River levels and discharge rate and safe boating

[anthropisces]

I live at about the Snohomish/Skagit border and I've bought a boat this year and have started using it to pursue ducks. Its an 18' Gregor with a 40hp motor and sponsons welded onto the transom. Its basically a large row-boat shape.

I'm hesitant to say "I have a lot of boating experience" because pride goeth before a fall. I have been boating for 40 years and most of that was in Florida in larger boats.

Here where I live, I'm launching in some local rivers to access duck hunting grounds.

I'm looking at both tides and river conditions (which are also strongly a function of tides where I hunt). Right now, I see that the river height is comparatively high, and the water flow is comparatively great.

How do you respond to high river flow conditions? Do you avoid them or accept them as part and parcel of hunting out here? They are a direct function of precipitation and we get a lot of it. I am doubting that folks wait for flow rates to decrease because some of the best duck hunting occurs when it is raining.

Given the amount and size of driftwood that I see in the bays, and through talking with other hunters, I understand that some big logs can be in the current.

A hunter must pilot their boat in these conditions, often with rain coming down, and in early morning or evening darkness.

So please comment on these things.

[Stein]

I use caution when in the salt.  I use 50x caution when I am in the river. 

In the salt, you pretty much have 360 degrees you can go at any moment, in the river with a smaller boat, you often may have 45 degrees or less to avoid hitting a bank or taking water over the side or going into another bad spot or situation.

Current is something to respect, if you look at how many boats have sunk at the mouth of the Columbia vs offshore, it's really eye opening.  On top of that, the smaller the river, the fewer options for navigation and avoidance.

High water covers all kinds of hazards as does darkness.  There are some waters I will cautiously run in the dark, but I have been on them for years, know where the likely problems are and realize there is a decent chance I'm going to hit something.  I wouldn't run in the dark where hitting something would result in water on the wrong side of the keel.

[Whitenuckles]

 For me, high water means I can get anywhere i want. Thats assuming you have a jet drive also. I'm not worried about dead heads because I'll skip right over them. I don't hunt rivers, but I fish the hell out of them. I'm definitely more worried about running the skykomish in August than I am now!! Hope that helps.

[anthropisces]

Has anyone here ever hit a large, free-floating log in a river?

[RobinHoodlum]

You are wise to be thinking these things through and inquiring.

I mostly run the Skagit for ducks in winter in a much less seaworthy boat - 15' Lowe modified V hull with prop. The key issues I've experienced are wind opposing the tides and river flows - especially during king tides like we're having right now. Sucks to come back in in serious standing waves you didn't anticipate and taking them over the bow. Additionally, barometric pressure changes can have an effect on water levels that is difficult to predict. 

Best advice I can give is know your routes and all the cut pilings, snags, etc and have a sense for what tide levels they are a hazard to prop. Additionally, check national weather service marine forecast - particularly hourly wind forecast. I personally don't go when it predicts waves greater than 4 feet in the zone I plan to be in.

[Pnwrider]

I like to find new spots on rivers or tidal areas in the daylight at low tide, so I can mentally note whether I would want to run it in the dark and where to generally position the boat. Saw a brand new boat out last weekend that would have been totally stranded had the tides not been as favorable (assuming they planned to spend all day hunting). When I had a jet, I didn’t worry as much but now that I have gone back to a prop... think I’m due for my second prop in 5 years. Current one isn’t too bad (just a small crack) but the last one got a decent sized hole in one of the blades. It’s only a matter of time when you run the rivers. Also, my experience is that it’s better to run no lights in the dark. I’ve run big led light bars, but it doesn’t seem to help and blinds anyone else you come in contact with.

[Stein]

Has anyone here ever hit a large, free-floating log in a river?

Yeah, in a river and in the salt.  They aren't fun, but less dangerous than fixed objects for sure.

[anthropisces]

Pnwrider, your comment about lights is just what I was about to ask next. I've been looking for a big light bar because I thought I'd better light up the whole place.

Stupid question but how do you see? Do you just use maybe a small headlamp or flashlight?

I haven't encountered standing waves out here yet. I'm easing myself into this. I have dealt with them many times though-huge ones while piloting larger (but still very vulnerable) ocean boats. I have no way to trim my current motor up and also the sponsons prevent the bow from going up very high. This is a a benefit and a disadvantage. The transom is resistant to sinking but it would also not be possible to stick the bow in the air like I used to do coming in through large standing waves when departing to or returning from the open sea.

[Stein]

Lights on boats aren't like lights on cars, roads are flat and the car doesn't generally bounce up and down and you aren't trying to see stuff just below the road surface.

I have tried big lights, small lights, headlamps and handheld.  The best I have done is with a bright headlamp with as little side throw as possible, you want as close to a laser as possible.  If there is any moon, natural night vision with no lights is best.  If there is fog, well, it's not good.  Either way, leave early and go slow.  Chart plotters help to keep you on a known path so you can rule out some variables and just look for floaters and dead heads.

If you have a flood light or light not mounted on the bow, there will be way too much reflection and ruin your night vision.  Even if it is bow mounted and perfect, you don't see as much as you would think or like.

Depending on where you hunt, it may not even be important to be out at daylight.  Try running it in good conditions several times and see if you even need to be running in the dark and get used to the conditions and obstacles.

[anthropisces]

That's great advice Stein. I need to move away from focusing on scoring ducks and instead spend my time learning how to navigate during full daylight. Then I can be better prepared to head out in darkness. I've only been out with the boat four times out here.

[Stein]

One of my favorite parts of bay hunting is that you don't have to be at the parking lot at 2 am to get a spot.  Wait until the Seahawks game starts, sleep in and get a good breakfast and have the place to yourself when the tides and schedule is right.

Lift jacket and kill cord thing are obviously a good idea as is a cell phone and a buddy.

[BD1]

One of my favorite parts of bay hunting is that you don't have to be at the parking lot at 2 am to get a spot.  Wait until the Seahawks game starts, sleep in and get a good breakfast and have the place to yourself when the tides and schedule is right.

Lift jacket and kill cord thing are obviously a good idea as is a cell phone and a buddy.

 

[7mmfan]

I run a short section of river in the dark that I know extremely well. I've been through this section no less than 1000 times in my life. A few years ago in a buddies sled with my young nephew on board we hit a stump that I knew was there, just couldn't see it because of fog on the rivers surface. Got broadside and almost swamped. Quick action got us off but it was an eye opener. Even in water you know intimately accidents can happen. Know it as well as you can, move slow, and be ready for the worst.

I don't mind high water, the only down side is it moves faster. I don't like anything nearing flood stage as the wood really starts moving. That is what spooks me.

[storyteller]

Handheld light works well. Easy to turn on and off , fog and light bars don't mix well.  If in the dark, go slow,like 5mph, you can see logs at slow speeds.  Daylight exploration is good to familiarize with area, I used to go in a 12ft, after 20 yrs, moved up to a 14ft.  I always have my mustang camo coat on.

[ASHQUACK]

Has anyone here ever hit a large, free-floating log in a river?

Yes