I recently traded into a drift boat and haven't a clue where to go to catch Sringers. We get them here in the Tri-Cities, but are banned from fishing out of boats...The Yakima gets springers, but is only open to Indians...Can't drift the Umatilla, it's too small...

So where's a good place to drag my boat? I did get a 6 hp Yamaha LS motor with it, and a 24 Volt 72 lbs electric motor too. It's pretty well diverse, I'm just not sure about how well it will perform in big water, and am certainly concerned with WIND...

As far as boating skills, I've 10 years in a Kayak, Raft & Cat combined. Reading water is not a problem, so my main lessons are going to be courtesy & I'm pretty aware of what I'm looking for, I've been fishing off the bank for 20 plus years. I've seen the boat battles and have a pretty good Idea of what NOT to do.

Any other drift boat springer guys on here?

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I can't help you with springers but you might want to take a trip down the Yakima, say above the canyon or in it. This way you will get a feel for the new boat. Take the fly rod along and catch sone nice rainbows too!

Icicle Creek would be my choice on your side of the cascades.

Good Luck!
SA

I'd go to the Icicle, the Skykomish, the Columbia or some of its other tribuataries or you can make a mini vacation and come to the OP on my side of the world.

Grandpa's Fishin Buddy,

My Wife wants to move to Sequim so bad. I've been wanting to come over and scout for work. And we have considered dragging the boat along on our tour...I seriously doubt there will be any work around there for me, but I'm certainly willing to visit the Pen. It's been years since my last visit, 86 or 87 fighting forest fires around Forks. I fell in love with the area.

SteelAddict,

I had no Idea that the Icicle could be floated by drift boat. What I remember of it is loggjams and class 3+ whitewater...this of course from my Kayaking days...but I've never looked at that water with a drift boat in mind.

I'm leaning toward the Yakima, if they let us fish...Klickitat if I can find someone to float with, that's done it. I've Kayaked it many times but logisticly a kayak is something that you find some shallow water and climb out of. Drift boats look a 'little' more complicated...

Thanks to all,

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I took my driftboat down to Drano last year a couple times and actually managed okay. If the wind isn't blowing too terribly bad, you can actually get around pretty well. When (not if) the wind really gets going, it can be a real pain in the a** and impossible to fish. Even with a 15 hp long shaft, it was tricky at times. I fished in the "toilet bowl" area near the bridge quite a few times and never tangled up with other peoples gear, or got blown into other boats. Not easy, but when the fish are in and it's all you got....

I believe from Yakima, it's about a two hour drive, so not terrible. Of course with all the fish expected back to the Cowlitz and Kalama, might be worth spending time on those rivers.

Alternatively, you could just call me up and we'll take my 21' jet out on the big river.

Adipose Soup,

This is the kind of thing dreams are made of. I've never known anyone that had a 'real' boat, let alone someone that had an extra seat in one....

Keep me in mind when the time comes, I'm good company and will bait, swab, tend lines, er what ever ya do on a boat while in pursute of chrome...

I live in the Tri-Cities in SE Washington

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