FREE POPCORN TIME - WI - MN - IL get together 2007 Date, Location, Directions

[roscoe]

Well guys and gals,

*****************************************
January 18th Update:

Location, Adams County Petenwell Park and Campground
Date, July 7th weekend.
******************************************

February 18th Update:

Approximately 20 boaters planning to attend at this time.
Always room for more, so gather your friends and family, and head on over.

*************************************************


For those not familiar with the event, it was an informal boating weekend with 32 iboats members and friends attending in 2006. All members, friends, and family are welcome to attend.
Here is a link to last years event thread.
http://www.iboats.com/bbboard/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=20;gtid=310408;pagenumber=1

Speak up if you have any questions or if you plan to attend.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Madison lakes. It's a chain of four, but Wingra is motorless and there's a dam. Mendota, Monona, and Waubesa connect via the Yahara River. Many hotels and motels in the area, and camping at Babcock park on Waubesa in McFarland or Gov. Nelson park on the north side of Mendota. The camping facilities are rather urban, not many trees. The lakes all densly populated and highly used, so even on a calm day, the boats make it rough. (not so bad on Waubesa)

Frankly I'd prefer the north woods, but I thought I'd throw Madison out there. Lac du Flambeau is nice and there's a casino, but it's rather far north.

The Wisconsin River around Lake Wisconsin is nice and you can camp on the sandbars, but anthing over 18' is probably too big.

How about the Mississippi? The Upper Dells?

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Lake WI and adjoining WI river would be fantastic, it is beautiful, great fishing and swimming but there is no guaranteed camping on the sandbars as it is first come first served open camping. You'd have to leave your rigs at the landings too and if you've not run the river before you might be in for more than you bargained. Here's a video look at the river a couple miles above the lake:
http://www.boatbuildingonline.com/users/calico/bbopics/fishin/nitro3video.WMV

Sadly high property values and development have crimped camping on the lake and river severely in this area (my back yard).

Further north along the river, the Dells, is touristy but breathtaking. Lakes Castlerock and Petenwell also of the WI River Flowage are great fishing/boating/camping lakes. They are both large lakes.

I am not having another baby this Spring so I'd like to think I can make it this time but will not be able to commit until closer to the actual trip as my wife travels out of the country for work and I stay with the boy (he's too little to come camping yet).

I have plenty of pictures and a few corny videos of the WI river and Lakes WI and Petenwell if it would help.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

What we need is a lake/launch and campground that someone can vouch for and recommend, along with contact info or website address.

The Upper Dells, Castle Rock, Petenwell, all sound like good candidates.
But I am totally unfamiliar with the services offered in the area.
Nor am I familiar with the Madison lakes, except to know where they are.

Last year, some members had suggested the Fox Valley area, and others had suggested a location on the Mississippi. There a lot of beautiful locations in the northern 1/3 of the state, but most of the members would be coming from the southern part.

We have time, so we can keep this selection process going for a few weeks, and try to nail down a date and location near the end of the month. So Lets hear your suggestions and your promotional speech.

CalicoKid - "and I stay with the boy (he's too little to come camping yet)."

Little guys can camp too.
I started before I was 5 months old.
Great river video, btw.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Ok, I am officially requesting a date after July 4th.
I am booked solid for the month of June.


July 7th or 21st, or Aug 4th or 18th work well for me.

Other weekends in July or Aug may also work.

 

[javsam]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

howdy roscoe!
looking forward to another get together again!
attending will be the family and myself(javsam).
the weekend after july 4 is good for me too.
last years site worked well with me(Big Eau Plain).
how's your new boat?
how's things at kraft?
javsam

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hey All!

I'd be interested in coming for a day or two, depending on the date and place. I can't make it much more than that as I will be short on vacation time this year. I need to be at both our regional tournament and Nationals tournament in WI, and those two will eat up over a week's worth alone. I've also promised my wife a cruise next fall.

I might also suggest the Chetek chain of lakes. Not sure what's there for capmgrounds, but I've camped at a resort there and it is a beautiful location.

I'll try and keep tuned in.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

You are right Roscoe, little guys can camp, and we do plan on taking him out camping this Summer but if my wife is away on business and can't come help me with him I'd not get much fishing in

I've stayed at Petenwell County Park before, it was very nice. It is geared more towards monthly campers with electric and water etc., but there are daily campsites right on the water. The hosts were pretty picky about keeping our tents, trucks and trailers on the gravel pads but it wasn't a problem as there is overflow parking nearby. We kept our boats on the beach behind the campsites, don't know if we were supposed to or not, nobody complained The landing is very nice:

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hi sangerwaker.
What dates are your tournaments?

Aug 13-18? and ? ?

Maybe we will all just "crash" your events. :^ 8)

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hey now! We can't talk of "crashing" and a tournament at the same time.

Tournament dates for me are:
June 16-17 (Shakopee)
July 14-15 (Fergus Falls)
July 26-29 (Regionals-Alma Center)
August 4-5 (MN State Champ.-Shoreview)
August 13-18 (Nationals-Alma Center)
August 25-26?? (Footstock-Crandon)
September 8th (Faceplant Fest-Long Lake MN)

See what I mean? I have a very busy summer planned. I need to make up for last year's knee injury!8)

 

[javsam]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

good to hear from you again sangerwaker!
And, good luck at your tournaments.
calico, I do like your pick on petenwell.
hi,again to all!!
javsam

 

[Skiuseme]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I agree Petenwell will work great. Lots of fishing and a big lake to ski and have fun on.... So Ive heard. I would like to think the weekend of July 21 would work great my and my wifes work schudle but what ever you guys want. Just let me know. I would love to come this year.

Here is the website of the Petenwell Flowage. look like they have alot of campsites and also a few shelters that we could use for a Group Fish Fry or whatever.

http://www.adamscountyparkswi.com/info.shtml

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I think July Sounds great.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hey guys,I guess all us southern members need to do some plans.
Has there ever been a southeast get together? The carolinas,georgia or florida?

 

[POINTER94]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I spend quite a few weekends on Castle Rock lake and it has a ton to do. Fishing is good, Gilligan's Island is gone but there are other places. Launching is available at many places around the lake. I usually stay in the boat at the dirty turtle.

Just a thought, but how about lake winnebago?

Good fishing and lots of fun places to go. There are some campgounds right on the water and most are very affordable.

 

[eeboater]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hey All...

I've been a bit MIA over the last few months but I'm glad to see Roscoe is talking about getting together again. I admit Winnebago would be fun - as long as no storms brew up; I remember some days of that stuff blowing in pretty quick. I'll try to keep checking in... I'm up for pretty much anywhere. I think the only date in July that won't work for me is the 21st. Otherwise, lets do this thing!

 

[bekosh]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Greetings!
We'd be up for this again. I think we have plans for July 14 & Aug 4 weekends, but otherwise we're still open.
We're planning on a bigger new (used) boat this year so a bigger lake would be better. Castle Rock, Petenwell, anywhere on the Winnebago system would be nice.
Maybe Fremont on the Wolf River? Sheltered water for the smaller boats, access to the entire Winnebago system if desired. Good fishing, nice sandbars, beaches & resteraunts. Jellystone campground is on Partridge lake with campsites or cotages.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Winnebago was one of my first thoughts too. High Cliif State Park is on the northeast end and you can camp on the grounds way up on the hill or camp in your boat in the harbor. Reservations would be a must! But Winnebago can be scarey with moderate wind and I wouldn't want anything less than 17'. You also have to equip your boat with Great Lakes required gear. I lived on my sailboat on Winnebago one summer and it was great, but the boat was capable of handling it. So is my 16' SeaStar, but many with smaller boats may be scared off. Mine is rather tall for a 16 footer with a closed bow.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

There is actually a county park just south and east of high cliff with camping, a great ramp and even a place to tie up the boats overnight. The harbor has a breakwall and is completely safe.



found it:

Calumet County Park Boating

Calumet County Park Harbor provides access to Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest inland lake. Our boat launch facility has 6 launch lanes for your speedy access to the lake. There is plenty of parking for your boats and trailers.

This well lighted modern boat launch facility is a popular place for fisherman, recreational boaters and personal watercraft enthusiasts to launch and land their watercraft. There is a public telephone available at the harbor.

Overnight docking and sleeping on watercraft is not permitted at this facility. Campers who are camping in the park may keep their watercraft in the harbor during their stay after properly registering the watercraft.

Docking in launch lanes is prohibited except for launching/landing boats not to exceed 15 minutes.

You may purchase your daily launch permit at the site. The cost for a daily launch is $6.00. 2007 Seasonal Boat Launch Permits will be available at the Calumet County Park Office or at the County Clerk Office. 2007 seasonal boat permit cost $31.50 each. This permit will give you access to the lake from Brothertown Harbor, Calumet County Park Harbor, and Stockbridge Harbor.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Well, with my "new" smaller boat, I'm not excited about Winnebago, especially on the east shore, BUT hey, I'm game. If it gets to rough, I'll stick to cooking and making popcorn.

My dad had a place in Brothertown back in the 70's, and I can remember being out in conditions that were way beyond our boat. But on calmer days, we were fine.

Soooo, trying not to exclude anyone by picking a date is gonna be getting tougher as time goes on. It looks like July 7th is the only date that will not exclude anyone at this time.

Thats not what I expected. I thought for sure that several people would have plans for that weekend. It may be difficult to get reservations with the 4th being mid week.

[colour=red]Does anyone have any conflicts with July 7th?
[colour=black]


I'm going to try to send PM's to some people, and a few emails to last year's attendees, so hopefully we will get a bit more feedback.

[colour=red]********I would appreciate it if you would all do the same, as I have only a few of their addresses.
Just invite them to look at the tread, perhaps include a link.[colour=black]

bekosh, does Partridge Lake still get real weedy in the summer? Or do they keep it open?

Jellystone is really a nice self contained location, especially for those with children.

I'm open to all the location suggestions so far, but think we should go somewhere different from last year, just for variety's sake.

Does anyone know if there is a campground on the upper dells, without getting right into the dells quagmire ?

That would make a nice day trip, even if we had to trailer down from Castle or Petenwell.

Well, when you all get it figured out, let me know, ok? 8)

Keep the info flowing.