Big Bass Buddy

It was an exciting weekend here at Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley, we caught the biggest largemouth bass we have ever caught in our entire lives. It measured 22 inches and we estimate it weighed about 10 pounds. We are normally just crappie and sunfish people but it was exciting to catch something like this, we took photos and shared it with friends and our blog and the sportsman in us released the bass back into the Mississippi River for someone else to catch and enjoy. We did very well catching plenty of crappies and sunfish which is great because we love to eat them and once in a while we even catch a catfish which are very tasty also. We haven't had any luck catching any northern pike which we are told is like eating a poor man's lobster, but there is still time left and the fish are hungry, afterall this time of year is the best time for fishing.
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Packer Party

Sunday was a good day for our Green Bay Packer party with some friends. It was definitely football weather and the feel of fall was in the air. It's a tradition of ours that when the Packers score we have a shot of sour apple pucker that was originally started by a bartender/owner of a bar and restaurant in our neighborhood, we decided to carry on the tradition whenever we all get together, unfortunately not all our friends were able to attend our party because they were actually at the game.

Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we will explore, provide information, and cruise to different destinations.                               

Moby Carp

We were on a fishing Excursion and we were swallowed by Moby Carp! After being gone for a fish year we missed our followers. We finally got pooped out and we are now back online and will be writing about our Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley.

P.S. Carp!!! WTF! In The Mississippi River Valley!

Name an Island

The La Crosse,WI district of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is asking the public's help in naming seven new islands near Stoddard,WI. The group requests that suggested island names reflect the area's habitat, geology, geography, history, wildlife and fauna. Proper names will not be considered. That means no naming an island after yourself. Each person is limited to ONE name submission per island, and each submission needs to include a written reason why that name should be selected. Judging will be conducted by representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and Mississippi River Wild.
Entries may be submitted by email to:   Susan_Fletcher@fws.gov or Paula_Ogden-Muse@fws.gov; by fax at 608-783-8452; or mail at Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge "Island Naming Contest", 555 Lester Ave., Onalaska, WI 54650.
Spring is fast approaching our area and it is time to start planning that summer vacation, so come to the Upper Mississippi River Valley and name your island.
We mentioned that one of the judges is Mississippi River Wild, they are a group of citizens that volunteer their time and work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help preserve and protect the natural resources here in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. To learn more about the Mississippi River Wild click on our link we provided and check them out.
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Happy Holidays!!!!

Happy Holidays from Houseboating Excusions in the Mississippi River Valley.

Click the link provided and see this wonderful Holidays Greeting Card!
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552

Splash Out Party 2011

Our 2011 houseboating year wasn't one of our best years with the beginning starting us out with a broken wheel bearing on our boat trailer which we worked around. The Mississippi River levels for most of the season were very high and prevented us from being able to visit some of our favorite cruise sites, many of them didn't even put their docks in this year. Even though our adventures were down just being here in the Upper Mississippi River Valley in the spring, summer, and fall is always enjoyable. There are many different houseboaters in the area and we are always meeting and making new friends.

To  end our houseboating season this year we had our own splash out party on our dock with some of our  houseboating friends. The finals months of October and early November gave us some beautiful weather that we were able to extend our season a little longer. Here are some photos of our party.

 

We are also surrounded by Green Bay Packer fans that are so dedicated to their team their houseboat is Green Bay Packer decorated.         

At the end of the season also comes with the fun chore of pumping out the septic tank one last time and a final cruise up and down the Mississippi River.

Mississippi River Transportation Role

Many of us look at the Mississippi River as a great source of recreation, we cruise the river in many different ways, some of us use houseboats, others ski-boats and canoes. But the Mississippi River plays a major role in the transportation of goods and services which helps many local economies. It is a gateway to and from world markets, the Mississippi River supplies the region with nearly 250,000 jobs and is one of the cheapest ways to ship goods. There are more than 11,000 miles of navigable water in the Mississippi River and the Upper Mississippi River Valley accounts for 1,300 miles of water. Port of La Crosse alone imports 1.2 tons in commodities valued at $154 million. That's 55 15-barge tows each carrying 22,500 tons. If you was to transport that by truck it would take 49,000 vehicles and span across 600 miles of road. That is a huge amount of goods moving up and down the river. Minnesota transports about 60 percent of its agriculture exports down the river. Port of Winona handles about 18 percent of that. Ports are always looking to increase the use of that navigational system and are always looking for more commodities that can be shipped. Using the Mississippi River as a way to transports goods is cost-effective and safer than other means of transportation. Transporting goods on the Mississippi River is approximately 63 percent cheaper than rail and 94 percent cheaper than truck. A barge can carry more, it's equal to 70 trucks and 16 rail cars, and fuel for a barge goes further too. Statistics show that for every death through water transportation, there are 155 deaths on the road and 22 on the railroad. Port of Winona is now expanding their commercial dock because demand to ship on the Mississippi River is hugely increasing, they plan to have it finished by the end of this year.
As we all enjoy our pleasure crafts on the Mississippi River, we should all take a moment and realize how important the river is, not only for pleasure but also for a productive economy. Let's all do our part to help maintain the integrity of the Mississippi River that we have all come to love.
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