Although we must respect all of our desires to enjoy the rivers and attempt to catch a fish or two, I'm afraid you're way over-exagerating the amount of water which remains quiet and relatively undisturbed, not to mention the intrinsic value some find during a day on the river.

Have you ever began a float in the darkness and experienced daylight when the only sound is that which is made by your own muscles and nature? If you had, you'd understand how annoying it is to hear an outboard grow increasingly louder until it comes roaring into the hole which just moments ago was filled with your thoughts. Not to mention how it feels when you got-up way too early to float to the tail-out of a drift, only to have a 'sled blast in front of you, drift bait through it for five minutes, and then churn their way through the other water you wanted to fish.

I'm not bashing 'sledders-they are both an enjoyable and effective tool to pursue sportfish. However, on smaller rivers, they are not only a distraction but also disruptive to the natural contour of the river. Why else would you have stainless impellors?

As for the "large" number of rivers excluding outboards, I really don't think two is a very substantial number in comparison to those available.

As always, we need to find a way for everyone to enjoy our rivers.