Over the last two years I've rowed all the Puget Sound rivers in a buddy's woodie. Easy stuff.
Been a passenger (Lowe Down) on the hatchery drift of the Sol Duc three times. I didn't really pay attention since I never thought I'd own a boat or row out there. Good times and yeah this is big technical water...I'll never row it. No problem.
Bought a boat. Rowed all the PS rivers in this boat in the last three months. Ventured out and did the Wynoochie and Humptulips a few times each. Good times.
So a buddy and I did Maxfield to WD last friday with rising waters. We walked Shuwah via the side channel. No problem in my mind being safe. Got the bug though. I'm really liking this stuff.
Did Nooch again on Thurs. with the boy and dog. Did Bogi 101 drift on Friday....pretty low and more stuff than I remembered but no problem.
Sat did Maxfield drift again. Anchored up to walk the Shuwah and saw a boat coming down behind me and waited for him.
Guy pulls up and I ask if I can follow him though Shuwah. Dude is very cool and says sure no problem. We figure out we "know each other" from this board. How cool is that? We bs for a while and then head down the river. I had a problem slowing that big azz boat down and almost made a big ouch once but recovered.
Thanks again Eric (Hatch) for chatting and showing me the path.
ps If anyone (KK?) is looking for 9 ft Cataracts let me know. I think I'm switching to something lighter and a little longer.

A lot of rapids are only sketchy the first time...Shuwah is definitely one of those...nice on getting out there and doing it.

Fish on...

Todd

so how was the fishing Seastrike? my cousin, a friend, and I banked it Wed, Thurs, and Fri, didn't touch a thing other than some cutties. We were too cheap to bring the boat but I would definitely like to learn the rivers over there. We hit a really nice looking hole in the upper bogi and found some other new holes on the duc but I wish we brought the boat. the ho was too colored up.

Now you've really got the bug! Fishing isn't the only fun when you own a drift boat. A spring float down the Wynoochee on a warm day during closed fishing season is almost as good as fishing.

I'm on my 9th drift boat since 1970 (yeah, I'm gettin' up there) and have stretched my limits as an oarsman on the Middle Fork, Main and Lower Salmon River, the Owyhee, Deschutes, etc., but have never done the Sol Duc. So there are still frontiers for me. I love to row my boat. Was on the Satsop on Thursday.

Dave-
It was nice meeting and chatting with you and your son Brent. Todd hit the nail on the head, the first time will defintely get your blood pumping. Once you see the path and figure out how to set up early, it's not that bad. Like any water though it all deserves a healthy dose of respect. Glad that I could help you through the first time, when you figure out hells half mile I'll follow you down...

When you figure out a few of the other nastier rapids on that river, you'll go down Shuwah backwards with a beer in your hand, while your buddy fishes through it while talking on his cell phone

Not that I've ever done that before, of course.

Fish on...

Todd

Cool stuff.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Good going, Dave. I did exactly the same thing with Shuwah and walked it to the left the first time. That spot doesn't bother me anymore but there is a lower down that I don't like to talk about. Rowing rivers is an addictive thing that I've come to love.

As far as oars, I've got the 9.5' Sawyer MSXG with Dynelite blades and would be happy to let you try them out.

KD thanks. I want to try them. Had a long talk with Leland on this last Thursday night while I was in Forks. He said the same and that you loved yours.
Hey I'm fishing on Sunday if you want to do a really long day trip to you...if not let me know your schedule and I'd like to try them out.
I've also got some other dates where we may be in the same place.

Way to go, Seastrike!
Next time, I'll follow you down the Duc.

Sounds like the same set up I had in my old Willie;) Loved them oars, just didn't know how durable they'd be.

Good stuff!

Thanks, Gents.