I just recently moved to Vancouver,from Gresham OR....I have a 13' cataraft built like a tank...Was wondering if there where any boat launches up on the upper EF Lewis, Here there is a pretty good run of winter steelies up there. BY upper I mean above the upper most launch that all the drift boats go down,and what is the water like. Have spent the last five years floating the upper Sandy from Dodge to Oxbow, The NF Nahlem, Little white Salmon...No stranger to white water,just want to get away from the crowds. Also is there a shuttle service on the river..Like to fish alone...Please e-mail if you dont want to desclose any secrets on the board I understand....Thank you in advance for any info given,Jeff

No real secrets about the E.F. I was on the lower river last monday eve and turned loose a summer run and lost another strong fish??? Don't know what it was??? The river needs some rain, but the upper drift is interesting. The uppermost launch that isn't private is lewisville park, you only have two pieces of water that are tough though, and you can the worst one from the bridge on the upriver side. Pretty easy for those who have rowed a bunch. They call that the stairstep because you have to fall in and set up between two rocks that are a boat and a half wide, then you ride out the waves. Below the bridge you have the widowmaker, once again just a little side to side stuff and a big roller coaster ride. Then there is a couple of spots downriver that are a little funny. I've floated it at real low conditions when no one else would do it with a 17 foot alumaweld and two passengers. You just got to work the oars a little bit harder. I've had the best luck then because the fish really start holding up in that section of the river. I wouldn't recommend any higher than lewisville park though I've done that a few times and tried it once in lower water and put a nice dent in my boat, it gets to be impassable, to many boulders the size of bears in there. Best of luck and have fun!!!
keith

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Thanks for the reply stlhdr1. Going to try to head out there this weekend to do a little scouting....Thanks again Jeff


[This message has been edited by jfrabel (edited 11-16-2000).]

Best of luck there, the water is definatly low so be careful if you take the boat. I would personally wait for the rain this next week but email if you have any luck or would like me to show you around.
keith
stlhdr1@hotmail.com

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