Best water levels/flows to Drift

FishOrDie · 01-23-2004, 04:02 PM

I am fairly new to drifting the northwest rivers and I was wondering what you all feel are the prime water levels to float the various rivers.

I have run the Alsea at 5.5' and 6.5', somewhere between 3000 and 5000 cfs and they both seemed pretty easy for me to handle.
So I kind of have an idea about there, but I am real curious about the Wilson, Siletz and the Santiam river system. I have run all of these with other people at the sticks but I didn't pay much attention to the actual levels.

Any help would be great.

Thanks,

FOD

cutt plug · 01-23-2004, 05:23 PM

The only river you listed that I have any experience with is the Wilson. It fishes best between 5-6 feet. That doesn't mean you can't catch fish when it's below 5 or over 6.

Guide shop to Sollie Smith is the the most popular drift.

Good luck!

FishOrDie · 01-26-2004, 10:00 AM

TTT
HELP!!!!

Rustyoar · 01-26-2004, 10:18 AM

Do a 2002 search archive using the key words for the rivers your after. I had the same question and found my anwsers there.

Go Beavs...

Salmon Stryker · 01-26-2004, 10:52 AM

I like the Siletz between 4.5 and 6.5 feet. Below 4.5 the moonshine run gets a little skinny and above 6.5 I think the water is a little high for good fishing. I guess prime would be around 5-6 feet imho.

Good info above on the Wilson and just a note the same levels could be given for the Nestucca.

Another note....last year I waited around for days when the water was perfect and I hardly ever got out. Meanwhile I kept reading reports and seeing pictures here on ifish of people catching fish. This year I just go when I get chance and I'm finding that fish can be caught as long as they are in the river.