maybe a little reminder to drift boaters about a little courtesy on the rivers about dropping in a hole right underneath of you fishing,happened to us twice while fishing the solduc this saturday. remember there is a lot of river to fish,dont piss people off by fishing the hole there fishing first,wait your turn.nothing gets me madder but some jerk who wont wait his turn. just wanted some ideas on how to handle this.



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bustinbigforyou

I agree, the same ideas should be applied to jet sled owners. I own a sled and I see to many people who don't take the time to slow down.

I know how you feel last winter I had a guide boon dog over a peice of water I was fishing and when I said something to him he fired up his big moter and ran right through the hole. My advice would be dont let it bother you to much no fish is worth a conferntation.

Dgraz
Where you anchored or plugging? Where you near the top of the hole or tail out? Do you fish at a fast pace or slow when covering water? Are you the first boat down stream? Did the other boat pass behind you? Did you leave enough room for them to go behind you? The other boat has a just as much of a right to fish as much as you do. If you want to fish the water before them you should pick up anchor and move. It is considered rude to low hole a moving boat thats plugging,or cast into the water in front of a anchored boat your passing. It is also rude to fish a hole with a bank fishermen standing in it. Bank access is limited, but a boat has lots of river to fish. These are some of the basics of the WEST END

Probably preaching to the choir but rude fisherman tick me off more than no fish to catch. Had the new sled on the cowlitz this weekend and I will tell you something, there are too many "fishermen" out there that are too stupid to be on the river. Among other things, 1) one empty pint bottle of black velvet floated by 2) countless bait containers floated by 3)filleted carcass of a larger than 28" king lying near boatlaunch (my understanding is that 28 and larger must be released) 4) two separate boats driving and/or parking directly on top of our plugs with anchors 5) nice, native silver of about 12 lbs. released after hitting gunnel on the way to the floor of the sled for a 60 sec. unhooking fight and then bouncing off of the gunnel on its way to the water from a chest high toss!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ONE JET THAT WILL GET POSITIVELY NO COURTESY FROM ME EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I freely admit that I am not perfect, but at least I make an effort

wit45cal, I also went to the Cowlitz river yesterday and saw a few friends that said that on Saturday they had caught fish, but had none on Sunday. Most people that I talked to also had no fish, it was a beautiful day for fishNg though! Funny thing that I noticed was the way that most boaters were very courteous near the boat launch at the barrier dam when they were in full view of all those anglers, but as they get down the river, some of them lose their inhibitions. You must remember though, there are instances when a "Rookie" will not know better, because he is just too excited with his new toy or may think it is too shallow to slow down and then makes the mistake of disturbing others and their fishing. Sometimes it can be benificial to him and others to go to him and explain the situation with a smile on your face. Of course, I know that is also a good way to have some "Jack**s pull out his 357 and start waveing it at you. LOL.
I live in Gig Harbor but I can remember having to launch at the Point Defiance ramp. I used to have to tell myself not to start yelling at someone who would have the gall to stop in the middle of the ramp to load or tie-down their boat. Or how about some of us experienced boaters who back their boats down the ramp with their blinding lights on. Well, sorry for ranting on. BTW, what kind of boat do you have? Good fishing!


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Steve Ng....The FishNg1
99 F-350 4x4 SD, 18ft Alumaweld Formula Vee Sled, 115 Yamaha.

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 11-09-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 11-09-1999).]

Steve-
I have a 21 ft. Boulton 350 chev and kodiak 3 stage pump. It has proven to be more fun than a Jetski so far, and much more useful. The biggest problem I have found so far is that my planing speed is somewhat faster than that of the smaller boats, so I am forced to either sit and wait or carefully pass them. While I don't like to pass on a river, I always try to do it with a smile and a friendly wave. I also try to repay other fisherman by indicating the whereabouts of fish that won't take my offerings. Someone should have the chance to fight those magnificent buggers even if I am less than a fine fisherman. As an aside, I may have peeved a few people on the cow this weekend because in trying to learn the river (now that I am able to run it) I did more running around than a fine fisherman would do!!! LOL If you see the viper blue Boulton, be sure to say HELLO.

[This message has been edited by wit45cal (edited 11-09-1999).]

Wit45cal, I understand the getting on plane and staying there thing. By the way did you have two people in your boat that were wearing orange lifevests? I myself ran almost all the way to Blue Creek, but turned around as it was getting close to dark. I don't think that you will be taking your boat in some of the rivers that I take mine, like the Nisqually or Satsop. During periods of low water, they can get very tricky and some of the logjams are very "hairy" to navigate at times. Sometimes I wish I had a larger boat and then there are times (mostly) that mine is just right. If I ever have to replace my Yamaha it will be with one that is a 150 HP instead of 115. During the summer months I spend much of my time fishing for Kings right in front of Gig Harbor, so I change my lower unit from Jet to Propeller. This saves much fuel and brings my boat speed back up to around 53mph, as well as increased manuverability. I know that inboard jets are far better in that catagory, but I also have been in my buddys 21 ft fishing for sturgeon in the Naselle estuary and when we came into a bunch of eelgrass, I was the one with the neoprene waders that had to get out and rake out the weeds before we would go anywhere. With my outboard jet, I can raise it and clean it out while in the boat.
Maybe you have one of the grates that self-clean, I have seen those.
My boat is a windshield model 18 ft Formula Vee Alumaweld with a Minkota electric motor, a Mercury 8 Hp and of course the Yamaha.
See ya on the river. E-mail me a picture of your boat if you have one and I can do likewise.

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Steve Ng....The FishNg1
99 F-350 4x4 SD, 18ft Alumaweld Formula Vee Sled, 115 Yamaha.