[BDD]

Sold a boat to a guy from CA last fall. He's fairly new at rowing and so he was hoping we could meet up and fish together for a day or two with his new toy. I had always wanted to fish the Rogue or Umpqua and we agreed to meet and deliver his boat and go through setup and basic rowing, while fly fishing for steelhead.

Well the whole area was pounded with fall rain and winter storms, causing pretty difficult water conditions for a long time. Then winter hit and lots of snow and high water kept moving our date back further and further until now. He wants to get his boat and I want it out of our shop so we have decided maybe instead of steelhead on the Rogue, maybe we'll look at something else? Neither one of us knows the area; it was merely some place to meet in the middle. He definitely wants moving water. Flows for the Rogue still look high so I'm thinking something else, like the Deschutes or the McKenzie for trout or the Sandy...any place that allows us to float relatively easy water for a beginner and even a remote chance at catching something with fins.

Any recommendations for us next weekend?

 

[Snakes]

I honestly recommend you guys stick with the transaction of the boat sale, and part ways from there. Seems like it's getting overly complicated...for reasons out of your control.

Plus I cringe at a new rower, and a guy that's never rowed a particular stretch of water, rowing together.

Let me sleep on it though...

 

[Greg Smith]

The Deschutes is flowing above 11,000 cfs tonight. That's moving really fast.
You can call Deschutes Angler in Maupin. If anything around there will work, they will know.

Greg

 

[dust in the wind]

Take it to a lake. Depending on the day the spring winds may make conditions similar to a river

 

[FinLuver]

All rivers are way too high - Willamette, McKenzie, Santiam (N., S., and Main stem), Umpqua (N., S., and Main stem).
Would not recommend a test run on moving water at this time.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

The Trinity is probably your best bet; I just returned from there after finding it the only fishable water between Sacramento and Portland. Unfortunately it had rained hard for 24 hours prior to my arrival and river was full of debris and dirty to the point where every cast was snagging leaves or branches. As a tailwater, the upper reach from Lewiston to Douglas city or Junction City usually stays in shape. The caveat is about this time of year flows are ramped up sometime in April. There are some B run steelhead around and the Browns are choking on downstream smolts. Swing a streamer, might pay off. For streamflow at Lewiston, this works:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv/?site_no=11525500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060
Douglas City:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv/?site_no=11525655&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060
Below DC, it's starting to get pretty high as several tribs are added to it. There is a lot of water to float between Lewiston and DC, at least 3 separate days worth.
For an honest fishing report call the Trinity Fly Shop, locals who will give you an honest view.
PM me for more info, an RV park has nice trailers for $60/night.
As an alternate, Bass should be prime on Trinity Lake anyday.

 

[IveofIone]

This whole scenario just sounds wrong. Once he has his boat and you have his money your responsibility is ended. I wouldn't put myself at risk for a minute with a newbie rower in an unfamiliar boat in a high water year. It is almost a certainty that before runoff is over we will read about someone who pushed their luck and didn't come back alive. You don't want to be that guy.

 

[Carter Burke]

New to rowing and Umpqua/Rogue don't go together.

 

[Irafly]

BDD, your responsibility might end with the exchange of product and money, but I admire that your sense of good business ethics do not. You clearly understand the concept of customer service! I can't help you in your endeavor, but I also don't think that Billy's idea is that far off. If nothing else pans out, you can at least give him the basics on techniques in a much safer environment.

Where exactly are you meeting?

 

[Snakes]

Yeah...so the kindness and generosity you display is what makes lots of fly fishers turn into great friends. Give the shirt off your back kind of people's.

But go with still water to start out. I think most of us probably launched our new boats in a lake to get the hang of thangs.

 

[BDD]

I appreciate the candid responses and I'll certainly take them under consideration. But Judas Priest guys, they float certain sections of these rivers in float tubes. I was pretty sure that within the many miles of all the rivers between Portland and Grants Pass, there is a 5 mile stretch that is safe to float under normal conditions. Of course normal conditions may not be found at this time and I understand that. The guy isn't brand new; he has some experience. With some assistance, I would think that a person who has some experience could negotiate a Class 1 section.

One of the reasons I have built Catchercraft is to get out and meet our customers, spend time on the water with them, help them get into the sport, and fish in new areas that I probably wouldn't go otherwise. It also provides a different (hopefully better) experience for our customers, something they wouldn't get from another boat manufacture. It certainly isn't for the money.

There is risk associated with everything we do in life, from getting out of bed to eating a hot dog. If we can't take a calculated risk now and again, life would be pretty boring. Again, I'm not looking to tackle any thing even remotely challenging. If the flows/conditions are such that it is unsafe to float, then by all means, I wouldn't do it. That is why I posed the question in the first place...might there be a spot somewhere a hundred miles or so of Portland that it might be safe to make a float this upcoming weekend. If not, then we'll either reschedule (again) or do some stillwater fishing.

 

[FinLuver]

There is risk associated with everything we do in life, from getting out of bed to eating a hot dog.

The proceed as you wish...

 

[Gard Nale]

Check out the wood river in south central Oregon. It's a spring creek so it shouldn't be blown and from what I've seen a pretty mellow float. It feeds into Klamath lake so you start there to practice on still waters first.

 

[NukeLDO]

Check out the wood river in south central Oregon. It's a spring creek so it shouldn't be blown and from what I've seen a pretty mellow float. It feeds into Klamath lake so you start there to practice on still waters first.

And don't forget the AIS permit. New owner probably doesn't have one and it seems theyve been checking for this more often now, at least where i fish in OR.

 

[GorgeTony]

There is risk associated with everything we do in life, from getting out of bed to eating a hot dog. If we can't take a calculated risk now and again, life would be pretty boring. Again, I'm not looking to tackle any thing even remotely challenging. If the flows/conditions are such that it is unsafe to float, then by all means, I wouldn't do it. That is why I posed the question in the first place...might there be a spot somewhere a hundred miles or so of Portland that it might be safe to make a float this upcoming weekend. If not, then we'll either reschedule (again) or do some stillwater fishing.

Exactly! Don't let ol' WFF scare you off. I think the Deschutes from Warm Springs to Trout Creek or Buckhollow to the last roadside take-out would be fine. It's class II even at 11,000. (People on here are gonna freak out and say, no way! It's death defying whitewater and you're crazy! But it's still class II.) You could pop both oars at the put in and float to the take out, and the worst thing that's going to happen is bumping into a couple walls. If you guys both have some experience, it'll be just fine.

Go have fun with a newbie. Like I tell new kayakers on Class II: enjoy the feeling of being scared now, as it's going to take more and more to get that feeling, and then suddenly it get's actually scary.

WFF, harden the fuck up!

 

[Robert Engleheart]

BDD, that's some pretty great customer service you're offering; impressive. If flows moderate in near future, the Clackamas from Lower McIver launch to Barton or Carver can be very easy. Be some steel around soon as well.

 

[BDD]

Thanks Robert...for both suggestions and comment. And thanks for the PMs.

 

[SaltyTippet]

I have zero experience floating it but I do spend lots of time wading on the lower Wilson River about an hour west of Portland and that lower river has some great pools where you can get out and cast and then move along your way.... Mills Bridge to Sollie Smith I think is a pretty good run but again you need to talk to someone who has floated it.... it should be in good shape fairly soon at it is supposed to be dry for a few days... I like to fish it between 1200 and 800 cfs as a side note.... tight lines!!!!

 

[BDD]

Check out the wood river in south central Oregon. It's a spring creek so it shouldn't be blown and from what I've seen a pretty mellow float. It feeds into Klamath lake so you start there to practice on still waters first.

I had the Wood or Williamson in the back of my mind...not this time but would certainly consider that area under different circumstances and time of year.

 

[Penobscot]

Was it a private or commercial sale?
The thread made it unclear to me.