what? A canoe floating through my fishing spot had almost no effect on rising fish. Two minutes after the boat passed the fish were back on the feed. Who can't wait two minutes?"
Nick Reynolds wrote to Mike Alwin in an email dated Sunday August 26, 2007 11:31 a.m.
Subject: The aluma hatch on the lower Kinni
"Hey Mike, just visited your website today for the first time in a while. Love the new section you've added about the aluma hatch on the lower kinni. It is all so true and needed to be said. I've experienced the teeth griting you mention but also have come around given a similar observation of minimal impact on the rising fish. And it's true that most of the time you'll see craft on the water: 1) it's in the warmer months during midday hours when most good fishing activity is taking place in the morning and evenings. 2) someone riding a kayak down the river at midday on a 90+ degree summer day who sees a fisher in full regalia might as rightfully wonder what the heck that person's doing on the river (trying to catch heat stroke?).
I've come around enough to actually take advantage of that livery in River Falls and can bear witness to the care they take to get people to respect the river and fishers. And I'll tell you, enjoying the river in this way can present a whole new appreciation to the fisher, were he/she to take advantage of such. How many said fishers have seen more than the first mile or so up or down the Lower Kinni from either end's access points? Lots of beautiful stretches to see between those two miles including a couple of mid stretch sand bars with incredible deep, wide swimming holes-just the ticket to avoid kayaker heat stroke!
Last, you might want to mention to all that the livery from River Falls is no longer running canoes on the river having decided they're just more trouble than they're worth for users given the many shallow, rocky runs in the canyon that unavoidably require getting out and dragging the canoe through it except in the hightest river levels of spring. This should come as good news to your customers as users seem more prone to making noise when they go by a fisher when in a canoe and not much minding that they smack the side of their craft on every stroke; whereas in a kayak that appears to happen very infrequently.
Thanks again for a thoughtful attempt to shift perceptions and, therefore, attitudes."
By the way there are 158 miles of Trout streams in Pierce County & 106 miles in St. Croix County (per Marty Engel, WI DNR). The kayakers use 9 miles on the Lower Canyon and 5 miles on the Upper Kinni.
Kayak the Kinni ~ Floating the Kinni floatingkinni ~ Paddle the Kinni ~ Kinni Dipping ©
Copyright© 2006 - Kinni Creek Lodge -
River Falls, WI |
