Minnesota Prairie Paddling

[Mnoutdoorfunguy]

Minnesota prairie paddling at it's best!
We are lucky that we have had above average rainfall or the paddling would REALLY be tough.

 

[riverstrider]

We have a stretch of river here in RI that presents some similarly marsh-intensive paddling during the late summer. Always fun, especially when it is not really clear where the clearest channel is. We do a lot of standing in our boats for that trip.

-rs

 

[Mnoutdoorfunguy]

It has been very interesting in our area this summer. A number of the flowages between the lakes that normally have lily pads now have wild rice. The water levels are up, so I don't know what could have changed from years past. Normally, the areas between lakes would be choked with water lily pads by this time of year and maybe only a narrow path to paddle through. I much prefer paddling in the rice since the paddle doesn't catch quite as much and the boat glides a little better. The particular patch in the photo was especially thick and tall. Had we not paddled this area before, we would have turned back. I am interested to see what will happen next year.