Farmers to 3 Rivers on the Nestucca. Really simple and quick float.

 

Dabney to Lewis Clark on the Sandy..........

A couple shallow spots to work through and a couple heavier current areas, but if you have some experience already (know how to maneuver) you won't have any issues........

Hell, throw out a 3.5 maglip and practice your backtrolling skills while you're at it. Might even pick up a fish or two......

Good luck and always wear your PFD's........

 

I agree with Artwo... the Dabney to Lewis and Clark is a nice easy run. And fairly quick too.

And by all means throw out a plug! You never know what you might catch.
Just this morning I was banking it at Dabney, and saw a guy net a nice chromer pulling a plug! :applause:

 

Gilbert river.Good luck,

SZ

 

I want to practice rowing the new drift boat some place where I'm not going to hit trees and brush on the bank or sweepers in the river. We've been down the Kilchis twice and did better the second time, but I want more practice.

Are there any places y'all could recommend practice drifting and rowing where the potential for damage and loss of life are minimal but we can practice negotiating the twists and bends of the river with a more modest current?

Farmers to 3 Rivers on the Nestucca. Really simple and quick float.

Any thoughts about the Three Rivers to Cloverdale segment, or the Cloverdale to Pacific City float?

 

Any thoughts about the Three Rivers to Cloverdale segment, or the Cloverdale to Pacific City float?

3 Rivers to Cloverdale is actually harder than Farmers to 3 Rivers...especially with the river over 6 feet. Very swirly water down there that can be tricky. My first time I floated that stretch I went when it was around 6.7 and that was a big mistake. I was stuck in a eddy swirling around for what seemed like an eternity because I couldn't row out of it. Needless to say I didn't die but I got flung into a couple branches, it's just too much current when the flows are high. Cloverdale to PC is not recommended without a motor. You would be rowing for hours with or against the tide, either way it wouldn't be fun to say the least. There's no technical water from Farmers to 3 Rivers and only a few easy rapids.

 

Hagg Lake.

 

Not sure how far along you are in the learning curve?

The biggest factor in learning to row is to establish your muscle memory for all of the possible movements a drift boat can make. You can get really good at this just rowing in a lake. One oar at a time, feel the oar shafts work.
This muscle memory will help you react quicker on moving current.

Reading water and navigating angles is the easier part if you educate yourself on the basic concepts.

 

North Fork of the Lewis River, Hatchery to the golf course. That's where I learned a long time ago.

 

Remember, rowing a drift boat isn't about covering water, it's about pointing the boat toward what you want to miss and rowing away from it.

 

Gilbert River is closed and will be open to all April 16. It is not a good spot to drift boating as the current is minimal.

Hagg will reopen March 7. It also would be no good to practice drift boating skills.

In addition to the Sandy, the lower Clackamas should be good for practice.

 

Go on the Wilson from mills to sollie. You will have lots of people to follow. Pretty easy float.

 

Wilson: Mills To Sollie
Nestucca: Farmers to Three Rivers or 1st Bridge to Farmers
Siletz: Town Drift
Sandy: Dabney - Lewis & Clark
Clackamas: Carver - Riverside
Kilchis: Logger Bridge - 101

This time of year you will have lots of people to follow no matter which float you do. alm: If you do the Clack though, just watch out for sleds if the river is at 12' or above.

 

Nobody asked him where he lived?

 

I live in the Portland area, but travel isn't a big problem.

Tried Hagg a few weeks ago, but it's closed. Went to Silverton Reservoir, but rowing and motoring around the lake isn't the same as drifting moving water.

I get the concept of 'point-the-bow-and-row-away'. I'm looking for more experience in "picking a line" down the river. For example, when you come to a sharp right turn in the river, the current wants to push you into the left bank. So, I point the bow at the bank and row away. That puts us in a slack current or back eddy, and that doesn't seem right. Just seems like I'm not doing something right.

 

I live in the Portland area, but travel isn't a big problem.

Dabney to L&C is perfect for what you seek.

 

Follow the highway. Not too far left not too far right. Dabney to Lewis and Clark is by far the easiest float in the land.


MH

 

"For example, when you come to a sharp right turn in the river, the current wants to push you into the left bank. So, I point the bow at the bank and row away. That puts us in a slack current or back eddy, and that doesn't seem right"

Don't back off so far. Maintain control and stay in the moving water unless doing so is going to put you in peril.

 

A mentor, or hire a guide to give you a rowing lesson. Time and money well spent.
On the Nestucca Farmers to 3 rivers is pretty easy as mentioned, just be sure to know where the takeout is. 1st Bridge down probably should be saved for the next trip.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

 

You could leave your oars at home and ruin any ever where from mills to sollie or first bridge to Cloverdale.

 

This is true. An inner tube would work. just don't blow past the take outs. Don't ask how I know....... Also a really short run, Wilson, Mills to Donaldsons???

Good luck!

 

nehalem river, from mohler sand & gravel to roy creek park