Howdy all!! (questions from a Newbie) Is an inflatable good for

[Smily]

floating down the Sandy river from Dabney to Lewis and Clark Very well? Any one have any experience in doing this or is it plain Suicide?? That is getting cut up on the rocks. The inflatable is a Quicksilver 10'9" model. I also have a 15 H.P. motor for back trolling in the deeper waters. I understand you can't have any motors up river from the Stark St. Bridge and up river. Dabney is only a couple hundred yards or so from that bridge so I can easy float that section. How's the fishing in that stretch at this time? I had been thinking of doing that run tommarow afternoon. What's the best thing to use for catching them fish? I had been lurking in the shadows for a while and thought I'd come out. Thanks for any answers you can come up with. Andy

[Artwo]

Smily,
I see allot of people floating that section with inflatable rafts, no real rough water at all. Allthough, right now the water is low so rocks could be an issue in some spots and definately for using a prop motor to get around. There will be many places between holes that will be very shollow. There should be some fish around in that section and the typical winter steelhead gear should work, drift fishing, pulling plugs, divers and bait, etc. I don't know what a Quicksilver looks like, maybe a zodiac type inflatable?. I think my only concern would be being able to manuver in the shollows between holes because you would not be able to run your motor. Some of these shollow spots can be 30-50 yards or more long and only 6" deep. A good person to contact for some more advice would be Jack Glass, him and his wife run the deli at the Troutdale bridge or call 66-JACKS.

JK