I am just courious as to how my 8' pontoon boat would perform on larger rivers such as the Chehalis, Cowlitz, etc. I have used it on smaller rivers, but never attempted bigger water. As always any help is appreciated.

FS

Fish Seeker:

I see guys all te time on the Skagit with 8' pontoon style boats. They seem to do real well here, and there are plenty of good spots to stop and fish.

Mike

No problem on those rivers. Watch where you anchor(if you even anchor). Rivers like the Sol Duc, Calawah etc...are another story but the big flat rivers like the cowlitz and skagit are easy floats but still have some serious power so watch it a bit but go catch some fish.

No Problem!

I've been doing big rivers for years!
Only problem is not finding alot of fish!

Sounds like I should be ok. I am thinking that I will make a run with minimal gear and get a feel for the river before making an all day event. Thanks for the advice.

FS

Yup, rivers you're talking about are big, but flat. Most of what you have to watch for is tide changes (chehalis especially). Think your biggest concern will be other boats. Besides that, you'll be fine.

A 'toon (aka speed bump) on the Cow sounds more like a tricycle on the freeway to me.

Kinda reminds me of the odd guy we'd see from time to time on the lower Kenai fishing out of a kyak. Watching him dodge sleds was always interesting (even downright scary) but watching him attempting (!) to boat a Kenai king was a joke.

Can you do it?
Sure, why not?
Would you want to?
My question is: why?
Even banking it at Blue Creek sounds like more fun to me.

So to each his own, but meantime, be careful out there.

Mooch wrote:
"A 'toon (aka speed bump) on the Cow sounds more like a tricycle on the freeway to me."

I've been waiting for this one, Nice line Mooch!

You have too share the freeway!

homer,

it's not me you gotta worry about. i gotta enough trouble out there myself with the big boys in my lil' ol' bathtub (or should I say moped?).

Be well, be safe.

Mooch - Your words are well noted. I don't plan on floating the cow, it was just a size comparison. Once again thanks all for the replys.

FS

Mooch

Just have fun

OK, Blue Creek, here I come!

I was looking at taking my 8' pontoon on the Cowlitz on Friday and probably banking it at Blue Creek. Im hoping I will be out of the "Big Boys" way but Im thinking I should be ok if I stay to the south side of the river on my way down.

How long does it take to drift from Blue Creek to Mission? Ive never done it in a drift boat, only a sled.

rw,

BC to Mission is a day float. You can flush out in a couple of hours if you have to.

Using your 'toon to get to bank fishing spots probably makes more sense on the Cow than trying to actually fish from it. I was having a bit o' fun in my earlier posts but I still recommend being very careful when dropping down through the riffles to avoid any jet boats coming through. The good thing though is you can hear them a mile away. When you do, my advice is to steer clear as they will not be looking for you. Although I haven't been through recently, the middle braided section is where I'd be especially wary of the rouge oncoming boat.

Good luck, be safe and like homer says, share the road and have some fun.

Mooch,

Thanks for the advice. I really hadn't planned on fishing from the boat except in a few spots a little farther down river that always seems to have nobody on it when we are there.

As far as it being an all day drift, is that while fishing or just a straight drift, rowing as you go? The reason I ask is so I know how long I can stay on the bank before I need to start heading downriver to get to Mission. I've been told two hours of just straight drifting/rowing downriver but would like more opinions on this.

If you were to launch the toon @ BC and float straight down you could do it in an hour and a half.... Beware though, boondoggin in the ole' toon can be rather challenging, especially with a fish on..... Been there, done that.... If you've got a rod holder you can just set the drag loose, stick it in the holder, pray for the best, and row to shore. You'll love it... Super easy float. If I was you though I'd just use the toon to access those wonderful back eddies, forks, and tailouts that go untouched by other fishermen.... That's where the toon comes in handy.
Cuttie

You were reading my mind!

I do have a rod holder although I dont think I will be doing much boondogging if any. If I do cacth anything I'd have to take it to shore as I dont have a net.

Fish Seeker,

No problem. As a serious (t.i.c.) student of water, I discovered that water in large rivers has the same specific gravity as water in small rivers, so my 7' raft (smaller than your 'toon) floats just as high on the South Fork Snake at 20,000 cfs, Snake, Skagit, and Cowlitz as it does on smaller rivers and creeks. Actually the smallest streams are the most difficult to float, it turns out.

If you can ride a bicycle on a country road with a few cars around, you can most likely float your 'toon down the Cowlitz with a few jet boats driving around. It's true that they aren't looking for you specifically, but most drivers, out of concern for their own boats, try to avoid hitting any obstacles, like logs, gravel bars, and other boats. Knowing that, you need only drive defensively, just like on the road.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Salmo,

Excellent analogy! Far better and more accurate than my own.

Speaking of a bicycle ride down a country road and the Cowlitz, how about that turnaround from Mission to BC on a bike? On a busy day that can be a whole lot scarier than any 'toon trip down the Cow even choked with sleds.

What a crazed steelheader won't do, go through or put up with to catch a fish, eh?

Mooch wrote:
"Excellent analogy! Far better and more accurate than my own. "

No way Mooch, your "speed bump" was BETTER!