Time for a drift boat

[Commando]

Well after fishing the river this morning ( got blanked) and always seeing the boat guys do way better I’ve decided it’s time for me to stop being a bank guy and get a drift boat. Never towed down a river before but have plenty of stick time on lakes and such. Anyone have any pointers for learning to row and navigate rivers?

[plugger]

Yes, start with some easy floats. Its not to difficult once you learn to control your boat. Knowing the float is very important. Point the bow towards what you don't want to hit and row away from it and never get sideways in a bad area. You dip the side, you will be swimming.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Have two ropes in the boat so you and a buddy can walk through stuff your not comfortable with. I've rowed the west end for about 16 ish years and have sunk 2 boats, both were messed up situations.

Check the bottom hard of the boat your looking at. One of mine the bottom cupped the water and was nearly impossible to row. I sunk it in the can opener on the Sol Duc my first time putting it in the water.

Another time I broke an oar lock going down the Hoh Oxbow and then got immediately swept into a rootwad and the boat got sucked under.

I've had a willie, lavro, alumaweld and hyde also kingfisher 2 person pontoon, water skeeter single person and NRS whitewater raft with rowing frame. Of all these lavro was by far the worst.

My favorite is by far my NRS raft, it's the easiest to row, two guys can pack it into impossible spots to launch a drift boat and it's super quite on the river (no cracks and clangs on rocks) Only downside is no heat like in a drift boat.

Hope any of that rambling helps. If I were looking, and had an indoor place to store one. I'd look for a self bailing raft with rowing frame. If you cant keep it covered, look for an Alumaweld or Wille.

[Wetwoodshunter]

One last note, with a raft you can fish in the summer at less than zero boards when nobody is on the rivers. You walk it through some spots that would be near impossible with a boat.

[Commando]

Thanks for the tips guys. I’m pretty excited to start figuring this whole drift boat thing out. I’m pretty sure I wanna get a willie. I’ll be mostly fishing the Olympic pen rivers.

[ASHQUACK]

If I were to do it all over again my first boat would be "a beater" until I figured out how not to run into stuff. Then I'd buy a "pretty" boat.

[Commando]

That’s the plan. We just moved into a new house and I’ve noticed the neighbor has a older drift boat that looks like it doesn’t see any action anymore., planning on waiting for awhile to see if it moves at all and see if he wants to sell it

[WSU]

Go down some easy floats a lot of times before you venture into more difficult rivers. 

Also, if you are unsure of what's ahead, get out and look.  The only time I came close to sinking was in a log jam.  I'd been through the log jam a dozen times and didn't bother to get out and look.  Well, the log jam had filled in with more logs since I last went through and it basically wasn't passable.  I ended up having to do some crazy and scary boat pinning and spinning with a buddy putting all his weight on one side as we spun through a small hole.  I'm lucky I didn't kill us both by getting complacent.

[SkookumHntr]

Just go! You will figure it out

[kingpin]

Spot on there WSU. Don't be too proud to get out and look. If you can't see around the corner or the clear path to the next hole, take a quick walk and look.

[SteelheadTed]

Just remember, as the boat owner you may be doing more rowing than fishing.

[ASHQUACK]

Just remember, as the boat owner you may be doing more rowing than fishing.

More truth in this statement than I want to admit.

[Machias]

Check out a cataraft.  Mine will handle anything from flat water to Class V rapids!

[JimmyHoffa]

Just remember, as the boat owner you may be doing more rowing than fishing.

More truth in this statement than I want to admit.

On some river sections you can't fish from the moving boat, so all the boats now land on shore and everyone gets out and bank fishes with the bankies.

[2labs]

Thanks for the tips guys. I’m pretty excited to start figuring this whole drift boat thing out. I’m pretty sure I wanna get a willie. I’ll be mostly fishing the Olympic pen rivers.

Stay off the Sol Duc until you know what your doing.