River levels and floatability

[SandySteel]

Can someone give me some idea of the floatable river levels in the Tillamook area? What level should the Wilson be in order to be able to safely float from Vanderzanden or Siskeyville? (land mines stretch is the biggest worry there) How about the Kilchis, or the Nestucca?

Eric Neiwert

[Deleted User]

Hi Eric. Those upper 2 wooden slide launch Wilson runs would need a little more water than running Mills down because of more rock exposure at lower levels. I haven't run them at real low water in awhile but I think you'd be OK down to about 3.5' on the Wilson gauge. I would prefer 4' to 6' of course. As for the mine field I think the slots thru the boulders are narrow enough thus deep enough to be run at the lower 3+ ft. levels; although you might have to pivot around a few smaller boulders, but it's doable. Double-check with the Guide Shop (503-842-3474) or their guides to be sure. ... As for the Kilchis, does it have a gauge? If it does let me know. From the logging bridge put in down you could probably drift it when the Wilson is around 3.5' after small rises. After a long drop from higher water I would like the Wilson to be 4'+ as a rule of thumb to go over and drift the Kilchis. That lower run is easy to drag boats over shallow spots if necessary. Not as easy to drag boats in the upper Park run. ... For the Trask, I haven't drifted it much in recent years so hopefully we'll get other feedback here. The upper river runs above the Dam Hole you'd want an average fall/winter flow, and good skills because it's a difficult boulder strewn area. I ran it in my new cataraft up there last March for C&R nate fishing. There are some hydraulic drops that could broach a driftboat easily if you took it wrong (similar but not quite as tough as the NF Nehalem hatchery down run). From Cedar Cr. down it's much tamer but I think you will tend to tick bottom more at levels just below average than you would on the Wilson. We used to bang our way down into the first good hole below the old Hanacrat's bank launch a lot (is that launch still usable?). If you or someone get the proper Trask gauge level drifting ranges please post it here for us. The level in feet is quite higher on the Trask gauge than the Wilson gauge, and the Nestucca gauge has a little bit higher numbers also, when all are at similar actual running levels; which can be confusing if you don't know the ranges. From 1st Bridge down you can run the Nestucca at fairly low levels. From 4th bridge down it's more technical and rocky so I'd like closer to average levels for that. I rowed that in Gary Till's Willie for C&R nates back around March also and it is fun. I used to run 6th Bridge down a lot back when I was guiding many years ago. It's tougher than 4th Br. and quite challenging in places so you'd want more than low levels for that, but the payoff is it's less crowded and gets lots of steelhead. Check with Nest. Sptg. Goods in Hebo at 503-392-4269 to get the proper levels to run and let us know here if you find out. Thanks Eric. For you skilled boaters that like sparse river areas, a difficult stretch is the Spruce Run Park down on the middle area of the main Nehalem R. Many times I had it almost to myself back in the 80's; except for lots of fish. I don't know what it's like now. Wear a life jacket in those tougher areas. - RT

[Jennie@ifish]

There is a gage on the Kilchis, but it is not monitored anymore. I have been working on trying to find out more about it. Until then, it is only monitored by a stick in the ground in front of my house, which so far stands high and dry.
Rain, it looks like it will rain off and on all week? WOW! COOL! And snow in the mountains!
You know what? I am going to invest in one of those life jackets that inflate, and are comfie to wear around your waist. Anyone have one? That way, you are prepared all of the time.
Boats fill with water pretty darn fast, and grabbing the life jackets can be a hassle where alot of people put them. Even if they are right by your side, sometimes panic sets in and you fumble.
Can someone tell me more about these waist inflatables?
Jen

[Oakie Drifter]

Hey RT,
First I'd like to say that your posts would be read by me and maybe others more often if you would be so kind to make new paragraphs from time to time. Or even if you skipped a line and started typing again would really facilitate those of us over 40 in reading your informative posts!
Second, for Jennies question, Dot and I both purchased those inflatable life vests this year and I absolutly love it. I wear mine all the time now when Im out and it isnt too bulky or cumbersome. Well worth what we paid, as a life jacket that cost much less and not worn doesnt really save anyone money if its not worn all the time. Most emergencies in smaller boats happen too fast to don a life vest.
We purchased ones made by Mustang. I have worn mustang suits for years at sea in Alaska and trust their quality from experience and this is why I chose this brand for a inflatable vest! And, hey, you can suggest to Bill that it would be a great x-mas gift; one that shows his love... http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net4/jump.gif

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the suggestion Bev. I never thought about the common reading challenges. I haven't spaced lines because many of mine are so long already. I'll try to remember. - RT

Hey, these are fun! http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net4/jump.gif


[This message has been edited by RT (edited 11-05-2000).]

[smilesforu]

Jen
Those float coats are a really good idea for fisherpeople. We have a couple here at the house. The brand we have is the stormy seas jacket. These are a high quality coat also.

Tight lines

PS bev good image http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net4/jump.gif

------------------
Marty M
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[Oakie Drifter]

http://smilecwm.tripod.com/legionxs/wavey.gif
Love those images....
I agree with ya in that the Stormy Seas coats are great too. One tip if you get a Mustang vest is to attach a whistle to it. A cheap emergency locater (noise maker) in the water. Dont know if the Stormy Seas one has one....but its a good idea! I decided against the coat version as I wanted something that would work with any attire that I wear fishing AND also when it is real hot out. http://smilecwm.tripod.com/ruinkai/biggthumpup.gif

[Deleted User]

Ifish member guide Marty Peterson e-mailed me the following river gage level recommendations for the Nestucca. He is a top guide on that river so listen to him!

Hey RT,
The river levels I prefer:

3 1/2 - 4 1/2 feet..........1rst Br down
4 1/2 - 5 feet ..............4th Br down
5 1/2...........at the...... 5 1/2 (words to live by)
6 6th bridge
Blaine

Lee sent me this video/audio of Marty right after he heard there was going to be rain this week: http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net2/multi.gif "OHHH finally! YAY! Oh finally finally finally!!! Yay! Oh wow, finally! Oh fish on, fish on! Yup, gonna get some fish on up the river. Finally!"

BTW, when I said above that the Nestucca numbers are a little higher than the Wilson's at similar running levels, I think that's true at very low levels but as they get high water the Nestucca's numbers are then smaller than the Wilson's; so the Nest. readings don't fluctuate quite as much. Hope that clarifies and doesn't confuse. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif - RT



[This message has been edited by RT (edited 11-06-2000).]

[Gone Fishin]

Say, on those Nestucca numbers RT, I forgot that they got the new river gauge in operation this summer. The levels I gave you were from the old gauge and probably are not accurate with the new one. Since we have had such a lack of water, I haven't had a chance to "field test" the new gauge's numbers. It is reading at 4.2 today which is probably about 1/2 a foot higher than what it should read. (according to the old guage) -Marty

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the alert Marty. When it gets up and running and you dial in let us know the new ranges when convenient. - BTW, that video/audio piece above is actually a rep of all of us; if the rain really does come this week http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif .