Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey everyone.I would like to start a thread with hazards that you find on the rivers as you float them. I am thinking of things like new logjams, slides, strainers, rapids, etc. Wherever possible please try and write where on the river you notices it and give landmarks. Also river right and river left when giving directions.
Thanks all for your valuable info...

upstream and downstream might be a better 'direction'. Or "Traveling upstream a log jam along the right bank" for example.

Hes talking floating river not driving upstream. Would like this info on the pen rivers

Right so the idea is to put dangers encountered while floating. River right and river left are always the same. It means looking downstream and to the left and downstream and to the right. This way we all know what the other person is talking about. Sorry i didn't clarify. Thanks for pointing that out!!

I do some drifting but I go back up stream....... Do you mean for the guys that choose oars?

Hes talking about drift boats. You know thar though.

for anyone and everyone. Ive seen a motor crushed under some logs before...

I heard a Drift Boat went down on the wynoochee sunday below white bridge.

Yeah heard about that too, that stretch isn't really that bad at all... Alot of boat go down in that stretch!

EAmon ___hoffman123 wrote:Yeah heard about that too, that stretch isn't really that bad at all... Alot of boat go down in that stretch!

5th one this winter season...Even the easy rivers will get you if you don't know what your doing....

its true that even the easiest wide open stretch will cause some people problems. I used to be a whitewater rafting guide and its scary how people lose all common sense on the water...

well there are soooooo many boats on the nooch during the weekends it is like bumper boats man, I almost got nailed my a jet sled at black creek and I was on the bank.

cuervo wrote:its true that even the easiest wide open stretch will cause some people problems. I used to be a whitewater rafting guide and its scary how people lose all common sense on the water...

Yes, very true indeed. I've seen a number of "Rafting Guides" fall prey to it on more than one occasion. I witnessed a group on the lower Skagit, rafts and kayaks drifing by a bridge. One of the kayakers got sucked into the eddy on the backside, down he went and he popped back up about 50 yards down stream coughing and choking with out his boat. After I picked him out of the drink I found out he was the trip coordinator. Hmmmmmmm........

Hey Ive seen guides with years and years of experience fall prey to lack of attention. In many ways its like driving a car. As soon as you take your eyes off the road something is bound to happen. Ive picked up everything from tourists, to guides, to paddles, to boats to coolers. Thats why its important that we all look out for one another on the river and respect everyones right to be there. Its when people start abusing, hogging and being rude that things tend to go sour...

personally I think it is the people up front fault because they are supposed to tell the oarsman if there are any obstructions ahead like a submerged tree or rock.

It's also good to stay to one river and take it easy the first time and remember the tough spots!

Brat Bonker wrote:personally I think it is the people up front fault because they are supposed to tell the oarsman if there are any obstructions ahead like a submerged tree or rock.

Ultimately the guy on the sticks is in the drivers seat, if the guys up front help out great, but you can't expect a guide to depend on his customers.

Gringo Pescador wrote:Ultimately the guy on the sticks is in the drivers seat, if the guys up front help out great, but you can't expect a guide to depend on his customers.

I agree guides are different, they should not depend on their customers for that but if it is your buddies it they better be helping, that is what my dad has taught me when ever we drift a river, I always have an eye on what is in front of the boat because I don't want to tell my mom why i am soaking wet when I get home.

Captain is at the helm and in charge. All bucks stop there. Period.

yeah no doubt that whoever is behind the sticks has to be aware of what is coming no matter who or what is up front. Its always nice to have everyone help out but never rely on someone who is focusing on fishing to call out the shots.