Ive drifted from gold bar down to sultan but have never launched from high bridge. Ive heard and can see that one should stay left on the first corner and there is one more kinda tricky section below that. Just wondering which way to go there. The river should be lower than 3000cfs in the morning.
Thanks

Sorry I meant to say stay right on the first corner.

Ed,
It’s been a couple of years, but I doubt if this stretch has changed much, so for what it is worth:
To avoid the big eddy at the first turn I used to start from the mid left and move through the hole along the seam against the far bank. I guess you could stay to the right but you’ll be going through the big eddy which is a hassle especially if you’re low in the water. Immediately after this hole’s tailout there are big rocks in the riffle to float through. Not all that tough, but as I recall you’re better off coming from the left side again with the main flow. For the first time just hold up at the tailout and check out your route before committing. Shouldn’t have any problems. The only time I really had any difficulty was when I was overloaded and it made it difficult to manuver. Plenty of room though. It’s a fun drift and should be pretty too with all that snow up behind you.

ED454,

Where were you launching in Gold Bar out of curiousity? I was not aware of a launch there and I looked real hard. Send message if you would rather not post.

Thanks, Mooch

If you launched in GB near the Railroad beware I use to do that until I was scolded and given a warning with a big arse fine from the RR coppers.

As far as I know the put in/take out that is right by the railroad tracks has been locked up, or at least last year it was and the workers made it clear that you were not to put in or take out on their property, so the high bridge is the main put in for that drift now.

In regard to any tricky spots, there really are not any. A few years ago there was a large log jam that created heavy swirly current and was quite dangerous to get thru, but its blown out and the drift is fairly easy.

At the very top, just as you pass under the railroad bridge, the path is usually to the left, kinda in the whitewater, there are very few big rocks to worry about and should easily be seen by keeping an eye out when you start to move down.

After that first little chute, you pass thru a big lake of slow moving water and then you have two choices. You can go far left, down a small channel, or if enough water is flowing you can pretty much go right down thru the tailout.

I cant think of anything else that you could get in real trouble with up there.

Have fun!

Mooch-
I used to launch on the BN land across from the shell station in gold bar. Its kind of washed out now. Did the high bridge drift today and hooked an 18+ pound buck just above that old BN launch. Sweet fish for my
first of the year. Thanks for the drift report guys.

It was a nice fish and you pulled it out of my exhaust fumes! How did I miss it?!

Beezer