Boat Down On The Hump Saturday!!!

Saturday I witnessed four guy's in a 16' alumaweld take the wrong way down the river into a log jam dumping them into the river,three made it to the log jam as one was stranded on the log that blocks the whole river.The man made it over to safety be shimmiing acrossed it.Luckely no one got hurt and we recovered the boat as the rower had a hold of an extra long bow rope that saved his boat.I casted my bobber rod loaded with 50lb tuff line over to the guy's on the jam,he tied the rope to my line and I reefed the line out from under the jam and got it to shore.By this time there was four boats and twelve guy's to help out.One guy tied the rope off to a log,then all of us pulled on the rope to free the boat from the jam then under the blocking log that runs all the way across the river.We then lowered the boat in the current down to a small gravel bar.We found two rods the net and anchor some beef jerky and two chrome bright kings that had been cleaned prior to the rescue.It was a good effort by everyone one who helped out.Up from reyanvanns about a mile or so there is a log that got lodged into the log jam during this high water as it wasn't there on saturday the 17th.I was warned about this at the ramp just before take off.You can't see it until your right on it.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Great job! The anglers are very fortunate that one of them wasn't pinned against the jam. I have never had this happen in 25 years of rowing but it is my greatest fear!

RM

Was this 4 guys in a 16' DRIFTBOAT ? That's a load for the guy rowing. Good job, you always hope people will help if you ever get in trouble. I recall trolling the Chehalis one time just above Monte. A small boat had flipped and two guys were hanging on to it. My partner and I dropped everything and raced over to their location as others continued to troll on by. We were a distance away from the boat in trouble and the other boats but no body stopped. No fish is worth a life. Once again Nice job.!!!!.

Hey SZ, I was in the boat that pulled up next to you (green willies with 101 Minn Kota on back). My buddy rigged up the loggers hitch and with some muscle everybody managed to free the boat and help those poor guys out. Definately a tough situation, but I'm just glad that everybody made it out of there alive. That situation could have been alot worse than it was. At the take-out I heard that another boat flipped shortly after. Everybody in that boat made it out okay as well.

Like SZ said, stay right at the jam. At low flow you will probably have to walk the boat.

BB

Backbouncer,
Nice effort and good thinking on the loggers knot by your buddy.Glad it all ended ok.Like said above it could have been four times as bad as it turned out.
Yes there was four full grown adults in the 16' drifter.Way to much weight to begin with.The guy in the back made it worse by panicing and putting all his weight on the little transom that comes with drift boats,they started taking on water before they even hit the jam cause the guy in back was standing on it getting ready to jump.This is the same guy that ended up just down stream on the log, that was the problem.The others ended up in the same place,on the log jam it's self.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I am headed to the hump later this week and plan to float this section of the river. Where exactly is this log jam?

Thanks

The blockage is approximately 2 miles above Reynvann's. The river takes a sweeping left hand turn (almost 180 degrees). At the tailout is where the log is lodged. Go right. At low water, you will have to get out and drag the boat.

BB

Thanks

Originally posted by STRIKE ZONE:

50-pound Tuffline?

That stuff must have an ultimate strength around 80-pound test. Do you actually *play* salmon on that rig or just winch-em in?

My bobber rod is loaded with 50lb hi-vis tough and a 40lb mono ultra green leader with a 6/0 gammi.These 20 to 30lber's are lots of fun but this time of year I'm out for the 50lb plus and refuse to lose the battle by being under matched.Never bring a knife to a gun fight.
Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Bobber rod is loaded with 80 lb Tuff and 30lb leaders.

Kwik rod is loaded with 50 lb tuff and 50 lb big game leader

BB

You guys should add a couple of harpons to your arsinal, just in case.

If someone had a chance it would be interesting to see a photo of this jam...might give some less experienced rowers and idea of "what to watch out for".

RM

There is a picture of it on Game fishin. It's in the post entitled, "Fishing with John-report"

The log was not there on Monday last week, floated Wednesday with my Dad and -put the brakes on and told Dad to stay in the boat-was able to get the boat up to pass on a very small channel on the right. Talked to 5 other boaters (2 were guides)at the take out and all did the same. It was a hazard bound to happen-had no way to warn other boaters other than verbal the next day-
Heads up. "Beach Logs Kill" so do jammed up river logs.