two guys flipped a driftboat just below stevens crk.. they got out ok but the boat didn't..

Wow...its that time of the year.....there will be more people fishing, many with limited experience.....doesn't take much, hook an oar, anchor released at wrong time, water too shallow--can't grab any water, wait too long at end of a drift.....and a 100 others....

stuff happens, just be safe....just not worth being first or for a fish...

Live to fish another day!!!!!!!

Glad they were OK....

If you are reading this downed boater....we were below you in the Helocopter hole. We have some of your tackle that eddy'd out near us (wrapped quickies, some leader rolls, etc.) We saw your boat bow come by and then go down for good just past helo hole. We stayed put for about an hour and nothing else came by and the boat did not reappear.

Heard you were ok from other boaters that came by.

Give me a call for tackle

Dave (guy called me so I'm pulling phone #)

If anyone else has tackle let me know and I'll connect you. He said boat was located today and recovery attempt tomorrow.

That is nice of you........

Might be tough to get close.....used to be a big gravel pit, on West side of river.............but that was 30+ years ago...might have access there...

Think the owners name was Jim Wells....

How did that boat go down , just below the boat chute, and end up going past the helo hole. the river wasnt that high, makes no sense . cause they got caught in the swirl at stevens crk...

Did they roll it coming through the chute?

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nope they made the chute fine...it was the big corner just below stevens crk

Glad they made it out OK.
Good deed seastrike.
Thanks for helping out a fellow angler in a difficult situation.
SF

At the big corner there is a whirlpool/convergence that is really sticky. I imagine it was that.

That's where it was. I was on the boat. Been getting some help from some good dudes down that way. Our buddy set it up at the Humptulips store for fellow fisherman to turn in gear they find. We don't expect much, but some has already been recovered and we had a lot on board. The boat has been located and the recovery will hopefully be successful tomorrow. Lost two big coho when the boat went down, but most importantly we made it safely to shore. Thanks for the help everyone. If you hear of or see any gear, please grab it or reach out and let me know where to go. Easiest way to reach me is text 206.919.3696

-Marco

Consider yourselves blessed to be able to tell the story of the mishap... that's about as good as it gets for a Christmas gift.

Marco, glad you made it. Maybe you could share the story, might keep someone from doing the same thing. I'd certainly be interested to hear what happened.

Thank you. We were on a good line, my brother is very experienced on the sticks. He's floated that river plenty of times and we were actively talking about the water. That corner is sketchy at best. The left side has opened up and there's a lot of water moving through it. Used to be more of a shallow bar. Now there's a nasty confluence where the water meets back up. Big boil right under us pulled us down. Water came in over both sides. Talking with the network of fisherman that drift down the Hump, that area has been developing into something dangerous. I don't know another line we could have taken. I'm sure my brother is playing it over and over in his head to figure out what could have been done differently, as am I. From what I've heard, some others have taken on water in the same spot and someone else dumped their raft over. I would like to go back out and study the water from the bank, maybe see something we missed. I'm sure plenty of people will make it through safely, just wasn't our day. We both made it home to hug our wives and kids. Now we have to get the boat back and keep fishing!

Quick update. Boat recovered, it floats! Came with one oar still in the lock and the spare oar. Lost the floors and custom stand. White starboard with aluminum poles and blue clackacraft top. $50 finders fee for either floor or casting stand. Again, we appreciate the help and kind words!

Overall this sounds like a pretty lucky experience, with no lost life and little lost gear...good on you who have found/returned some gear.

Fish on...

Todd

I've long wondered how big of a boil it would take to sink a drift boat. They sure can be scary when you hit them but I've never had one come close to sinking me.

Is this one of those low sided DB's?

Yeah, older clackacraft

There are a couple of spots on the upper reaches of a couple of the west end streams where the drops are steep and sudden, and at certain flows the water at the bottom of them is more bubbles than water...and they do not support boats very well.

I go thru them in my rubber boats, and they mostly go under water...of course, they hit the solid water and pop right back up, no harm no foul...it's even kind of fun when you do it with someone who doesn't know it's coming sitting in front

In a hard boat...you row around those spots. The water isn't "thick enough" to float your boat, but it's plenty thick to fill your boat up and sink it.

Fish on...

Todd

Thanks for the story, and explaining that spot. . .might save somebody's ass down the line! Those confluence boils are spooky.

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