Low water Deso/Gray Canyons in a Dory

I've done Deso in my raft over 20 times, but I'm wondering what the lowest water level anyone has done it in a wooden Dory? I have a 16' Briggs "Rogue River Special" that I'd love to take on our July 8th trip, but I'm a little hesitant, looking at what flows might be by then.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!   hal

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Christensen on May 16, 2012 at 12:32pm

It's really rocky at lower water, some very shallow bars, etc.

Permalink Reply by Hal Jaeke on May 16, 2012 at 4:00pm

I'm thinking it's going to be too low for even the rafts......I think it's going to be a "Duckie" kind of year.

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Christensen on May 17, 2012 at 7:28am

You'll be just fine with rafts, fully loaded commercial boats will run it all summer. Just pay extra attention to the channels, choose wisely.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Peak on May 17, 2012 at 8:47pm

I'm on a May 29...i think shes already peaked.  take raft and not stress?  bummer though...Jeremy, you doing your usual spring deso? float your new boat yet?

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Christensen on May 29, 2012 at 10:37pm

Dooder- no Deso this year, banking up for the Grand in October. Making the last big push on the boat,  just need to flip it for paint and flip it back for all the hardware and finishing touches. Hope to launch her by the end of next month!

Permalink Reply by lhedrick on May 18, 2012 at 9:24am

Look for flow above 2400 and you will be okay.  It's running 5400 now.

I have done it in a wood boat at 2200 and had no trouble.

Permalink Reply by Jim Rubino on May 29, 2012 at 8:07pm

Hi Larry:  when you say flows above 2400, which gage are you looking at ...the Greeen at Jensen or the Green at Green River?

thanks, Jim

Permalink Reply by lhedrick on May 31, 2012 at 6:32pm

Remember we have had minimum flows for years now.  The release from Flaming George never goes below 900.   I am launching June 30 and the dory is going.  What's the worst that can happen?  Put a hole in it perhaps.  We can fix that.  

I have done it in a wood boat at 2300.  I look at the gauge for Green River.  My guess is that we will be around 2400 by july 1.

Jeremy is just jealous because he has to work.

Permalink Reply by Brad Dimock on June 3, 2012 at 7:04am
We ran a commercial dory trip back in the 70s or 80s at around 2000. Pretty bony, but I only recall running aground once, at Florence Creek. Stay hard right on Dripping Springs corner!
Permalink Reply by Bryan Torgerson on June 14, 2012 at 1:46pm

I and a friend just got off of Desolation on June 13, 2012 using dories. It was running at 3600. Your trip will surly be a lot lower but the water will be slower. If you do take your droy take a well stocked repair kit. We both got some damage from rocks. My boat took a big hit at the botton in Cow Swim. It made it back and only took on a little water, but that was the funnest part of the trip for me (doing repairs on the water).

Permalink Reply by Hal Jaeke on June 15, 2012 at 6:40am

2160 CFS this morning......I do believe the Siskadee will have to wait another year for her inaugural run down her namesake River.

Permalink Reply by lhedrick on July 7, 2012 at 3:37pm

Just got back from an 8 days Deso trip with flows dropping to 1000 CFS.

While most of the runs are noting like the 10000 plus spring runs  we see in most years there was no issue having a dory on the trip.  We only stopped to look at Joe Hutch and Coal Creek rapids and both were not much to deal with.  I would advise a stop to look those 2.  All the rest were no trouble with a read and run.  With the flow so slow it was easy holding in the current without even pulling that hard.

My boat is 16 foot and somewhere around 325 pounds.  I do have a 56 inch bottom which helps it float a bit higher.  I never had to get out of the boat to float over anything.  I did go a bit lighter and had no passenger.   I didn't hit anything hard, just a few bumps. The worst part was trying to get the boat on the ramp down at Green River.    The water is a few feet from the edge of the concrete.  I was alone and had to pull the boat over the rocks to get it to the ramp.  It's not possible to back a trailer into the water at 1000.  Some people helped me got the boat on the trailer.

So, any time you have 2000 plus go for it.  Any open reasonably light wood fishing setup will be no trouble at 1000 for anyone who is proficient ferrying around.  A fully loaded heavy Briggs with a 48 inch bottom might need 1500.

With the river so low there are lot more camps on new sand.  AND,,,,,,, I don't remember even seeing 1 live tamarisk.  That little beetle has really done the job.  We saw one bear on the bank and another came to the edge our camp down at Rabbit Valley but did not come to  the kitchen or boats.

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