Any good launches for Inflatable boats around Portland?
This morning I had to abort my salmon fishing mission my launch point of choice, Fred's Marinia, had zero parking available within 100 feet of the ramp at 5 am.
Closest parking I could find was about 0.2 miles away on marina way.
I re-routed to cathedral park only to find a similar problem trailer-only parking was avaible close to the ramp, but I'm not pulling a trailer and the closest spot for my vehicle was about 0.1 miles to the ramp.
My boat is lightweight, relatively speaking. Geard out for trolling, it comes in between 85-95 lbs. It is too heavy to carry very far assembled.
I typically will make 2-3 trips and assemble near the launch. Until today, the places I have gone have been accommodating, but the water hasn't been close to the run and it's taken me 1.5 to 2 hours to then get to the fishing grounds. rowing with the trolling motor I can get close to 4-5 mph.
I don't physically have a problem hiking in my boat in 30-40 pound bundles but I have issues with other folks trying to use the ramp while I move the peices then assemble them, this is a process that takes about 30-45 min.
Having high-value gear sitting near a walkway or on a ramp invites theft and vandalism if it is unattended. I have had run-ins with lurkers while beached and being relatively close, so turning my back and hiking up to a quarter mile away from my gear seems like folly.
Are there are some metro area salmon anglers who can help me out with recommendations? Is the mouth of the Willamette just untouchable? Are there some good launches on the Columbia?
I'm tired of arrive to the fishing holes exausted, late and out-of-luck.