I was able to get away and fish on wednesday on the Hoh. I was surprised to see a jet sled beached on Nolan's bar on the Hoh. It wasn't a tribal boat used for netting. It was camo painted and had fishing rods in it. It looked like they were camping there. I hope this isn't an indication of things to come, with the March 31 closers of the wynoochee, and other rivers in that area. I am not trying to start a angry discussion of sleder vs. driftboat, but sleds have no place out on the coast rivers.

I agree wholheartedly KORE, these rivers are small enough, especially at current flows that they do not belong. Heard A LOT of grumbling about it within a few hours of getting home yesterday ... don't be surprised to see a ban of motorized boats on the agenda for the next round of sportfishing proposals for the N coast rivers.

Man,
I'd be afraid to take my sled out to the Oly Pen!!! Not to sure what shape my rig would be in when we got back to the launch!!! Whoever owned it must have some pretty big kahunas or ain't to bright!!
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

Anybody for extending motorized closures south to the wynoochee?

Bob, I've been told by WDFW that the county actually has to declare a waterway unsafe for boat traffic, THEN WDFW would proceed with restrictions. Could be also that they are just a bunch of weenies and came up with that excuse so they don't have to make the hard decision.

THAT'S WROOONG!!!! I spend a fair amount of time fishing in sleds, in fact I'm in the market for one now, but they belong in big water, not the Hoh or other small OP rivers. The only OP rivers that are ok for sleds are on reservations except for the upper Quillayute. I say keep sleds on the cow,columbia,skagit,snohomish,lewis and other rivers with larger flows.

Didn't somebody drop a sled in on the Bogy awhile back and find their rig missing a ponytail and valve stems?

How far does this "moral" ban go? I even take the kicker off "Powerguts" when I go over. Are electrics or small
outboards "morally" acceptable?

I definently support a ban of sleds on the Waters mentioned.

GutZ

This person does'nt seem to be playing with a full deck.A sled on the HOH !!!!Surprised
he made it out alive.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I can still recall in the 80's when you would see more sleds than drift boats on the hoh fishing summer kings mostly middle of July boy that was good fishing you still see them once in a while in the lower river in the fall they are locals so seem to get away with it,would not would not want to try it myself!! PEACE

Is provincialism raising its head? I'm not really trying to defend the use of sleds on any particular river, but I'm interested in standards, especially double standards.

Navigation by powerboat is not illegal on any river in the state that I know of, presumably due to the general laws pertaining to navigation. Now opinion, altho less than consensus, seems to be that jet sleds belong on larger waterways. The Wynoochee and Satsop are not large rivers by local standards, whether it's measured by wetted width or cfs of flow, or whatever else. The Hoh River by any measure is larger than the Wynoochee and Satsop. So unless we are employing some kind of double standard, how can it be OK to use a jetboat on these rivers and not on the Hoh?

I understand that there may be a local custom - which is probably subject to change. But local custom about what kind of boat is acceptable on a particular river probably doesn't have any legal standing under the laws of navigation.

BTW, I exercise common sense and keep my jet off small streams that I could navigate, but I don't want to hit a drift boat or pontoon boat coming down a narrow, one lane riffle while I'm heading up.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Salmo g,

I due agree it is a sort of double standard with the wynoochee and satsop being of similiar size. But, something should have been done on these rivers when there was still a chance, and before it became common place, and in my opinion, out of hand. I personally don't enjoy fishing those rivers anymore due to the sleds. It would be nice to have some rivers that are made non motorized, where the aesthetics of fishing can still be enjoyed. Is it possible to ban certain rivers, I don't know, but it would be nice to see it done on the coast.
I have fished out of sleds in the past, I am going to buy a sled in the near future, but would not fathom using the sled on a smaller river, much less out on the coast. I mean it is legal to do it, but there are other things that are legal, that also shouldn't be done. If it is a county issue, I don't think it will be difficult to pass a motorized boat ban in Clallam county.

Mike

I don't know if its just urban legend or the facts because I didn't see it. But I heard that a few years back when a few sleds started to show up at the hoh one of the trailers ended up being cut up with a torch and put in the back of the guys pick up when he was out on the river. Kinda point taken thing aye? From what I've heard I'd keep the sleds off those OP rivers

Tight lines

Kevin

I'm just curious about the size of the Hoh in comparison to the Nestucca down here. I occasionally run up the Lower Nestucca in my sled this time of year and have no problems what so ever. If I meet a drift boat going down I just pull over to the side and let them go by.

Don't worry I have no intentions of heading that way I am just curious how the sizes of the rivers compare if any of you are familiar with both.

It seems funny someone could be that upset over a sled pulled up on a gravel bar.

Jeffhead, I guess he just read your signature,
"Never be afraid to try something new"