Got the day open tomorrow and thought the Snohomish River could use some makeshift buoys (empty milk or bleech jugs) to identify some of the dead heads that are poking their heads out of the water. Back when I was a kid...it seemed that almost every dead head had a rope and white jug attached to it...have not seen nearly as many in recent years...With all of the humpy traffic that the river is about to see I think we could maybe save a boat or two, or skag, lower unit...maybe even a life. Any takers on a scenic boat ride/makeshift buoy day go ahead and PM me. Low tide is a minus one at -.8 feet at 11:17 am at Everett...True low tide in Snohomish will probably be around noonish...thinking of launching the boat at 9am or so at Snohomish and work our way downstream from there...maybe at least get some of the heads identified. Hope to find a jumping fish or two as well.

That's a noble Idea RC! I don't think there are a lot of (any?) navigationally hazardous dead heads between Snohomish and Everett though... at least not any hidden ones?

There are a TON of them behind the island in the right side channel just below Douglas bar though... don't ask me how I know!

I'd say the most hazardous area to humpy season boaters is the stretch between Snohomish and the Hwy 522 bridge. Whoever could mark the path through the elephant graveyard with milk jugs would be doing a BIG service! I've personally witnessed more than a handful of boats bite it going through there... especially at low tide.

I was just there this Saturday and saw quite a few hanging around below Snohomish...especially during low tide...and if the tide is just right without any surface disturbance from current, those dead heads are blind to a boater even while wearing some quality polarized glasses. Below Snohomish during the thick of the run you are going to find plenty of boats down there that are drawing 3 feet of water and there are plenty of logs in that range just below the surface...again...on a low tide more then a high tide. I've whitnessed several boats kiss some deadheads going 30 plus miles and hour below Snohomish and hope to minimize that from happening. As far as upstream around the Thomas Eddy, the stump garden, and up to 522...I would rather not give any prop boats the confidence to navigate that stretch without a jet.

Sounds like a job for S & S Aqua Logging

Seriously though Mr. Rotten Chum, good idea on your part

RC, thats a great thought. not to sound overly negative. but brewer can see the moronic public seeing all the milk, bleach or 5 gallon buckets out in the river. and making a stink about how ugly they are. now maybe if the floatys are camo'd to here they can't be seen. well then it outa work.

Brewer...good point for sure...the last thing I want is to round up a littering ticket...but I guess I 'd rather see a couple of white jugs then to watch x amount of quarts of lower unit oil or two stroke oil get dumped into the river from an accident...or have an entire boat go under gas tank and all cuz of a hidden head. By the way Brewer...thanks for volunteering to have your contact info on each jug in case one gets lost! JJ!
So any takers tomorrow...I've already got one interested?
Thanks

Good for You John ...Great fish Karma ...And YES it very well could save a life and that's a HELL of a lot better than any fish karma...
Sorry we're both workin' but we'll make time this weekend if needed!

lol

Good luck. Wedid that in the Skagit in 1992. The greenies complained about posible pollution and they were all removed.

Also a concern for possible pollution when you have oil slicks consisting of gas, oil, and lower unit juice from a broken lower unit or an entire engine that gets torn off...heard of it happening...

I also think it is a good idea and would be willing to help RC. Not Wednesday though. PM me a bit more ahead of time next time and I will try to make it work. Maybe early next week?
I ran the section from High Bridge on the Snoq to the stump farm/elephant graveyard in the Snoho Monday afternoon. Some real skinny spots below upper rock and no Humpy's in sight.
I agree about not encouraging props up that high . .. . .

John, maybe Steve Thiesfield, the fisherys guy for our area here might be able to help you all out. Thinking of a proper and accepted bouy here so as not to put something in that they will want removed. Darn good idea, thanks for trying to make it safer for all of us out there. It was nice meeting you on the Cowlitz.

Chuck Gauthier

CCA KITSAP CHAPTER

+ 1 good idea

Thinking I might wait a couple of days and get together a team of boats to really cover the water and thanks to NW Panhandler (Chuck) for the intelligent idea of looking into a meaningful buoy that represents a dead head...maybe an airbrushed buoy with a dead looking head...maybe looking something like Carrot Top with that big ole orange head of hair he's got for easy visibility...I'll check into the tides for next week and see what we can throw together.
Thanks guys

i would do some looking into as to what the DFG suggest for your idea. all you need is one greeny tree huggin seal lover to raise a stink. then comes a fine.

brewer sees things on a slant. for example. for every great idea and or deed. that is ment to do good for others or the wilds.... there is a fine for the good doer.

I am in and have sled--FR if you want to hop in your welcome. Early next week works

Speaking of seals there Brewer, I saw one up above 522 on Monday .. . . must be some fish around somewhere.. . . .. .

i too have a sled and would be willing to help out, i ran that area a week ago and saw a few that would have eaten a prop no problem.

RC and Coho, sounds good for next week, I could probably do Monday or Tuesday.
RC, shoot me a pm with details when you have them.

I checked the tides for early next week and they are not real conducive to be out there finding logs. Monday has a low tide at 2:06pm with it being a +2.6...we may be able to tag quite a few...but not the ones that might end up eating up a boat at low tide...the 16th (opener) through the 21st of August have negative prop eating low tides ranging from -1.2 all the way to -2.3 and that is when there is going to be a mess of people out there...tomorrow and Friday both are still in the negative and we may tag more of them heading out then. Is there anyone out there that could go tomorrow or Friday?