the sol duc claimed yet another life last evening from what i understand....at 'the drop'.

i saw them floating the body out this morning.

another solemn reminder to make safety your first priority when floating these rivers.

please be careful out there!

H2o,
Sad news. I've only floated the Solduc from Maxfield to Dimmel. What section of river is "The Drop" you mention. Thanks for any info you can supply.
Brian

hatchery to maxfields

H2O, Sorry to hear such sad news.

There are any number of places on that run the could do you in.

I was not prepared for what I found the first time I ever ran it. We could easily have lost it, more than once.

Heed the advice of many here. Hire a guide. Do not try this one without ever having had a look first. There are a number of spots that you can make a "Wrong Turn".

Wear your PFD.

That sucks, to put it bluntly.

I've been floating that stretch for over 20 years and still have yet to see a season go by that I don't have a close call up there: Usually when it's between 4 and 6 boards and I've got a couple bubba's in the boat.

i will be floating that section tomorrow, do you know what caused it? ie:inexepirence or just really bad luck? i know some spots get hairy. i guess i will be extra carefull. man that is really to bad!!!

Thats really, really sad news, I've done that drift about 10 times I'm pretty sure I know the spot you talking about. The river should be at what.. 4-5 boards now? Someone must have got side-ways in the wrong spot......C/22

Heard of the accident this morning at breakfast. Apparently a newer Clackacraft with three people ... two made it out, and unfortunately one didn't.

Plenty of water in the river, so passge right now should be pretty easy throughout.

My phone has been ringing off the hook tonight with people lookng for more info. Ihaven't heard a word as to whether it was an issue of inexperience, or one of the freak things that could happen to any of us.

Be careful out there. I'll post some more info if I hear anything.

Sorry to hear that. I will keep whomever it was in my prayers.

I just got off the phone with the sherriff. I was going to let everyone in on what happened. But you know what this is a terrible tradgedy and it really upsets me. I have been up there fishing the last three days and have had to row by the boat the last two. I collected a lot of there fishing gear for them and have it in my shop. My heart goes out to the family of the lost loved one. A terrible thing that could happen to anyone of us out here. May God Bless the family, you are in our prayers.

i also just fished that section and rowed past the boat, very earie feeling. you cannot help but feel very sad as you pass the boat. what a tragedy.it was very sad thing. my prayers also go out to there family.

BEAVER -- It was a clear day when three friends from Pierce County put their drift boat into the Sol Duc River Thursday morning and set out for a day of salmon fishing.

Hours later, after their boat struck a rock in whitewater and the river's current forced the fishermen out of it, one man was dead, another man would hike for help and the third would wait out half the night, shivering in his neoprene waders, until a search party reached him on the shore.

``It was a total surprise,'' 45-year-old Jim Miller of Roy, who was rowing the boat, said Saturday of the incident on the river.

``I never had any fear or any qualms about the stretches we were going through. No apprehension whatsoever.''

Miller, with Charles ``Tony'' J. Boyle, 61, of McKenna, and Terry Sebastian, 30, also of Roy -- all friends from archery competitions -- were out for a leisurely fishing trip where Boyle had been a steelhead guide 15 years before.

They had put in at the Sol Duc Hatchery, south of U.S. Highway 101 between Sappho and Beaver.

Last photos

Boyle, a grandfather retired from the military and from his job inspecting planes at McChord Air Force Base, caught about a 28-pound king, Miller said.

His friend pulled out his camera and shot Boyle grinning with his catch. Those were the last photos of Boyle ever taken.

The men were about two miles downriver when they reached what local guides call ``Sh-t Corner.''

Longtime Forks river guide Jim Mansfield, who also was on the river that day, describes the area as a swift rapid with rocks ``the size of Volkswagens'' that boaters must dodge at 30 mph.

The trio's boat came into the rapids and struck a rock that jostled the boat around and pushed it mostly under water, said Miller, who has been a drift-boat fisherman his whole life.

They stayed in the boat for about 50 feet, but as more water came in, the boat was pushed out from under them, sending them into the frigid water.

Pat graham,

I am a friend of Millers i just heard about the tragedy today. Im sure he doesnt want to think about it right now, but im also sure he'll want any gear you can help with back. If you want to email me your number or call me the info is;

maxwellseth@hotmail.com or 253 315 1480.

I or one of jims other friends will come by and pick it up
Thanks for thinking to grab it, appreciate the honesty.

Very sobering...indeed.

From the article, it sounds as if at least one of the men had many years of experience floating the Duc. Another strong reminder of how rivers can change, and how we can forget the dangers and perhaps become complacent.

Too damn many of these reminders lately.

My prayers for the family, and friends.

Mike

More details:
BEAVER, Wash. (AP) – Three drift boat salmon fishermen were thrown into the Sol Duc River and one was unable to swim ashore and died, authorities said.
Charles “Tony” J. Boyle, 61, of McKenna, may have had a heart attack while trying to make his way through the swift, chilly current west of Port Angeles, said his companions, Jim Miller, 45, and Terry Sebastian, 30, both of Roy.
An autopsy was pending.
Boyle, who had caught a 28-pound king salmon moments before the boat hit a rock Thursday, was two feet from the river bank when his body went limp.
“I was screaming at him to swim, yelling, ’Swim, Tony, swim!”’ Miller said Saturday. “He was almost there, and he just didn’t make it.”
He said the three, who became friends through archery competitions, put their drift boat into the river Thursday at the Sol Duc Hatchery between Beaver and Sappho, an area where Boyle was a steelhead guide 15 years earlier. Miller was rowing.
“I never had any fear or any qualms about the stretches we were going through, no apprehension whatsoever,” he said.
About two miles downstream, the boat hit a rock in a swift rapids.
“The current ripped all the seats out of the boat, ripped all the life jackets out of the compartments,” Miller said. “In about three seconds, it gutted the boat.”
All three were wearing buoyant waders. Miller swam toward one bank and Boyle and Sebastian toward the other, but Boyle never made it to safety.
Miller found the boat by some rocks 200 to 300 yards downstream, then located Boyle’s body.
Sebastian, a Puyallup tribal fisheries biologist, walked upstream and found two campers who refused to help, then was picked up by three people on a pontoon boat that had passed the group several times that day.
One of the pontoon boaters, Brian Doolittle, 29, of Bothell, took an extra jacket, half a loaf of bread and some pop some water to stay with Miller and Boyle’s body while the others went for help. After darkness fell, the others ditched the pontoon boat and walked through the woods, finally alerting the Clallam County sheriff’s office about 7:30 p.m.
A search party reached Sebastian and Doolittle about 2 a.m. Friday, sheriff’s deputy Ed Anderson said.
–––
Information from: Peninsula Daily News, http://www.peninsuladailynews.com

Here's some food for thought: I dumped a drift boat in "Hells Half Mile" on the south fork of the Calawah back in the late eighty's. I was wearing bouyant neoprene waders and was able to swim to shore fairly easily. The episode fueled my feeling invincible on OP rivers.

A few years ago I quit wearing neoprenes in favor of hip boots in the boat. This latest tragedy on the Sol Duc has forced me to think about what would happen "IF" I dumped my boat tommorow wearing just hip boots. I think it would be safe to say my chance of survival in rapids with water filled hip boots would be nearly ZERO!!!! Think about this people.

I am going to purchace an inflatable vest to wear on the Sol Duc and Calawah river from now on.

"Sebastian, a Puyallup tribal fisheries biologist, walked upstream and found two campers who refused to help, then was picked up by three people on a pontoon boat that had passed the group several times that day. "

What the heck!? I really, fervently hope the ones that refused to help get to experience something really bad someday...with no help.

What in the hell is wrong with some people. Refusing to help out that situation. Wow that floors me, I don't see the reason in that one. If that was me I would find them and kick the hell out of their faces for that. Probably venting on the death of a friend but either way that is wrong.

WOW, I would have to do everything that I could to help people in such dire need as that. To do anything else would be sub-human.
Tragic circumstance either way and sorry that such selfish, amoral people had to exacerbate the situation.

Sol_on_the_Duc's opinion brings up a question in my mind.
So, I wear breathable waders with a belt and do my best to keep a PFD on while my boat is moving.
What would happen if dump accident occured and everyone on board were wearing breathable wader with belts and PFDs.
If that still not enough to keep everyone floating above surface to swim out?

This is a very tragic situation. I know the two who made it out alive. One I have known for over 22 years. I spoke with Terry yesterday and we did not really talk to much about what happened. I can bet he and Jim would like everyone to offer prayers for Tony and his family and help out in anyway they can. I also could bet they do not want people pondering on what went wrong or even blaming the campers who did nothing to help Terry. The whole incident was out of everyone's hands when the boat went down. If a heart attack is what happened to Tony, boots and lifevests would not have done any good. As for their experience my understanding is Jim and Tony had fished the Duc for years. Sometimes God has other plans for people. Knowing Terry and Jim, I would imagine when they want to talk about this they will. Lets also give them our support and understanding during this very trying time.

Amen! I just hope none of us ever has to find out what this is like. No matter how much you plan and think things out, there is always something that can get you.

Well said Big Jim! This is simply a tragic accident and second guessing won't do a darn bit of good now. My heart goes out to the families affected by this!

I've always liked the fact that neoprenes help keep you afloat. Lately I'm seriously looking into the inflatable PFD's as they look much more comfortable to wear. Since I'm way over weight it is very hard to find any PFD that will fit so I often don't wear one After reading things like this I realize that I need to change my ways!

I would appreciate any info on how to get a hold of Pat Graham. He was nice enough to grab some gear for these guys. I just need to get ahold of him.
Please contact me
Seth at 253-315-1480. Or Ross at 253-926-4391. We will be trying to get the boat back with jim tomorrow.

although it wont bring anyone back.....they still ought to arrest the two campers that refused to help. or yank their citizinship...

Pat's number is 374-5313
cell is 640-0956

thanks bob

I would like to thank everyone for all of their efforts during these trying times. To help satisfy everyones curiosity we were all very experienced on the river, I would like to believe that was a stroke of bad luck. I would especially like to thank Pat Graham for all he did, He is not only a true sportsman but an honorable professional. THANKS PAT. The image of a friend in trouble and not being able to do anything about it will be with me for a very long time. It was a beautiful day that turned tragic in the blink of an eye. Tony was a very happy, positive and loving man, always offering advice or a helping hand. He will be deeply missed. Neoprene waders saved my life, not only because of ther bouyancy but ther insulating factor as well. We were on the river bank until 2:30 am with no survival gear. If it were not for the insulating ability of my waders I would probably not be here either. I have since put together a small waterproof floatable bag that includes a flashlight, frs/gps radio combo, lighters, waterproof matches, cotton balls soaked in vasoline, a few pieces of cold weather clothing shrink wrapped and fresh water. This will always be a part of my gear. I would like to address the campers that were not willng to help. I find it hard to believe that people who enjoy the outdoors would try to benefit from someone elses bad fortune. They now own a set of carlisle oars and a lot of gear. I truly hope this message gets to them and they have a change of heart.Once again I thank the combined efforts of those involved and the kind thoughts of everyone who acknowledged this incident. Be safe and enjoy every day in the outdoors. WATER BOTH GIVES AND TAKES LIFE.

Welcome to the board. If we can be of help to you, please don't hesitate to ask.

Terminator: Death never seems to be a timely event, and the situation that took your friend was indeed tragic. Everyone who floats that drift with any frequency will no doubt be effected in some fasion. I went out and got an inflatable vest, for istance.

I always default to this thought when someone dies: That is that their life should be celebrated. Your friend died doing what he loved, doing what we all love to do. Not withering away in a nurseing home. When the powers that be decide to take me, I hope I too, am fortunate enough to go doing what I love to do. Take care and keep fishing.

Hi All

What happened last week was a sad thing. We just never know. I was bank fishing the lower end of the Hatchery run Friday morning. I think I talked with the 2 guys mentioned above as they drifted by (in a drift boat)between 7:30 and 8:30 am. They told me about the accident and that a rescue boat was bringing the body out (that came by an hour or so later). But I got the impression that they helped out. They told me that they were going to drift the entire river and camp along the way. I'm not sure if they were the guys but they knew about the accident and went by me real early in the morning. Does anyone know if there was more than 1 group camping & fishing in that area?

I've been fishing the Forks area for 15 plus years and I have found people more than willing to help out in any situation. Nothing surprises me any more but what happened was not right.

I'm the investigtigator that's assigned to the fatality. I posted a lenghty reponse on the "campers wouldn't help" board. The Daily News pretty much outlined what happened. If there are any questions contact me.

You are quite right with the comments and it wasn't inexperience.

Randy Pieper