Could/Would you drift the Yakima in a canoe?

[swc7916]

In a old video on YouTube of Lee Wulff fishing for salmon in Canada (I believe), he was running a pretty swift river in a canoe. Does this require a lot of skill and practice?

Right now, the only watercraft that I own is a 16' Old Town canoe. Is it advisable or not advisable to drift rivers in such a craft? I'm not talking about fishing FROM the canoe, just drifting from spot to spot down the river.

[Scott Salzer]

I would not do it without taking some classes. There are some key strokes that you need to know and how to ferry across rivers, eddy turns, etc. It was one of these "key strokes" that kept me off a rock in the middle of the Smith River, MT. There is more to canoing a river than just pointing it downstream. Years ago, I took a class through Highline Community College. You should check with a few of the canoe vendors to see what classes they offer.

MB

[ceviche]

I drifted down the Yakima, once, from Bighorn to Red's. Myself and two other guys did it in a driftboat rented from Red's. That was last year, around this very time. The water up a bit and running kind of fast. There is no way in the world that I would try it in a canoe--either by myself or with another. For me to even begin to think about it, flows would have to be way, way down. At that point, you'd really be dodging boulders. If the flows were that low, I'd end up choosing to wade anyway.

Anyone else think otherwise?

[Jerry Metcalf]

I spent a bunch of years canoeing and I would not recommend it - unless you are very experienced. It is not your basic flat class I water.

Jerry

[chadk]

I remember fishing the snoqualmie several years ago and some big german looking dude came downstream STANDING in a canoe using just a long pole to steer through some fairly fast water.

Anyway, not all canoes are made the same. Some are made for rivers, some lakes, and some both\neither... I wouldn't do it. Maybe when I was younger.... My dad and a friend of his used to do some crazy stuff in canoes in the rivers - like running the skookumchuck at flood stage...

[patrick barta]

I don't think that's a problem at all. I float the Yakima alot. Got my boat parked down at Reds. Often I'll see canoes on the river... It's not very challenging if you stay in the Canyon. Unless you have some experience I'd stay out of the Farm lands (or farther up river) - That could be tricky.

Don't forget your PDF though.

[APS]

For the simple reason that you felt the need to ask, definitely not.

[Josh Benjamin]

My father runs a whitewater canoe. it's a canoe made for rivers...
on that note, i've seen more than a few canoes in the canyon. It can be done, but i wouldn't just go throwing my old town in the river and go for it. some lwhitewater lessons, maybe find someone with experience to go with you...

[Joe]

I floated the Yakima years ago in a 17" canoe. The only problem we ran into was that Mt. St. Helens erupted, and it was hard to see where we were going (in other words, pitch black).

Joe

[prosopium]

I had fun pulling two freaked out canoers to shore on the yakima last summer. They were really inexperienced and tried to put in at the east cle elum launch. They looked horrified before their canoes were in the water and a quarter mile downstream when i saw their cooler and then them floating down hysterically screaming i did my best to help them out but they were panicking and it took awhile to get them to stop trying to get in the boat. Anyways they dumped their canoe (later found out there were two canoes, both dumped) not five feet from the launch. And the best part about it was after i got them to shore the guy was a jerk and didnt even thank us for our efforts. Basically what i was trying to say is dont float the upper river. Stay in the lower canyon

[alpinetrout]

That reminds me of the time we spotted a group of kayakers desperately trying to get one of their kayaks out from under the logjam just downstream from the East Cle Elum launch. There wasn't anyone trapped in the kayak and there wasn't much we could do to help from the drift boat, so we just kind of gave them a "Man, that sucks" look and kept on fishing.

[Bryan Williamson]

I've seen people floating the Yak in canoes quite often, although that is not to say I personally would do it.

[Be Jofus G]

In a old video on YouTube of Lee Wulff fishing for salmon in Canada (I believe), he was running a pretty swift river in a canoe. Does this require a lot of skill and practice?

Right now, the only watercraft that I own is a 16' Old Town canoe. Is it advisable or not advisable to drift rivers in such a craft? I'm not talking about fishing FROM the canoe, just drifting from spot to spot down the river.

camper or stillwater model?

[Jason Decker]

if folks have trouble running the yak in a watermaster, then (just winging it ) in a canoe is asking for it.
it's not just the water flow that is an issue. the wind can ruin your day as well.
there are some sections that are shallow.... one little unexpected bump and you can
lose your balance.

if you do go, aside from the obvious.....pfd, you might want a whitewater helmet as
there are lots of rocks, a safety/water rescue rope is a good idea too.
don't go alone, also don't bring anything in the boat you can afford to lose.

[PT]

Just because someone in a Watermaster had problems doesn't mean an experienced canoeist can't do it. I sure as hell wouldn't do it in a canoe. But, some folks who are outfitted for running whitewater with their canoe would have no problem.

There's a big difference between an Old Town canoe and one designed for whitewater though.

[swc7916]

camper or stillwater model?

It's a Chippewean 16. This model hasn't been made for years - I bought it at least 20 years ago. It's made of what was then called Oltanar and is now called Royalex; which is an ABS/Foam/ABS laminate. Many canoes have a raised strip down the center that aids in tracking, but this one has a smooth bottom and is difficult to paddle straight, especially when the wind is blowing. However, it is very manuverable and the product literature from the time it was purchased shows it running whitewater.

[AFJBugger]

You can do it! I would recommend getting drunk firstptyd , while attending summer school in Pullman I went to fish the Yakima when I realized there was a massive rubber hatch. I figured if you can’t beat them join them. I proceeded to get wasted and floated half of the canyon in water-wings and then did the remainder in a canoe.

That being said my buddy keeps talking about doing it in his canoe as he does not have a pontoon and I am not too sure about making the commitment. We both know a ‘few’ technical strokes but I am sticking with my gut.

Apparently, turning 27 has turned me into a real puss!

If you have some paddling experience and the right gear you should be fine, otherwise hit the classifieds and buy a used pontoon.

Good luck!

[Be Jofus G]

It's a Chippewean 16. This model hasn't been made for years - I bought it at least 20 years ago. It's made of what was then called Oltanar and is now called Royalex; which is an ABS/Foam/ABS laminate. Many canoes have a raised strip down the center that aids in tracking, but this one has a smooth bottom and is difficult to paddle straight, especially when the wind is blowing. However, it is very manuverable and the product literature from the time it was purchased shows it running whitewater.

Hmm, don't really know that canoe. Stabilizers will probably help you out with the tracking though. They're pretty simple to fabricate, with some plastic pipe and foam.

[David Loy]

Sure, why not. I'd borrow a future ex-friends boat. Pick a warm day with reasonable flow, wear PFDs, not do a technical portion, bring nothing but lunch. Whats going to happen, you go swimming? Only after a couple runs getting comfortable in the canoe, would I bring fly gear.
I too noted the canoe work on the Wulff vid. Pretty cool.
I have no notion of being an expert canoeist. I did own a white water racing canoe for a few years though. What a tippy sumbioch this boat was. 18.5 feet long, kevlar, and a perfectly round cross section with no keel strip. Was talked into buying it, what a mistake. Was really fast on a lake but I'd never do a river in it. Even the slightest body movement translated into some hull action. I just mention this to point out that saying "use a white water canoe" has two connotations. You don't want a WW racing boat for sure.

[frankrutledge]

The down side is you might die!
Frank.
Don't do it.
.02

[David Loy]

Well, the indians have been using them for a while.

[D3Smartie]

I have done the yak in a canoe and it was not a big deal. If you can handle a canoe in moving water, go for it. If it is just to get from A-B to wade, it is a great way to go. Any river can be dangerous in any boat, but the Yak is not a very bad river in the canyon.
I'd do it.

[Salmo_g]

I've floated many NW rivers in my canoes over the years for the purpose of fishing. I've known no watercraft as versatile as canoes. I only floated the Yakima in it once, tho, and that was in 1975. At medium to lower flows, a river canoe is a good choice. Since your canoe is made of royalex and has no keel, it's probably suitable for floating the Yakima. The fact that you asked here causes me to wonder if you're well suited to canoeing the Yakima or any river at this time. If you're an experienced river canoeist, then no problem, if not, maybe more experience would be a good idea. Are you comfortable standing to fly fish out of your canoe? Are you, or would you be, comfortable standing in your canoe while drifting down the river to look at what's up ahead? If not, I think you should stick to stillwater until you're more attuned to moving around and standing in your canoe. Then you become part of the stability of the craft in the water, and that's a good thing for river canoeing.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

[Rocket Red]

When I was in college, some of my friends were at CWU. I floated it on an inflatable alligator.

The rubber hatch was in full swing.

But it was in the middle of summer, and I was wearing a swimsuit, not waders. I did not catch anything on that trip, and by 'anything' I mean STDs.

So I think with low flows, a cheap canoe and a willingness to get soaked. . .

[martyg]

It's a Chippewean 16. This model hasn't been made for years - I bought it at least 20 years ago. It's made of what was then called Oltanar and is now called Royalex; which is an ABS/Foam/ABS laminate. Many canoes have a raised strip down the center that aids in tracking, but this one has a smooth bottom and is difficult to paddle straight, especially when the wind is blowing. However, it is very manuverable and the product literature from the time it was purchased shows it running whitewater.

Hey man. The Canyon at normal flows is total Class I -, but is does have some strong eddie lines that you have to pay attention to.

From your comment about paddling in a straight line I'd suggest getting in a clinic before you tackle this. There are some decent open boat folks in the area. Contact the ACA at 703-451-0141 for a list of certified instructors. Get your boat handling skills down and some clue as to how to swim in moving water. Note that keels are quick fixes for poor hull design - either in performance or construction - and has little to do with anything else. I can't think of any purpose built boat - whitewater or flatwater - that uses a keel.

Your boat sounds like it will be just fine. That section hardly requires a whitewater specific boat - but like any body of water it requires some knowledge and skill.

[ak_powder_monkey]

I think it'd be fine in the summer when the water is warm and lowish, wear a life jacket and wet wade, you be fine

[Mike Wilson]

I floated the Yakima years ago in a 17" canoe. The only problem we ran into was that Mt. St. Helens erupted, and it was hard to see where we were going (in other words, pitch black).

Joe

Sorry to change the subject, but I remember that Sunday.... I was sipping a bloody mary looking at Lake Chelan. My mother, God rest her soul, came out of church in Selah and thought the world had just come to an end. There was dirt falling from the sky. What a mes!

Yes, I have done the canyon in a canoe, it was not hard at all, but we knew what we were doing, and paid attention to the river.

[Canoe Rider]

Bring a long line (30 ft or so) and tie it to the stern. Then whenever you come to rapids or a section you are uncomfortable with just get out on the shore, grab the line, let the canoe float ahead and carefully "walk" it through the section in question.

It's how I did the John Day for a multi-day camping trip on a canoe with a lot of gear. Great way to get around the Class III water.

[Josh Benjamin]

this is the reply i got from my dad...

most canoes handle class 1 and 2 water. what is it made of ? is it a composite
or fiberglass ? a
aluminum boat is ok in whitewater. they dent unless they are really slammed.

look at the canoe. if it has a real rounded bottom it may not do well in faster
water. get in it
while its in the water. if you get nervous getting in the boat worrying about
dumping it over
thats a good sign. canoes either have good initial stability or poor initial
stability and usually
the reverse is true for secondary stability. a good initial stability canoe will
probably have
poor secondary stability and that means its a flatwater canoe. for whitewater
you want good
secondary stability.

you can see in the sides of the boat the secondary stability built right in. a
boat with a sort
of a Ved bottom will show pronounced sides which promote staying up in confused
water and when the
boat is sliding around in the current.

bigger boats are usually a compromise between flatwater and whitewater. measure
the length.

thats all i can say.