Wisconsin, Wisconsin, US
|
|
E) Prairie du Sac (PnP)
| Usual Difficulty |
II (for normal flows) |
WI, Wisconsin River, Prairie du Sac
WI, Wisconsin River, Prairie du SacPhoto of Helge Klockow
Gauge Information
| Name |
Range |
Difficulty |
Updated |
Level |
|
WISCONSIN RIVER AT MUSCODA, WI
|
|
usgs-05407000 |
500 - 15000 cfs
|
II |
02h49m |
~ 7160
cfs
(rc= 0.5 ) |
Intermediate playable range. Cited gauge is in Muscoda, about 44 miles downriver, therefore will not accurately reflect changes in outflow at dam above this location. |
River Description
Local training grounds and work-out water for Madison area boaters. Rocky outrun from
dam/powerplant creates some potential for play. At times of high flow it may provide some
excellent "big water" practice, with powerful swirls and boils. More often, however,
you are likely to be completely underwhelmed. (I have stopped here nearly a half-dozen times with
boat and gear, and never once saw anything which compelled me to bother to suit up and drag down.
YMMV.)
An anonymous contributor provides (2008-11-02):
Just paddled this today around 5,000cfs and its good fun! You can put in right [near] the dam
and paddle down. There is a rather big wave in the middle of the right channel, very hard to
catch. Then its just turbulent and pushy water till you make it down to the big eddy on river
right.
There is a surprisingly nice wave at the top of the eddy that is a cake walk to paddle into. Its
pretty fast and can allow some ends and wavewheels, flatspins maybe. What's nice is that soon as
you get washed out just head back for the big river right eddy. There you will find a train of
whirlpools on the (quite long and super deep) eddy line. SQUIRT CITY! (reminds me of the Gauley
-- well, minus the huge ugly dam taking up the entire view.) It also has magnificent eddy
service. A few paddle strokes and you're back in the wave.
I didn't find much else to play around in. Everything is either too swift or too rocky. But the
one wave on river right made it well worth the trip and I paddled all day.
Here's a note: There were a lot of local fishermen out. Most were friendly and came over to talk
and watch, others offered scowls. A lot of people were really surprised to see a kayaker and I
drew quite an audience. Just smile and wave.
I may be making another trip back up here, especially if the water is higher. I can only imagine
that what that wave would be like at 10,000cfs! Oooh Boy!
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2009-11-23 01:42:35
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
the long delay in flow change information.
http://alliantenergy.com/Environmental/HydroFlow/index.htm
11,400 - 12500 cfs there is only one surfable wave/hole on rivber right that is medium-large and
deep, no eddy though. However, i finally gathered the courage to play in the dam hole and it was
incredible at 12,500. Putting in is tricky cause you have to carry over a wall, but the dam hole
allows all sorts of moves at high water, loops, spins blunts, cartwheels. And though the dam hole
looks a bit scary and sticky, its really not, as the water washes down stream into the rapids
below. I took some cell phone pics and video and will try to upload soon. Oh yeah, the eddy is
piroutt-tastic too.