Has anyone here ever drifted down to Lewisville Park? How did you put in? How bad was the whitewater? I hear it's a wild ride.
Thanks!

Yes, and it is a wild ride. Most people do it from private access or if your insane you can go to the bridge below and drop in but likely you won't make it.
I was on that section of the river from the bank yesterday and did well from the shore, but like I said it's all private access. The river was running 800cfs and there's two sections that would be tough to go through.
Good luck,
Keith

Hey Keith,
How well did you do at Lewisville? We drifted from the 503 bridge down to daybreak, Wed and Thurs. Hooked 14 landed 8, 2 chromers. Saw nothing but dark fish on Thursday. Any good fish up above?

Tony

My buddy james went 3 for 5 and I went 1 for 2. So 4 for 7 total... All were hatchery fish and didn't see anything over 11 pounds and only two were chromers. I'm ready though because it's about time that those monsters start to show. We fished about 1.5 miles of river including our hole "Ike's playground" where James lost a monster last year in Feb. about 28lbs or so and chrome and got a 23lber the year before, we'll just keep hitting it hoping his big bro or dad will show... :p
Keith

[ 01-18-2002: Message edited by: stlhdr1 ]

I went and did some scouting today to look for a way to launch the raft. Wanted to drift Heison to Lewisville. Unfortunately, there is no longer any launch at the Heison bridge. HEAVILY posted with no trespassing and no parking. I did see a possible launch below Lucia Falls (it would be a pain in the arse!) but then I'd have to drift that nastly little stretch above Heison bridge. Impossible at the current level.

Why does the county post all the NO TRESPASSING signs on the PUBLIC land? They even go thru the trouble of fencing it off to the public! I could not see any reason for the government to keep the public off the land around Heison bridge.

This is a very private river...it's frustrating.

well, if my memory serves me correctly, if you can find a place to, park it is legal to walk down under the Heissen bridge. I think it is one of those rules I saw when I was reading about the high-water laws... yada yada yada.

Matt

GBSkunk has said it for all of us: Why are we taxpayers paying for "No Parking" signs on rural county roads? Road right of way is public land. Complain to the commissioners.
On the other subject: I'd suggest not running the river above Lewisville Park. There is no public access, hatchery fish are no longer stocked above the park, and the river can kill you. In my opinion, the section under Heison Bridge has to be roped. I have run, and have been run, down the river from Lucia to Lewisville for 15+ years. There are only two or three people who will try it anymore. Both have snorkeled/walked the river for years, and say that one lost oar stroke will cost a boat. Remember, it's all private land and a next-day boat recovery will be tough due to access problems. Any serious questions about this section of the river, please e-mail me. Best, CT

GB, concerning your questions about all the "no trespassing" signs at Heison bridge. I believe for the most part that the county and local property owners got sick and tired of all the people swimming in the summer. Between all the garbage, people, and injuries (even a few deaths from people jumping off the old bridge) they decided this area was not suited as a public access point. As much as I hate people who think they "own" the river, IMHO it was a good idea with the steep bank banks, large boulders, rock ledges, drunk idiots jumping off bridges, etc., it's just not a safe area for mass numbers of people.. Seen a couple of swimmers last summer getting arrested for trespassing, obviously not bothering to obey the signs.

As far as floating down from above... Well.. I'll I can say is S-U-I-C-I-D-E in a hard boat, and very dangerous in a raft. The set of rapids located upstream of the bridge is beyond impassable at the height now, as you mentioned. But it's ugly no matter what the height, I mean really ugly, even when the river is up around 1500 cfs, or higher. Also, 2/3 of the stretch down from Heison bridge to Lewisville park is also extremely nasty in spots. I met a gentleman whose friend and wife were killed in the late 80's on this stretch, and another guy I know used to float it all the time until one day he finally missed a stroke on the oars, and well, he ate it...

The private access I go in through is located about a third of the way up from Lewisville. I've fished this area since 1992, but I've managed to only walk upriver as high as the half-way-point due to the pain in the a$$ hike (large boulders, brush, and a few houses a little too close to the river) and I can say they're is some mean water. The only guy I know who floats pretty much the entire section by raft says the top half is by far the worst. The bottom third, the stretch I primarily fish, is pretty gentle except for two sets of whitewater that do have potential to be risky in a driftboat below certain water levels. I took Keith (Stlhdr1) for his second trip ever on this section on Wednesday (4-7 day) and I think he'll agree.

It does bite that the Heison/Lewisville stretch is 100% private. The upper half of this stretch is the only large stretch of the EF I haven't seen all the way from Horseshoe Falls to tidewater. Where's one of those Gyrocopters when you need one...

James

[ 01-18-2002: Message edited by: Perfect Drift ]

GBSkunk,
Like the old saying, "Where there is a will, there is a way". Just be careful and if in doubt get out above a rapids and scout it out. You'll see "Oh [Bleeeeep!], rock!" rapids, no doubt.
With all the No Trespassing signs around the bridges, a driftboat is almost out of the question for launching. Some guys are lowering their lighter pontoon boats down from the old bridge. The upper EF in a 9 ft solid Kayak is a blast if you don't mind fishing wet.
The bottom line is that there is easier fishing to be found. For me, it depends on what fishing I'm in the mood for. If it is a combo "Fishing/Whitewater from Hell Trip", upper EF works, as does upper Washougal, Coweeman, Klickitat, White Salmon, Hood, etc.....
x

Tracy Zoller lost a friend/client on that run.Or was it 2 people that died ?
I know of 3 people that tried that run and lost there lives.