Driftboats

Steelheader · 06-07-2002, 10:25 AM

What boat do you think is easiest to row and learn for a beginner? Also what rivers would be the best to learn on? Any response would be appreciated. Thanks......
Does anyone out there teach a class on rowing and river etiquette?

cully · 06-07-2002, 02:29 PM

i found a site that has a link to driftboat schooling. It's out of Eugene on the Mackenzie river. It cost 200 bucks for a day. I'll look up the site if you'd like- just checked my favorites and need to look it up again. It is on river schooling and the link is listed from the Wood drift boat builder in Springfield who's name also excapes me. Big help huh! I'll look it up after picking up child at school. Cully

fishbait · 06-07-2002, 04:24 PM

Steelheader,
If you don't have lots of friends that will give you a chance on the sticks, then I would suggest that you contact a guide and try to book a "cheap" scenic/teaching session. Call Scott A and see what he would charge you to take 3 - 4 hours on a Sat or Sun afternoon and float a river with you. OR some other knowledgable nice guides that do not usually run weekend trips. Don't bother with the rods, but get a good nights rest as the first few hours rowning a driftboar is a humbling experience. But remember, if all of us can do it, you can too.

Smily · 06-07-2002, 11:01 PM

Hi Steelheader,

For starters the Sandy river is an easy river to learn on. That's where I learned. There is also a guide that taught me how to fish that river and he let me row his boat and gave me pointers as well when I was looking to get a driftboat too. His name is Barry Buckland with the Sandy river guide service. I think he is still around. Very knowledgable as a fisherman and on the sticks. You can look him up.
Good luck,

:smile: Smily :smile:

Bigdog · 06-07-2002, 11:09 PM

I learned from one of my friends who owened a driftboat. I would say a 16ft guide modle drift boat and some decent oars. I learned on some old beat up oars and what a difference new ones made, better control and less back oaring. Two of the most important things to learn when drifting: back away from danger and back troll through the rappids, going slow gives you much more control of your boat. The eddies and boils are a different story that will take some practice, trial and error, they will change constantly with the river level. I found it better to go with someone who has a drift boat and ask to row the slack water. Pay close attetion to how they navigate the river.

Firedog · 06-07-2002, 11:21 PM

Steelheader, I dont know if one brand is better than another to learn. Will say that while learning you will hit things and an older already beat up boat might be the way to go. There is a great book out By Dan Alsup about Driftboating.It is called Driftboats A complete guide, Pick this up and it tells you about picking a boat and rowing techs. and so on. As far as river to learn on. In this area the Sandy is one of the easiest. Good luck

Flatfish · 06-07-2002, 11:27 PM

I will show you when time allows.Honey-Dos this weekend and a friends wedding next.As far as rivers pick one that has runs of fish that suit your fancy(a home river is probably more important to a beginner drifter than a newbie bankie).Then pick a section that is easy to row and run it a couple times to learn the lines.After that I would reccomend that you pull plugs or diver and bait because this will teach you how to row a drifter much quicker than other methods of fishing that have you hop from hole to hole with minimal time on the sticks in between.Kinda like fly casting or learning a baitcaster.Just takes some practice to learn the subtle tricks.I would not reccomend the Sandy or Clack to start.Too many sleds there to distract you from your work at hand.They could work in the summer due to lower levels that keep the sleds off the water.But you lose your edge when you hop from river to river,That is advanced level stuff.
As far as etiquette is concerned.Do what would offend YOU the least if you were the Bankie or boat that you are passing.Some people cry no matter what.Others are wonderful and friendly.So if you get yelled at by one guy out of a liuneup 30,you are probably doing pretty good.
As far as which boat.Well during summer I would prefer a low sided glass rig with a wide bottom.The Deschutes wants a 17' hog,I prefer aluminum but plenty of guides run glass there too.Wood is pretty and rows nice.It also requires a ton of maintenence.Too much for my tastes.Fiberglass can be found(as a whole)a bit cheaper than aluminum.Aluminum is as bulletproof as a boat can be.They require almost no upkeep.16-17' metal or glass.Probably don't matter honestly.Good oars make a HUGE difference.
E-mail me if you want to go later in the summer.
See you on the rivers.
Mark.

cully · 06-08-2002, 08:38 AM

found the site. it is www.dhdriftboats.com
when the site comes up you'll see two boat pictures on the left of the page and two on the right of the page. Go to the picture on thats the lower of the two on the right of the page. It will show 4 or 5 choices, one being driftboat schooling or such title. hope you find it and if you don't let me know and i'll see if my daughter can send you the link. She's the computer brain in the house.

speyfly · 06-08-2002, 10:11 AM

Hey steelheader. It was mentioned that you should back row through rapids. Please don't try to do that in big water. It is a good way to sink you boat. Yes it is true that you should pitch your boat a little sideways and back row when moving your boat away from obsticals or setting up for your entry to whitewater but is you are in heavy hydraulics with big waves and keeper holes and you are back rowing, your boat will stall and you will be swimming for your life. It is advisable that you get used to pushing your boat through whitewater with very subtle positioning changes by feathering with your oars. There will be times when you will be required to back row between waves and holes to reposition your boat but experience will teach you what to do and when.

Last week I watched a guy sink his boat at the Horse on the Deschutes. Not a pretty sight. The inexperienced should stay away from the bigger water on the Deschutes. BTW. Someone mentioned the book by Dan Alsup. It's a great book to get you started. You will notice some photos of running hard boats on the upper Clackamas (Three Lynx to N. Fork Res). Those pics are of me (not the one sinking his boat) back in 1982 and that water should be avoided unless you are very experienced at running whitewater and your willing to loose your boat. Have fun and be safe.

Cheers,
Dennis

[ 06-08-2002, 06:33 PM: Message edited by: speyfly ]

Mad Mikey · 06-08-2002, 04:07 PM

<<Two of the most important things to learn when drifting: back away from danger and back troll through the rapids >>

That is true until you hit big waves and boils. Dodge the rocks but when you hit big standing waves that you have to go through PUSH like a madman, time it so you are pushing at the bottom of the trench and blast through the big waves, do not go sideways to avoid them. You will be much better off.
The Clack has a few spots that need a good rower(Upper McIver), don't do it til you've been down it with a good stickman. On the Deschutes do Whitehorse in a raft the first few times through and ALWAYS scout it, you never know if a boat has been hung up below the drop.
Wear your vests and scout, scout, scout if you are unfamilair with the water.
Don't be afraid but be respectful, adrenalin is your friend! You will run rapids the first few times on an adrenalin rush and do it all right, the danger comes when you get complacent. I've run a lot of nasty rapids in my aluminum and found I even get complacent sometimes, one tick from a rock or 30 gallons of water dropped into your boat will pucker you up fast.
Good luck and tight lines my friend.....