Lower Deschutes Guide

SLEDDER · 01-22-2001, 01:07 PM

I need to learn the lower Deschutes. Is there anybody out there that is qualified to take my sled, (21' Northriver, inboard 350), and myself up the river approximately nine miles? There may be one other passenger. It would be a navigation trip, not necessarily a fishing trip, unless steelhead are in the river when we go. If you are interested, please let me know how much you want. Qualified person will be the driver, not liable for damages if any occur.

Spoons · 01-22-2001, 01:11 PM

You might want to try Pete Field
503-738-3481 www.deschutesriverguides.com
pete@deschutesriverguides.com

Bait O' Eggs · 01-22-2001, 01:26 PM

Sledder
I would love to run your boat up the Deschutes, with that no liablity clause you mention.

I have been wanting to run my boat up the river also, but am afraid of the pending damage that is sure to happen. I think I am qualified, does that work for you. Some that know me might not agree, but what do they know.

I have never seen this stretch of water but assure you that when we are done, you will know where the rocks are. At least the ones we kiss on the way by.

SLEDDER · 01-22-2001, 02:10 PM

Bait,do you want to be a passenger? It would probably be a learning experience, hopefully low cost!

Bait O' Eggs · 01-22-2001, 02:20 PM

What I really want to be is the driver of somebody elses boat on some whitewater.

I know better than to attempt such a feat without at least seeing how it is done first. The price of aluminum is just to expensive to beat up to bad. If you got room for another passenger, I would be interested in going and covering some of the cost if they are reasonable. Let me know if you get this lined up.

SLEDDER · 01-22-2001, 02:53 PM

BAIT, WILL DO!!

lippee · 01-22-2001, 02:54 PM

SLEDDER
You might want to try Merril Hummer
1-888-248-8309 Toll Free

HOGTIDE · 01-22-2001, 07:59 PM

Well let's see...one time, I smacked that big rock on the east side of Rattlesnake so hard it killed my inboard. Another time I powered out, cavitating in the froth of Wagenblast and slid backwards into the woopdedoos...and then there was the other time I fished too late, running back to Locket in the dark and powered right over a minefield of smallish boulders. Found a big rock mid-stream at Beavertail once and hit it so hard it broke the welds at the base of my center console...O.K. Sledder, think I'm all warmed up and ready to navigate!!! ooh ya...do you know anything about that 'washout stretch' ???....

[This message has been edited by HOGTIDE (edited 01-22-2001).]

OneLastCast · 01-22-2001, 08:25 PM

This is sounding wonderful,

I will supply you with all the video tape you need. As long as you give it back.

OneLastCast

01-22-2001, 11:01 PM

SLEDDER, I used to guide the Deschutes for summer steelhead with my semi-vee Whitewater Marine sled. It is one of the toughest sled runs because so of so many boulders, many hiding under whitewater bubbles, and because of basalt shelves that are a couple inches under the surface and are hard to see until you are almost on top of them. I first worked as a young guide with Lute Jerstad Adventures whitewater rafting outfitters. This, and rowing my driftboat from Mack's Canyon to the mouth, was a good slow way to learn the river. Before I ever took my first customers on that river with my sled though, I practiced running all the tough rapids from the mouth on up and Mack's Canyon on down for a whole bunch of times. You really want to get that down well before running it with clients. ....

Like BOE, that waiver of boat damage is very tempting. That plus another good springer run on the lower Deschutes just might entice me to 're-learn' it with you (I haven't run it in many years and don't know the changes either; so it would be a 'scout N run' deal). The best thing would be for you to go with a current guide though; they are dialed in from running it a lot and recently. Bring a camcorder and notepad. If you don't come up with one, run it by me about May. Could be a lot of fun. ....

BTW, the only boulder damage I ever had on that river was the first time I came downriver from Mack's several miles into Harris Canyon. It was back when I was just getting bad foot probs after my first basketball injury surgery and if I didn't have to get out and hike a lot to really scout the rapids I would just turn the boat around and back down as close as was safe to get a closer read on the slots. Well, there are 2 slots thru those big rapids, 1 runable, and you cannot tell from above which one; you can from below (at least at that water level at the time). I wish I had gotten out and scouted! But I ran back up and turned around to run on full plane ... down the wrong slot! YIKES .. I was with buddies so the second I saw all the little boulders all across the whitewater frothed slot below me I had to make an instant decision to try a full 180* spin N stop or gun it full on plane to get as shallow as possible. I didn't think I had enough room to 180 it (with my semi-vee; that's something you can't do in a flatbottomed sled, will 'chine-out' throwing you from the boat), so I gunned it over the deepest looking slot and BANG BANGED over it into the pool below.

...

, oh well. I banked it and pulled up the pump and saw a big 'mouse hole' knocked right out of the lower right side. Suprisingly and fortunately the thing still ran with only a slight cavitation so I was able to get back up to Mack's take out w/o a spare pump shoe along. Lesson learned! Get the heck out and scout before running tough water for the first time. - RT

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 01-23-2001).]

SLEDDER · 01-23-2001, 10:39 AM

We could make this run up the deschutes a yearly event with video cameras rolling at all the rapids. Call it the IFISH Challenge. Spoons I e-mailed Pete, thank you, maybe he will like the idea maybe he won't. Lip, thanks for the phone number, I will try to contact Merril. Hogtide, I know the river fairly well from a fishing point of view, but I really haven't paid much attention to the names. Where is the washout stretch. RT I might take you up on that offer, then you can maybe show me how to fish for springers in that area. Thanks for all the info. I may have to get a better paying job, to pay for the damages and the helicopter extraction out of the river.

Gizmo Man · 01-23-2001, 10:40 AM

I had the opportunity two years ago to run the first 7 miles with an experienced boater.

If you do not know this stretch of the river, I would suggest quite strongly that you pay the insurance money and hire someone who has run it numerous times and in different water heights.

It is nasty water and not a place for you to learn unless you are willing to risk both life and property.

I was surprised at how large the rapids are.

Don't forget that running the river up takes knowlege of the rocks and you can see some of them in the rapids. It takes a lot more knowlege when you are coming back down as you have little control once you enter them as the water will have its way with you.

I ran it with Pete Fields and he knows what he is doing.

My .02 worth. Let's us know when you run it if you do it without an experienced driver. I want to take out a life insurance police on you with me being the beneficiary.

Phish_on · 01-23-2001, 10:57 AM

hmm never mind ... fooling with photo leaves this message here ...

[This message has been edited by Phish_on (edited 01-23-2001).]

Trout,myster · 01-23-2001, 04:44 PM

Call Jack LaFonde at Young's Fishing Service in the Dalles. Can't say he'll take you and your boat up, but he knows most everyone up there and can probably give you info on who to call for "lessons". I know he told me it only took him a day to learn to go up, but took him all summer to learn to come down. Hell of a nice guy and willing to share his knowledge...I highly recommend him.

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Troutmyster

HOGTIDE · 01-23-2001, 05:41 PM

Hey Sledder. Hope I didnt scare you. I was just having fun...although the stories were true. When I first ran the lower Deschutes I was lucky enough to be tutored by a guy by the name of Fred Teeny. I had trailered my boat over, hoping to just 'go for it', when I ran into Fred at the campground. Actually, I was drooling over his Fin-Nor reels at the time. I told him I didn't have a clue and he took the time to draw out the rough stretches, give me directions and leap frog me up each stretch, giving me instructions and advice at each point of the way. Pretty nice, huh. A guided tour by the campground host.

My advice on the Deschutes is 'Do It' it's exhilerating, but be EVER-VIGILANT . As RT says, rocks lie shallow mainstream and shelves appear, in what appears to be open waterways.

Do check with some 'currently' knowledgable folks about the 'Washout' area. I have heard that it is very challenging.

Carver_OR · 01-24-2001, 03:39 PM

I would'nt recommend doing it unless you have a few days to study and learn a few miles of the river. Much of the lower end looks the same and is confusing to the most seasoned boater. Every year there's a few boaters that think they'll go learn to drive the Deschutes. And every year there's a few boats sunk or stuck on rocks in the middle of some rapid. The "lucky" new boaters would hit the rocks before the first rapid (moody) and learn a lesson close to the phone at the park...lot closer walk to call for help.
I drove the river for ten years and hit once..HARD! Stopped the boat with five people in it going 20-25 miles a hour within twenty feet. It wasn't uncommon for a couple of the guides to hit each year. The Deschutes takes 110% concentration or you'll be having some repairs to do. It's some of the best summer run fishing around...might just be worth it.

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whitewaterbill · 01-24-2001, 04:14 PM

Carver....Best post yet! Been there and done that and 110% is correct. Had a knot in my middle the entire day. If you go....Go with the best and use their boat until you feel you know it....and then get ready for a trip to the aluminum shop! I have learned to avoid the lower 10 miles and the crowds of people and hazzards, it is just not worth the risk. Too many people there anyway. Macks Canyon is a lot less stress and gets you into good water down to Harris Canyon where the tough stuff begins.

Bill

SLEDDER · 01-25-2001, 05:43 AM

Thanx for the info guys!! I was considering the Macks canyon put in and then go down a bit. I will work up the courage, skill and moolah, to tackle the lower river on a gradual basis. If anybody has a open spot on thier boat, and is going up from the mouth, I am volunteering to fill that spot.