Merrimack Question

[hydroTechNoCrat]

I made a similar post a year ago but I can't seem to find it.

I want to take my 19' key west CC for an early season test cruise. Is there a section of the freshwater Merrimack with a good boat ramp and stretch of river that is deep enough and relatively obstruction free?

When I made this post last year someone got back with a boat ramp that sounded good. Although I never made the trip, it was a pay-for private ramp that had a restaurant next to it.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the redundant posts.

Dom
.

[lowwall]

There is a good ramp in Lawrence, but I would not leave my Truck there.
I used to fish this strech of River quite a bit. 656 Lowell St,Methuen, MA "Pirates Cove," Was the best place to launch that i found.
They serve a decent breakfast in the AM to. Costs $8.00 last time i was there. Good Smallmouth fishing there to.Also there is a Bar called the White Horse on the same road that has a ramp. You pay the person who lives next to the ramp.
Good Luck

[hydroTechNoCrat]

Lowall,

Pirate's cove was the place I was thinking about. How is that stretch of river for rocks etc. for my type of boat?

Thanks,

Dom

[lowwall]

The strech is deep and free of rocks, it doesn't get rocky until you get to the strech by the damn in Lowell, If you just want to go for a ride. Take a Left when you leave pirates cove and head towards 93N Bridge Towards the Lawrence Damn. No rocks at all in that Strech and it is a pretty long run.The only thing to look out for is floating debris.

Mike

[Mike M.]

There is a brand new boat ramp well almost new (opened to the public in 2004) in Lowell, located on Pawtucket BLVD. Free and plenty of parking. It is an MA public access board ramp. It is just north of the bowling alley on Pawtucket BLVD. It is a pretty nice ramp. There are alot of coastal ramps that are in alot worse shape lets put it that way. This ramp has a concrete pad, floating dock, parking for about 60 rigs, the whole nine yards. Decent fishing in that stretch as well. You can go on the Merrimack well into NH from this ramp.

[hydroTechNoCrat]

Mike, I found this ramp by accident a couple of weeks ago. Very nice facility. It was more of a pleasure cruise than a fishing trip so I didn't fish much. I will probably go back sometime for smally action.

[albacized]

Are you the one who wanted to know about using a small boat in the freshwater stretches of the Merrimac (maybe up by Lowell) and everyone thought you were talking about using that boat in the mouth of the Merrimac and called you crazy?

[lowwall]

When moved from the South Shore I was looking for new spots. Determined the Merimack was just to crowded at the Mouth for me to bother with. The fresh water streches are great except for the ocasional water skier.This new ramp sounds like someplace I will be hitting when I get a little smaller boat.