Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Northern California and Oregon rivers to commission a new boat on?
Hi folks, I just finished building a 17’ Kingfisher designed by Jason Cajune. I’m going to commission it on the Lower Yuba with a guide (Clay Hash) that built a very similar boat from the same plans in 2015. After the first float my brother in law and I are going to move the boat to his house in Portland, Oregon and float several rivers along the way.
I’m looking for specific suggestions on which rivers and which sections we should float? I don’t know the Oregon rivers well and I’m very rusty on the oars. I’m looking for Class I,II sections only and mostly Class I. I need to get familiar with the new boat and want to avoid any technical water for this trip. I’m an avid fly fisher so good fishing would also be a plus (isn’t it always?). Nearly every river in Northern California and Oregon is on the way to his place in Portland and I really could use some local knowledge. I’m considering 2 routes, one coastal (Klamath, Trinity, Smith) the other inland (Rogue, McKenzie, Umpqua, etc.). The quality of the fishing and the water temperatures this year would be really useful to know when I’m planning the trip.
I’ll be making the trip during the later half of September 2021. I’m done with the boat, trailer rebuild and I’m just waiting for my oars to arrive. Lead times for new trailers was 6 to 8 months so I converted an old sailboat trailer to a drift boat trailer. I had to move the axle back 4 feet and and weld in additional cross members, replace the bunks, etc.. Who would have thought that the oars would be the rate limiting step for getting the boat on the water? Manufacturing backlogs are pushing deliveries right now into the distant future. Sawyer promised delivery in the next couple of weeks.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Here are a couple of pictures of the boat and trailer. I hope you like it.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on
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That’s amazing! Excellent work!
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How long did it take you to complete the build?
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Milburn on
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I started the build in March 2020 and finished June 1, 2021 so the build took about 15 months.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Baker on
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Nicely done, Jennifer--congratulations!
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Permalink Reply by David Witton on
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Beautiful work - give my best to Clay
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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I agree, your boat looks good. Unfortunately I live in Spokane, Washington and cannot comment on the rivers or areas you mentioned. I did go with a guide and caught a steelhead on the Umpqua, I was good that he had an aluminum boat that day because of all the rocks during the low water conditions we faced. Thanks for joining and sending along pictures of your boat.
Rick Newman
Admin
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I lived in Nespelem by Grand Coulee for several years in the early 1980’s and that’s where I learned to fly fish. I loved the hidden tarn lakes that were barbless hook and fly fishing only bastions. I had an 18 foot Grumman canoe and nothing was better than hitting the lake at dawn. I really love your part of the state.
I’ve been warned about the Umpqua at low water so I think I’ll skip it for this trip.
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Get out anywhere and everywhere you can.
The list of dory-floatable rivers is much shorter in the late summer/fall than it is in the spring/early summer.
I'm taking mine out in my "backyard" on the main stem Flathead River this weekend.
don't worry so much about finding the perfect river. You've built your perfect boat; every river she runs will be perfect for that day.
and unless you have another good person in your boat on the sticks..if you're rowing, you're probably not fishing. Mind the downstream oar and watch for sleeping rocks!
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Excellent advice Shawn. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Bodacious Jack on
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The Deschutes always has water, although low, it's runnable. At flows of 4,000 or more on the moody/biggs gauge I have run my dory on everything from warm springs to the gorge, with the exception of Oak Springs rapid which is incredibly rocky. Warm springs to Maupin city park is one multi day trip (scout whitehorse and don't take out at Maupin city park on a weekend). Buckhollow to the gorge (highway 84) is the other multi day section. There are day runs you could do on either, like Warm Springs to trout creek, or Buckhollow to Beavertail or Macks Canyon. It's busy, but it has water and good fishing. Whitehorse is technical right now at the low flow so be sure to figure out where/how to scout on the right. The run starts tight right, then moves center, missing that route would result in a lot of rock impact.
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