Joh Day w/ drift boat?

[XXXLTD]

Service Creek to Clarno. What would be the minimum cfs for a drift boat? I am thinking 1000 cfs? Thanks, Terry

[MikeT]

I haven't run the particular stretch you're talking about, but have run Clarno to Cottonwood at 900 cfs in a drift boat. It was a little skinny but ok except for Clarno rapids.
I've also run the section above Service Creek at 1000 cfs and it was also fine (but would have been a little low below that level).

[AlseaAssassin]

Anything less than 2000 cfs = quite a bit of rock dodging/some dragging in that stretch. Doable down to a grand but I usually don't use my DB unless it's 2000 or above.

[nookslayer]

I've only done the Clano to Cottonwood 5 day trip around Memorial Day. Pretty sure it was running about 900cfs each time we did it. The water clears as you go down river from Clarno and usually turns ON for bass during that time. The only real water we ran into that was can be challenging is Clarno.

[jaxflyfish]

Originally Posted by XXXLTD

Service Creek to Clarno. What would be the minimum cfs for a drift boat? I am thinking 1000 cfs? Thanks, Terry

I have run that stretch every year for 10 years or so in a drift boat. Last year we ran it at the lowest CFS I have ever run it. 650 CFS. We did a bit of walking the drift boat where the river got wide and flat. We still had a great time and my boys had no trouble at all in the raft.

Here is a link to my report on that trip.
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=257268

1000 CFS is pretty comfortable. In my opinion, 2000 CFS usually means colder water and slower fishing. Not that it is ever slow there.

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by nookslayer

I've only done the Clano to Cottonwood 5 day trip around Memorial Day. Pretty sure it was running about 900cfs each time we did it. The water clears as you go down river from Clarno and usually turns ON for bass during that time. The only real water we ran into that was can be challenging is Clarno.

I have done this one from 500 to 2200. Like said before under 2000 get a soft boat. I think a launch at 30 mile would be doable at lower flows.

[native steelie]

i dont think you will be able to get your DB through the burnt rapids. last year i watched many people struggle through there. its basically about 4 miles down from the twickingham bridge. i would say put it at the public boat launch below the burnt rapids and u should have fairly smooth sailing the rest of the way.

[jaxflyfish]

Originally Posted by native steelie

i dont think you will be able to get your DB through the burnt rapids. last year i watched many people struggle through there. its basically about 4 miles down from the twickingham bridge. i would say put it at the public boat launch below the burnt rapids and u should have fairly smooth sailing the rest of the way.

Really? I wonder what the flows were like. It is listed as a class II and from my experience it is a very easy rapid in a driftboat. Another advantage is that if a person wanted, they could quite easily walk a boat down on "river left" there. I believe that the JD is one of the best rivers anywhere for running in a drift boat.

The only problem with putting in at Burnt Ranch is the shuttle costs. It is a long drive on a rough road down there and the shuttle companies don't like retrieving vehicles from down there.

I agree with your statement that there isn't much for rapids after burnt ranch and from my perspective the river is nicer after that because you get away from the ranches and roads.