After 20 years of rowing boats it still gives me a twinge everytime I float a river that I have not been on in a few months! What keeps me a float more than anything is respect for mother nature. I can not stress how many times I have pulled over to the side of the river and walked my boat around objects that looked passable but why bother worrying about it!! One of my mentors that first taught me to row had a phrase that I still heed, when in doubt check it out and I can tell you those words of wisdom have saved me a heap of trouble over the years. I see alot of sunken driftboats every year in my travels and every one was usually in a place that your boat could have been walked around or dropped down around with a rope. For the new guys out there remember if someone tells you at the launch that this is a tough float they are not trying to scare you they are usually trying to help you I know I see alot of new faces every year on certain floats and I usually stop to chat to get a barometer of their experience on the river and can usually get a feel for if they are in over their heads if they are asking me stupid questions I usually politely explain that they may want to avoid this section of river untill they fish with a guide or someone that is familiar with it, following someone down the river that you don't know can get you in a lot of trouble fast, who si to say they know what they are doing! Anyway how about some other Veterans sharing their ideas? All together their were 8 driftboats sunk on the pennisula this weekend no one died but come on guys lets be safe out there!!!PEACE

FASTWATER,
I appreciate your safety advise to everyone who owns DB!
That's too many sunken boats for one weekend.

I've been down the lower Sol Duc with Larry Scott for two day trip back in Feb and I told myself as Larry gracefully rowed his willie thru the boulder gardens and rapids, I ain't rowing my boat here.
This is not for me! I'll stick with the lower Ho.

I wish everyone safe travels this season on any given rivers.

Fastwater, I am glad there are guys like you out there to talk to at the ramp. I have been rowing for 4 years and I consider myself a novice. I have always had a saying, regardless of the boat or water I am on "no fish is worth your life or your buddie's lives".

Two years ago I was floating an unfamiliar stretch of the Clark Fork in Montana. After checking I was told there were no hazards to be concerned with on the river. After launching and going only a short distance I hit some braided water. It clearly looked like going around the right side was the best way, and why should I worry - afterall I was told there were no hazards. I had always been told though that when in doubt go look. Glad I did. Had I gone to the right I would have come around the corner, in fast water, and would have run right into a tree that was accross the river about chest height. I probably would have been killed or seriously injured.

Summer Run, you have the same thoughts I do about the Sol Duc when on it with a guide. Wish I could get out often enough to hone the skills quicker, but I am a happy camper when I am floating the Bogie.

in my opinion most people get in trouble when you panic,duh. one old guy gave me some advice i still live by. number 1 is most things never happen as quick as you think, you have time.2nd is no matter what never stop rowing. i can remember a lot of times if i would of stopped rowing i would have been swept away by the current. these two pieces have saved me countless times.and as stated earlier if in doubt get out and look. i have witnessed some pretty stupid things on the river. my number 1 pet peeve is why do people drink liquior when there rowing a river. must be the same ones that drink and drive? save the beer for when your done!!

if you ever notice alot of guys rowing have to get that last cast in insted of paying attention to whats going on or whats comming up in front of them... ive seen this time and time again at the water intake on the nooch..

Fast Water, as a guy that has never rowed a drift boat and am in the process of finishing a don hill 16 foot guide model, I really heed the advice of the guys that have gone before me. I will continue to heed the words of wisdom and I will never be to proud to get out and look,walk around or do whatever I have to, to remain safe and whomever is with me safe.In the future when I have the boat closer to being done I will post some pictures and I will be asking the advice of all of you with experience that take the time to give sensible advice to us novices................Fishy.

Mike@NB,
I didn't see any route at all going down rapids below whitcomb dimmel.
Then I realized this water is for pros only.

I learned the lower Hoh this fall and love it very much!
Not so sure if I really want to tackle the canyon though. Perhaps someday if a pro will teach me.
I hear Bogie is a lovely float and would love to learn the Bogie in the near future.
Perhaps, you could give me some info about the Bogie float.
Would apprecite it very much!

With the number of brand new anglers buying drift boats it's not surprising that so many are going under.

I always take the safe but timid route. Why take the chance of loosing rods in overhanging trees, or flipping your boat?

I walk my boat at least twice every trip when with passengers on one river near me. Yeah, I could float down the swift side, but why? It takes me another minute to get by some water I can't fish from the boat, but I can when I beach the boat in the skinny water.

One guy asked me why I walked the boat once through a certain spot when he thought he could get through it. I told him I know I can always make through the other way, without thinking or worrying. Walking the boat is just part of the game and something I learned from the many folks who taught me how to row over the past two years.

Tip one: If you ever hit a big rock and stick, lean into it on the DOWNTREAM side, not the upstream side. Leaning upstream will flip the boat. (Learned this from a seasoned pro, it works.)

Tip two: Don't anchor up in fast water. Carry a spare anchor. If you hang one up, don't be afraid to cut it off, especially in fast water, keep a knife at the rear of the boat. (Learned this one on the Cowlitz by error two years ago.)

Tip three: Carry a spare oar, even on your little pontoon boat. Doing donuts is fun, but useless. (Learned this my first year in my Bucks Bag Southfork 2, luckily a friend was just downstream.)

Tip four: Make friends with everyone you see regularly on the river, you never know when you might need their help.

Tip five: Carry a saw. Doesn't have to be fancy, my little Swensaw has cleared two spots making it safe for all.

Tip six: Keep an eye on the bankies. Saw a guy and his son or younger brother try to ford a spot on a river that is easy at 300 CFS, but a beyotch at 1100 CFS. I stopped fishing and was ready to retrieve the young one when he had trouble fording yesterday. Luckily they turned back, then low holed us and picked up an oddball native steelhead hen in October. Smart move, and a beautiful fish.

Summer Run, I wanted to send you a PM, but I can't figure out how to do it. If you know how and could send me one with your email address I will tell you what I know about the Bogey. I can guarantee though that it is not nearly as much as what many people know on this board, but I will be happy to share what I know. Bob is also a good resource. I had asked him some questions a couple of years ago.

I want to learn the lower Hoh myself this year. I wish I could make it over there more often, it seems that I am lucky if I can get three trips in a year. Last year I had to cancel all three trips because the rivers were out each of the times I planned to go.

Mike@NB,
I just sent ya a PM.

One other piece of advice no one has mentioned. River heights and flows. Just because you floated last time at 7 boards and did fine the river is toatally different at 4 boards. My guide Bob Kratzer tells me that the Sol Duc from the hatchery to maxfield at 8 boards is not too bad and maxfield to Itt rayoner at 8 is a bear. but when the river drops to 5 boards it's just the opposite.

I keep a journal of my fishing trips fish caught and on what, river color etc. In that report I always include river heights and flows and any problem spots. Things change from high water to high water but it helps me remember the river if I don't float it too much.

It always pays to be too careful and almost never when you are not.

All I have to say is better safe then sorry get out and look that why he give as eyes.

keeping you db upright is actually pretty simple. Take the friggin time to learn the fundamentals before you jump in your shiny brand new boat and float the Sauk. It's really about common sense. Additionally, If you have significant doubt, leave the boat out.

There's so much water to float and so many productive stretches that don't have major hazards. Plan on spending years doing research, learning different rivers, following experienced rowers. And for gods sake, practice safety. It doesn't hurt to plan for a rescue. Learn CPR, carry surplus pfd's, first aid kits, fire starters, cell phone etc... We're all in this together, lets take care of each other out there.

One other rule to remember, is don't tie a knot in the end of your anchor line. If you get hung up, or it slips out in the wrong spot you won't come to a sudden stop and bury the back end, when it comes to the knot.

Fishhead5

agree about the anchor. People are seemingly so cheap when it comes to anchors. I claim to be one of those (at least I used to). I saw a situation where a guy wedged his anchor, and the next thing I know all three guys were standing in the back of the boat trying to yard the anchor out. Shortly thereafter the boat was floating downriver, upside down. Good god, don't be afraid to turn you anchor loose, they're only a buck-a-pound.

I think a lot of the reason that people get into trouble with drift boats is that outside of steelhead fishing, they have no white water experiance. Floating is an all year thing for the best guys on the sticks..... A guide can show you a certain thing on a certain float, but thats about it. It boils down to how much time do you want to spend at getting good at it. If you want to get up to speed on a section of river.. leave the poles and gear in the truck. You can float about any stretch of any river about three times in the same amount of time as it takes to fish it once. Pick a river you want to fish a lot of the time and learn it first.. sure, fishing may be better some place you don't know but you gotta walk before you can run. Learn every section on it and use the time to see what works best for each trouble spot.

I once bought a brand new trailer from a guy from Portland who put his brand new Alumaweld into the Deschutes for his first ever attempt at running the boat.. He lost everything but his life that day, and was lucky to keep that. Someone told him it was no problem ( someone who knows the river ) and he was not smart enough to understand that " no problem " for one guy can be a real problem for a newbie.

I have heard there are two types of driftboaters, those who have sunk one and those who are going to.

As it seems inevitable that I will someday sink the Driftabago (18' Eastside) so I just went ahead and painted "CALL 911" on the bottom

The Sol Duc is so different at different levels it doesn't even seem like the same river.

Wear your PFD.

This is all good stuff and thanks to all of you who have responded.

I am a newbie having purchased my DB last Feb. I have so far stayed on my home waters of the Snohomish system as that is what I'm familiar with having fished it for almost 20 years. I am surprised at how different things look from upstream. During the low waters of summer I was able to practice on and around small, exposed hazards yet still had plenty of room as not to threaten safety. I've been having a blast just learning how to row and interacting with the river. Over the years I have learned to respect our rivers and know from personnel experiance that bobbing down river is no fun for Bankie's either. Therefor I carry all of the suggested safety gear mentioned above (need a saw though, good idea) and wear my pfd. I also agree wholeheartedly with the no alcohol thing and that's coming from an Irish Catholic

My first time down the Sky I followed a friend downriver. I would not suggest this as the best method of learning a new river. I'd make a cast and look downstream to see him anchored 30ft. below me make another cast, look downstream and see him entering the next hole. I think your much better off with that friend in the boat.

Since then I have been "pilgrimmed" a couple of times by others mistakenly thinking me the right person to follow down river??? This is something I vow never to do as I will inevitably find myself following the biggest idiot on the river!

I fully understand that becoming good with the sticks rests entirely on good sense, safety consciousness, and lots and lots and lots of stick time. I will probably add at least one river to my resume this year (home away from home water) but I am in no hurry to add any more.

Having said all that my insurance is paid up!

Thanks again for all of the wonderful advice and tips

Who said anything about no alchohol? Drinking a beer or 6 over the course of a full day of fishing is a necessity. There's nothing wrong with a few beers on the river.