Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Middle Fork questions
Hello all,
To all, but especially you North West boaters.
This July I will be going on my first MF trip. We launch on July 6. First I need to determine if I float in someone's raft or if I take one of my wooden boats.
There is always the talk of 2 feet , 4 feet etc as apposed to CFS. As I have not been there I have no feel for what 2 feet means. I have been told that running the MF at it's low flow is not a trip for a wooden boat. So does that mean we need 2 feet plus?
I have a 14.5 foot decked self bailing dory and a 16 foot open fishing dory. The 16 footer has just a bit less rocker. My rowing skills are in about the middle of the field when it comes to upper Class III and IV runs.
My first question is, what July flow would be reasonable for a wooden boat.
Would the 16 foot open hull boat be a bad idea?
Is the MF anything like Hells Half Mile in Lodore Canyon on the Green?
I really don't like making this type of decision when I have not been down a river first but, since it could be who knows how long before I ever see another chance I am trying to keep the door open to taking one of my boats. If It would be possible to have my 16 footer then I could get in better fishing time. My decked 14 footer fishes okay also but, casting from a raft is no fun. The 14.5 footer to me is a working class boat which is older. If it gets home with all the people safe I really don't care how many holes get put into it. I will just fix them up and get it back on the water. The new 16 footer is still looking good and I would like to keep it that way for season or two longer. With all the extra material in a decked boat and camping stuff the smaller boat tends to draw a lot more water.
Views: 150
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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Hello Larry;
I have included a link to a government website that predicts the water flows for the MF. It shows the river level in foot levels. This is where the info is generated rather than CFS.
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/weekly.php?wfo=boi&gage=midi1&am...
There are estimates that can tie CFS and foot levels together.
When I floated the Middle Fork many years ago I rowed an Avon Pro that was heavily loaded, Lower Main Salmon style. Lots of refreshments and food, with all the deluxe camp accommodations. My passengers bailed constantly. I realize that several outfitters run their wooden boats successfully down the MF. From the pictures I have seen, the boats don't carry much, the large support rafts get the heavy items. Hence they are more maneuverable and the guides have spent lots of time on the Middle Fork and similar rivers. They know the river levels and how they affect each rapid at that water level and therefore the best route to avoid hazards and intake of excess water.
I'll bet you took "Rampage" down the Grand to avoid excess water being captured and for ease of drainage. Im my opinion I would choose that boat for three reasons; 1. less water incursion 2. assumed lower capacity for gear hence lower weight 3. floatation provided by your compartments. Less bailing, less weight and if something goes wrong a greater chance to recover your boat.
Will someone else be rowing so you can fish? I ask because the MF is very busy, the number of rapids I that require maneuvering if I remember right are over 300. So unless someone else is rowing wait till camp each night to fish. There's lot's there.
Obviously this is only one man's opinion. I boat conservatively and would rather err on that side. The Middle Fork is a special place enjoy the beauty, the clear waters, hot springs and animals. You will find plenty of excitement too! One of the best things about this forum is sharing ideas. I know there are others whom have floated it many more times than I.
Happy Waves to You;
Rick Newman
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Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on
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Larry,
Congrats on the chance to float. Contact any of the Helfrich's through here or through their own website http://www.helfrich.com/ they are an authority on floating the middle fork in woodies.
Mike
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Combs on
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Hi there,
I'll be right behind you, launching on the 7th. Several outfitters run driftboats all the time on the MF and all the ones I've seen have been open boats in the 16ft range, probably half of them are wood. I've ran one as low as 1.5 but at any stage you want to be on the top of your game. For your first trip, I would really recommend taking a raft, much more forgiving. You will hit rocks, it's just how you hit them that matters and knowing your flows and what's around the corner really helps. Typically driftboats carry two fisherman and a guide, not much gear. Sometimes just one fisherman for the first 20miles and on low water around 2ft, guides won't pick up people until Indian Cr. At those flows the upper end is especially bony and I'll just have my duffle bag under the line deck to keep the nose down and nothing else. You want to stay as light as possible and go slow.
I suspect the first week of July this year we'll be on around 3ft of water at the gauge. A great flow, not to thin yet, slower and not so pushy. It's up to you and your assesment of skill to decide to take a wooden boat, it's a lot of fun. If you can make the first mile you can probably make the rest of the trip. Technical boating at it's finest, have fun!
Nick
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Permalink Reply by Mike Baker on
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Hey Larry,
Not too long ago I sold a boat to a guy that runs the middle fork all the time. The two things that struck me when talking to him were that almost all of the wood boats on the middle fork were Steele boats or Steele clones (including his but it became too rotted to run any more) and almost all had U.H.M.W. bottoms. The odd thing was he had me build him a new rowers seat that was one frame forward. He said he mostly ran solo and this gave him better (quicker?) controll. This makes me think you will be hitting a LOT of rocks and your boat needs to be very quick handling.
Mike
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Permalink Reply by David Jensen on
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I have rowed it in my 16' Keith Steele woody, same boat as my neighbor Helfrich(es), and in a big 20' raft. The open drift boat is more fun to row and to fish from. Most of the heavy stuff is on a pontoon boat. I wouldn't recommend doing it the first time in a wooden drift boat unless you are an accomplished white-water boater and someone else on your trip has done the river enough to know it. This is a super trip: great water, scenery, wildlife, and flyfishing. Have fun, catch fish, and avoid the rattlers and the Yogi's!
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Permalink Reply by Robb Grubb on
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Larry,
Take any boat you want, just don't forget to partake in the "Middle Fork Rock Walk" and be sure to stop by the "Gin Pool"...
Cheers, Robb
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