Well here we go, been bank fishing steelhead seen's I was 13 now I picked up this drift boat dose this mean i need to start all over agen dont quit understand this backtrolling,and pulling plugs,ive read a little about it, but we all know reading and doing are two differant thing's. Headed to the skykomish on Saterday can anyone give me any head's up. My fishing partmer is a pertty big skeptic id love to put something in the boat to calm him down to this new advencher

Boy

u mus uf had tha same more gooder english
teecher as is i

A heads up? Sure. Plan on having lots of company.

FishKiller:

Congrats on the new boat. I am sure you will like it a lot better than fishing elbow to elbow with A-holes like creekwalker.

Pulling plugs isn't that hard. Just make sure that you put them out the same distance, and plug in slots that you can slow the boat down. When I first started I would try and plug slots where the current was rippin. Look for slots that run at a medium speed. I like to fish wiggle warts or tadpollies best. These plugs tend to run true and will swim under most current speeds. I don't like Hotshots as much because they need to be tuned. Tad pollies will dive about 6' or so, Wiggle warts dive to around 10' or so and the 35 hot shots will dive a little deeper than that. I haven't tried the fatfish yet so I'm not sure what they will do.

Creekwalker
Take it easy on the new guys, Fishkiller came here to learn some new things. He doesn't need to take a bunch of crap because he misspelled a few words.

fk2, i bought my first drift boat when i was twenty didnt know a thing about it, i just put it in and went. if you can catch fish on the bank then you will get em in the boat, its all about reading water.. be polite to guys on the bank to , remember you where just there on the bank, i pass bankies as close as i can get to them...

Three for Vic!

Fishkiller 2, go with a pro once, you'll learn more in one trip than you can in ten trips by yourself. For DBing that section I'd book Sam Ingram.

Beezer

Congratulations on your new boat. I agree with the post about fishing the right water. Just be safe and maybe go with a good oarsman to learn how to control the boat. When in doubt take the inside of the bend, if you get in trouble point the bow at the hazard and pull away from it, and be respectful of the bank fisherman and property owners. You obviously know what it is like on the bank, I like to ask people when I can how they would like me to pass, usually I just tuck in behind them if they are wading. Some people like to mess with you but 9 times out of 10 it pays to be real nice and just float by, and sometimes it pays not to take any crap. Tight lines!

fishkiller
I got my first driftboat last Feb. and i can tell you pulling plugs isn't difficult.. I am sure becoming really good at it will take time and practice but being good enough to catch a few fish is easy.. Just let both plugs out about 50 feet.. whatever distance you pic make sure they are the same.. The further out they are the slower they will respond to your boats movements but they will dive deeper.. In closer they are easier to control and may work faster but won't dive as deep... Set your rod holders as paralell to the water as possible.
get in a slot you like put them out then row at a speed that allows you to slowly back the plugs down the river. Don't try to cover the whole river but make sure you hit all the structure in the slot you choose.( with your plugs of course not the boat). If you absolutely have to hit something hit it dead on with the bow of the boat.

In case you are nre to boating altogether just remember to point the boat at what you don't want to hit and row away from it across the river NOT UP THE RIVER!!
One rowing error i am guilty of and am trying to correct is to take lots of short strokes instead of a few big heavy long ones. Also make sure you are legal.. coast guard approved jackets for everyone, a type 4 throwable ( seat cushion type) and an audible devise good up to 1/2 mile.. Also keep a knife near your rowing station in the event you drop the ancho in heavy water..
Driftboating is great fun just keep your head up and always looking for potential threats.
have fun and catch fish....

FK2,

Suggestion. Find a Guide that knows the river you will be fishing often. Hire him, but tell him that you want to take your boat. Have him teach you how to row, set up, anchor, etc. Plus, you will get a lesson on where and how to fish the river. May cost some $, but 3 years from now your learning curve will be way accelerated, so spread the cost of the guide trip out over x trips per yer for 3 years and it suddenly becomes very affordable. Oh and Creekwalker, I feel sorry for anybody that can only come up with one way to spell a word.

I am interested in learning the Sky from a guide in my boat any recommendations?

first, congrats. you will have many new fishing friends.
tips:
get a backup (third) oar in case you break one
all that coast guard stuff
life jackets(the pull to inflate ones are great)
ask around about easier floats, start there
take someone who knows how to row and is familar with that float. youll learn more and youll get to fish instead of just row(guides are best but anyone with experience is good.)
The tip on keeping all plugs out the same distance is great but make sure you all use the same type,test line. otherwise the plugs act differently.
Lastly: eventually, you will hit a rock. If you know you aren't going to miss it, at least hit it with the bow. if you keep your cool and keep working the oars, you'll likely spin around and you can pull hard and off the rock if you hit square on the side by the oarlock, your upstream side will likely be pushed down and swamp you before you can say @$&**@%

Vic, you also forgot to tell our new driftboat owner that you do not want to anchor up in those slots were teh current is rippin' either!!

...oh wait, Vic loves to anchor in slots were the current is rippin'!!

Everyone...grab the nearest Loomis rod and jump ship!!! The F/V Victimizer is going down!!!!

Come on Spark. You know the only time your life was in danger while you were in my boat was when you pissed me off.