How low of a river level will you run your sled in the Sky around Sultan. I've only been in there when it is down to about 5.5 feet. If you have a low water limit I would like to know, it is easier than trial and error.

Ive seen the most inconsiderate bunch of a- holes in my life running sleds on the Sky in just the last few days. I wish they would ban them on the Upper and mid Sky! If most of them would just slow down when coming up upon a bunch of us bankies there wouldnt be a problem but when they just blow by only 30 feet away sending waves, and fishing right over your lines, something has to be done.

Sorry for my b****ing, but im sick of the "Get outa my way, i gotta bonk two fish and leave" mentality.

- BW

Sorry to hear your probs with sleds. I have a sled and try to avoid angry anglers like yourself. Sometimes its best when a sled runs over your hole, its gets fish moving and sometimes starts a bite. Other times when flows are low it can spook fish. Then again bankies spook fish too when the waters low. But you'd think with a sled, they would have all the river in the world to fish...why pull up on your hole???

I try to avoid the cracker bar, most sled water is below it anyway.

Escapee-

In answer to your question. Depends on your boats weight, how far down it sits in the water, its angle of " V ". Is it a pump or prop, or is it a inboard or outboard. A general rule of thumb is about 5 foot or better. Reason is the 5 ft mark on the south fork of the Sultan on the USGS's site is what I used to gage for water height. I know I can make it almost all the way up to Goldbar although a little tricky. And all the way out in the sound going downriver.

My boat is pretty much flat, its gotta 10 degree " V ". thats it, not much. When its sitting idle in the water its in 8 inches with a load of fishermen and when its up on a plane, well its almost out of the water running full tilt. I also run a Merc 200 horse sportjet out the back so its actually higher up then the bottom of my boat.

Take all these things into consideration: get to know the river when its low and you'll find the fish. Be very careful about where you go upriver from Sultan, it can get hairy, sometimes dangerous. I don't know about you, but I took a course on how to run my boat in shallow water. I'm also taking USCG certification currently.

I would suggest if you have an outboard, 5.5 ft is a safe bet for a pump. For the most part there are a few tricky spots down below sultan. I wouldn't go hauln butt down the river in the dark from Sultan or when its foggy in the morn.

One more thing, when it comes to trailering your boat, you will find anything in the 5's and lower starting to get more difficult unloading and loading at Sultan. I launched once at 5.1, when I came back from my hole, it was 4.5. That was not fun gettn out! One other sled had to drop off his partner, go all the way down to high-bridge and pick-up there.

Anyways! goodluck and hope I helped out.
Tightlines!

Bank Walker,
How a sled head drives a stretch of river depends on a lot of factors, going upstream, going downstream, fast water, slow water, short water, inboard, outboard, etc... Before you condem us all think about it from our side. We all get to fish these rivers. If the sled is headed downstream and the water is deep enough and there is enough room to get back on step to get through the next piece of short water, yea I agree to slow down and float through the hole. Going upstream it's a different story, I gaurentee that my sled (and all the other ones) will make a much smaller wake and will affect you as a bank fisherman a lot less by staying on plane and "blowing" through the hole. If there is not a lot of sleds running by you I would be willing to bet that the fishing will pick up for a short time as the sled will wake up the fish. The majority of sledheads I know try to be courteous, but as always a few screw it up for the rest. This post is not meant to blast ya, just some thoughts from my wiewpoint.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

Salmonhead,
The last two times ive caught fish, before i could get my punch card tagged, there was a sled buzzing over right into my spot and giving me no more than 20 feet to fish. They had literly the whole river to fish, and they figured all of the fish were schooled up in my spot.
I hear so many people use the excuse "THEY WAKE UP THE FISH"
Well, in less than 7 feet of water, they sure as hell do wake up the fish because it takes about 10 minutes before they start rolling around, and getting in the mood to bite agian.
Maybe its my mis fortune to get stuck on the same river as these idiots, but i know there are alot of guys like you salmonhead that do respect the bankies and give plenty of room. Driftboats can be no better, and for that matter bank fisherman.
The bottom line is, there are rivers where sleds are very useful and dont harm fish or fisherman, and then there are rivers where the two just dont get along.

- BW

Bank walker I can almost under stand what you are saying. But I was on the Nooch last year in a hole all by myself that I did take the time to get up early for. Along came three bankies that saw us hook two kings. Next thing you know they are casting over are lines telling us we have the whole river to fish so move on. It is not just "sleds" ,or "drift boats " that have low lifes it is an all around thing.

------------------
rip some lips