Need help from the river rats,

I fished the Kaskaskia below Carlyle and really had good times. I did not enjoy the over-crowded environment though. I would like to fish just a bit down river from there.. To be honest I was really wanting to fish the rifflle just beneath swinging bridge by the dam. Where would I put in to run up to that spot- and how far down river can I run 1) with a short shaft on a 14 footer, 2) how far downriver before is kind of starts looking funky/ nasty like it does down by Baldwin marsh? - what I mean by that is, I don't mind murky water, but I would prefer it at least had some current to it.. How far down before it is commercial/ industrial in appearance? (Don't laugh, but I want to catch another big Bowfin, my Dad's really fought and I want to catch one or three.. Bass were good size too)

2) how far downriver before is kind of starts looking funky/ nasty like it does down by Baldwin marsh? - what I mean by that is, I don't mind murky water, but I would prefer it at least had some current to it.

The river has "current" all the way to the mississippi river. I've caught fish as far north as Carlye to as far south as the lock at the mississippi river . There is a ramp just south of the bridge.

The river has "current" all the way to the mississippi river. I've caught fish as far north as Carlye to as far south as the lock at the mississippi river . There is a ramp just south of the bridge.

Just to re- direct my questiona bit better-(and I appreciate the reply- this body of water is something I want to learn)-

...When you say just south of the bridge are you referring to Baldwin Marsh?- I am very familiar with that stretch.. It is the stretch immediately downriver from the hanging (?rope) bridge area below Carlyle dam. I want to fish the below Carlyle river stretch- but I want to eliminate the bank fisherman from the equation so I can slow down and really fish rather than having to focus on boat positioning for the bank fisherman's sake.

Wow I know how to stretch out a question.. What public ramp can I use to tow up there and launch right where I want to be? Or what is the closest ramp down river I can use and run up river to just below the rope bridge.. Any help appreciated. I really want to bass lure fish specifically for Bowfin.. And largemouth too. Whites too.. Heck anything and everything.. (Only keeping smallish largemouth though.)

There is a launch on the south side of the highway just down from the suspension bridge. It is on the west side of the main channel and can get hairy when the current is fast. Not sure about any other boat ramps further south, but have wondered the same question.