Having a sled myself and running and learning various rivers with the sled for the last ten years or so I have definetly learned that there are places for sleds and places for drift boats.
As far as I am concerned the Tribs of the chehalis are driftboat waters.
Yes there are times during high water flows that I can run into the tribs but why should I run into the tribs and do nothing but piss off the dritboaters and bankees just for a chance at a few more fish.
I have bank fished both in the nooch and the sastop and have had sleds running by, cut my line, ruin my fishing experience and basically ruin my day.
I think we should all respect each other and use a little bit of that thing between our ears.
Ramprat

oh man, is this going to turn into another sled versus driftboat thread! lets get ready to rumble!!!

Well, if we're going to do this, let's get it on!! Being a seasonal fisher on the Sop - generally late Oct, Nov, & December - I believe that sleds have no place on this River above Cook Creek. The water is skinny and the only way a sled can navigate safely is to be on step and be running fast. This part of the river is well suited to wading and in fact, crossing the river. I believe that it is an inherent safety issue as waders and crossers work the river (which is quite bendy in this section). If you have never been washed down by a jet boat when you are in the river above your knees, you have never lived. Because of the curves, the wader has very little warning that a jet is bearing down on them. Certainly, there is some jealousy on my part, because I can't afford a sled, but there is so much water available to the sledders where folks aren't crossing the rivers, I can not see why they can't concentrate on those sections. As our rivers get more and more crowded, the inevitably of someone being hit or drowned by a jet boat is becoming increasingly likely. Flame on!!!

Except of course, the preceeding 5 minutes of,
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR (sound it out)
G

Grumpy, It is not inconceivable that you have that good of hearing, I know I don't.

i have owned a sled and a drift boat and i do not believe that sleds should be taken above the forks

Seems this discussion is a bit early this year. Usually starts up about the time winter steelhead begin to show. My opinion is that the east fork, (mid flow, 1500-2000) is just too skinny for sleds above the forks. There is plenty of fishing to be had below the west fork. I have a sled and have been guilty of running the east fork in the past. I won't do it again. If boondoggin is your thing the lower river has several great drifts. You stay low in your motorboats and I promise not to anchor in the middle of the drift...Deal?

I am so tired of hearing its a safety issue, its an errosion issue, blah-blah-blah. Why don't you guys get some balls and tell it how it is. Driftboaters just want it to themselves. Whats next, the lower river too. Too many times I have stayed out of the East fork only for a driftboat to anchor right in the middle of a drift. So if sleds should stay off the East fork then drifters should stay off the rest of the river. Thats a deal I might agree with. By the way I too fish this river from a drift boat and would never go above Cook creek in my sled.

YOU GOT YOURSELF A DEAL!

Too bad you dont speak for all driftboaters, and by no means do I speak for all sledders. As long it is legally possibe I will continue to be courtious to drift boats in the East fork, but if they no longer allow us up there courtesy is out the door even on the main river.

my 2 cents: just because you "can" physically take a sled up this small river doesn't make it right ... take your damn machine to the chehalis...

MaxMad said : If the river was accessable to fish from the shore I would have no problem with that. However, that is just not the case. Unless you know the propery owners up and down the river there is no way to access the water without a boat. The launches suck allready! (Perhaps that's what WDFW wants.) What more could you want?

chromefish I was sledding the sop back in 1985 and I was sledding the sop in 2004 but not once have I been above the east fork in my sled just respect for other people is what it is about!!!!!PEACE not WAR!!!

I have sledded this river for a long time. It has only been the last few years, with the influx of boats of all kinds, that it has ever been a issue. I am just saying that as long as I am allowed and river conditions permit you will find me in the East fork. You are right about it being about respect, but what about respecting my right to go up there. I am nothing but respectful when encountering driftboats, whether it be up there or on the main river, however this same respect is rarely returned. It will remain this way until they take my right to do what I have been doing for years.

has the sweeper been removed below the hwy launch?

I have a question and would welcome all comments. I have a drift boat and fish many of the rivers both in the PS area and the OP. I always try to be respectful of everyones fishing water be in bankees sleds or other driftboats. From the sleders perspective or even the bankees perspective, what can driftboats do to make sure we are being respectful. I always try but maybe I don't know everything I should about how you fish and what I should do in different situations. SO if you could, please tell me the top three things a drifboater can do to make a sledders day more enjoyable.

Heres my perspective on the respect issue. I think that sleds should respect the waters that bank fisherman and driftboats are fishing. Sleds should move on to other waters and dont fish these waters. A sled has much more mobility. All I ask from both bankies and drifters is not to hear all the negative comments about me fishing from a sled. Nothing ruins a day faster than a heated confrantation. I personally will not let these comments go unchecked, maybe its a personal thing but thats the way it is. Instead how about a friendly greeting and talk about how the fishing is. I just get tired of hearing that sledders are jerks and take my boat to the cow or chehalis. So in short I think it is the sleds that need to show the most respect and drifters need to chill a little instead of trying to keep us off the rivers.