WSA Supports Couderay River Disabled Access

WSA Supports Couderay River Disabled Access

Jerry Pasdo

WSA has donated $1,500 towards the canoe/kayak landing project located in NW Wisconsin.  WSA partnered with other fishing organizations, townships, Fishing Has No Boundaries, DNR, and the Lac Courte Oreilles tribal group to help create this beneficial access to a water related outdoor experience.  Special docking devices are needed for this to take place and access to the landings also need to be created.

The Couderay is a shallow, sand and rock filled river that empties into the Chippewa river and became a free-flowing stretch when a dam was removed near Radisson.  The river holds smallmouth, musky and sturgeon among other species.  This represents a sizable contribution from our group that rivals some of our fish stocking programs in other years.

Two of these launches were installed this fall–one each in the town of Couderay and one downstream in the town of Radisson.  Instructions, with photo description for proper use, are onsite, and these have been used throughout the US.  The technique enables one, after descending the ramp, to “scoot” from the chair onto a sitting ramp.  Downward “scoots” enables the person to approach the craft which is located in a stable cradle.  The individual arm lifts themselves up and uses simple weight transfer to drop into the craft.  I personally tested it immediately after installation and it worked great.