Proper DB etiquette?

[KENAIDOG]

Before i take my DB on its mayden voyage, I was wondering if you could clue me in on some proper etiquette when drifting a river. Myself being a bankie for a number of years, i know what it is like to be fishing a nice hole only to have a DB slide in and drop anchor?? But i was wondering what i have to do to keep in the good graces of other boats on the river? Any help appreciated. Thankx

[Tanner]

There are countless threads on here regarding driftboat etiquette. Do a search and you should find plenty of info. The main thing I can tell you is use common sense and common courtesy and you will be fine.

[Flying Roast Beef]

I maybe wrong here but I've never been chewed out just practicing "first come first served". If someone's already working it, I just drift on.

[fishing is life]

if somebody is in a hole meant for one boat i want to fish i usually will anchor above and wait or just ask. courteousy will get you far on the water. leave space for bankies as you know. and if some guys are working a hole dont float over the hole go behind them. people will usually leave you a lane to get by. have fun and be safe.

[Firedog]

First come first serve works well. If it is a piece of water I want to fish I will stay in the hole above and wait till they move on. Also if it is a busy day on the river I make my way down river not staying in any particular spot real long so everyone gets a shot at the hole. As far as the bankies go I try not to go over the water they are fishing, hug the banks either right in front of them or sometimes even behind them. Courtesy if always the best rule. Have fun.

[ANDYCOHO]

I think everyone hit it on the nose, use common sense. But one thing that will raise the Blood pressure of any driftboater working a hole is to low hole them. Please, Please, Please never do this with out first asking or using common sense. If a guy has been working a hole for an hour and not letting other boats work the hole then he is the one being inconsiderate.

Don't be afraid to ask your passengers to row for a while, it will be a learning experience for you by learning from their mistakes, and it gives you some time behind the rods instead of the sticks watching everyone else catch fish.

Have fun with your new boat! :smile:
Andy

[Nanook]

Listen to Firedog. Best days are weekdays.

Rick

[rob allen]

Although i am not an expert by any means i think every situation is covered by the whole do unto others thing.

i think the three main things are

1..never cut anyone off.. wait or go to the next run, not further down the same run
2. to the best of your ability do not float over the water a boat is fishing or is about to fish.
3. This should actually be number 1.. Stay a safe distance from other boaters. just like driving plan for the unexpected ..always have an out.. getting close to another boat can be unsafe when the unespected happens.

[graybeard]

</font><ul type="square"> <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Learn how to operate your boat before fishing season. Richocheting down the river into other boats might tend to tick them off some
Don't anchor in the middle of the river, always allow room for other boats to pass.
Don't drift down through a hole when someone in that hole has a fish on. Wait till they land their fish.
If you sneak up on another boat, anounce your arrival. Tell them you are passing on the right or left.
Be polite.</font>[/list]<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Regarding Safety:
</font><ul type="square"> <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Don't tie knots in the end of your anchor rope. You may need to drift free of your anchor in a hurry. Using snagging techniques will usually retrieve your anchor rope from the bottom of the river.
Don't try to anchor in swift water.
Don't allow your boat to get up against a fixed object in current.
Make sure that the handles of your oars are not going to catch on something if they dip in the water at speed. (if your oars hit a rock or stump while you are drifting the handles will exert tremedous leverage on whatever tries to stop it,) In other words, keep your oars out of the water unless you are using them.
.</font>[/list]<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">

[M W Sheller]

OK, so this thread got me wound up again, but I will attempt to be brief. If someone is working a hole, or drift that you want to fish, by all means, wait above them until they drop down, but if you want to pass them, do it without disturbing the water they are fishing. That means passing between their boat and the bank if possible. If it's not possible, pass as close to them as possible. Don't fish the water they are fishing while you pass. There are a group of "guides" that work the McKenzie, usually in a lose group, that constantly passes over water I am fishing, without regard of fishing etiquette. Their "Johns" are fishing for pellet-heads, and they don't seem to care about anyone that might be persuing fish that might be more easily spooked than hatchery "trout". I can usually spot this group by the white cowboy hats in the row seats graemlins/icon_argue.gif
This certainly is not the "primer on drift boat etiquette", and I could go on, and on, and................ but dinner is ready, and I need a shower graemlins/eek13.gif
So let's talk more about river etiquette.

[TheTexan]

What river level range is safe to float on various rivers?

Thanks graemlins/1zhelp.gif

[Flatfish]

There are a few points that are hardly covered on driftboat etiquette.An easy one to remember is to fall onto your knees after losing a 17 pound steelie(and your lucky plug)and beat your head on the gunnel on the PORT side of the boat.Many times I have seen someone kerrang their skull on the right side of the boat.I feel sorry for someone who makes this mistake.
It is also critical to lose your buddies' beckman net(had to borrow cause you couldnt afford a net after the last Loomis purchase)in a snag that overhangs the river.But not any snag, but one over deep water so the net slowly sinks into the depths.If you lose it in shallow water,someone will see you fetching it up and think"Hey look at the dork who lost his friends net in that tree!What an idiot!Ha Ha".Very important to lose it in deep water.Just slide the boat under a limb of the snag,let the mesh tangle enough to withstand the weight of the net,a couple tugs on the oars and that should be good. Ok.
Then there is the ever popular," Forgot to put the plug in,and I have to winch it back onto the trailer and block the ramp at 5:30 am".Everyone should go thru this exercise twice a year.To do it properly drive the truck up the ramp with the E Brake on.Love to grind them pads.When you get the water out,slowly back down the ramp again,except this time jackknife the trailer into the blackberry bushes next to the ramp.Twice.
When operating the boat it is very important to let the anchor rope wrap around your foot before you release the anchor.Then try to pull your foot thru a 3/4 inch pully.While doing this fall to the floor(talk about the rug getting jerked out)and bust your new Loomis.When you get up,punch your buddy on the nose for laughing at you.He was not laughing with you.You were not laughing.Remember-Break the Loomis.Never Ever bust a yellow rod.
When you high center on a rock,twizzle the boat sideways and let the current push you downstream...onto another rock.After this,hit every rock from where you started to the takeout.
Hope there tips help.
mark and the drifter dog.

[cully]

Ex-tex, Moonshine run on the Siletz 5.5, Around the town drift on the Siletz 4.5. The Hayden bridge to Armitage park drift on the McKenzie 1.1 . These are the minumum IMO

[TheTexan]

Thanks for the info Cully!

I have floated the moonshine run with someone else rowing and don't think I am quite ready for that.

How difficult is the town loop on Siletz and Hayden to Armitage on the McKenzie compared to moonshine to Twin Bridges?

Thanks for all of the info. I have been rowing the boat on the Willamette up around Harrisburg for practice before season gets here. I have also rowed the South Santiam once before the levels got this low.

[AtWorkALot]

When you know there are fish around, let everyone else race to the "honey holes." Take your time and work the water...

[Cool Texan]

Flatfish...thanks for the chuckle to get my day started!! :grin: :grin: :grin:

[Salmon Stryker]

Note to self-- Pass on any open seat posts by flatfish. :grin:

[Tilla]

The first thing you'll learn is that no matter how curteous you are, the people on the bank still have a problem with you. :depressed: graemlins/berry.gif Do what you can but you will never make them all happy. Sometimes the best thing to do when they are screaming at you for being born is just smile and move on.

[Tilla]

[ 10-30-2002, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Tilla ]

[kodiakfisher]

Flatfish,

That was a real memorable trip we went on...let me tell you the guy is great. He demonstrated all of these things for me and that hitting every rock that one is a tuff one to pull off. Flatfish would get a perfect 10 everytime if it weren't for the Russian judge giving him deduction for the landing in the boat. Apparently they don't factor in the level of difficulty in breaking a loomis while leaving the $40 rod right next to it untouched. I think the French and Russian judges have something going on.

And all the time he spent showing me all the things that could go wrong on the boat ramp I can't possibly pull off all those moves he made.

Let me tell you though once he got done showing me what not to do he was murder on the steelhead with those homemade spinners and I'll never ever ever tell.

Thanks for the trip.... :grin:

Kodiakfisher

[cully]

ex-tex, The Hayden to Armatiage on the McKenzie and the Around the Town Drifts are easlier then the Moonshine drift. Both those drifts are considerd beginger drifts so to speak but have there tricks and hazzards. Guess like all runs. But doable for someone that has been on the sticks practicing on the Willamette. They would be your next step up. I did not do the moonshine run solo yet. Had the boat out last spring with a buddy who did most of the day. I would have been over my head. I think I'm close to trying it though now. Need more info. on either of those runs mentioned?

[plugcut]

That story by flatfish had me laughing so hard my office mates came to see what was so funny and they too were laughing. I have done all that stuff except the net trick. That must take a special kinda grab me bush. The Nestucca is full of them.
Keniadog, you are on the right track for asking these ? I wish more people were as thoughtful when they buy a driftboat. I fish the Tillamook streams all year and many folks are clueless. You know what happens to your brain on drugs well it's worse on Salmon.

[Flatfish]

Doug,thanks for the kind words.I think.
Plugcut,It happened on the Nestucca.Worst part is the long handle was my undoing.That and I left my regular net at home and buddy says"No problem,take my Beckman".kinda funny now.I was not laughing at the time.65 bucks for a net is not cheap.Especially when it aint yours.
Mark and the dog.

[lost_sailor]

It is considered correct to fire a "warning shot" across the bow before aiming for the hull below the waterline.

[Sublime]

I agree with a few of these posts, no matter how courteous you are to some bankies, they always seem to get angry that you float through, even when hugging their bank.

They're just bitter! graemlins/berry.gif :grin:

[BUGLEMAN]

My only thing to add is the concept of high side. I have seen a guide save his boat that was nearly pinned in brush save by smart weight distribution and it has saved my boat twice and think everyone would benifit from this information.

If you are going to hit something always put your weight downstream or toward the object. You will flip otherwise. It is intuitive to lean away from the object yet when you stop the water will push the downstream portion of the boat up and pull the upstream portion down. This is the concept of highside. Same thing as hitting a standing wave. Put your weight into the wave - the high side of the boat.

Good luck