[onlymercury]

Been thinking about hitting the Yak in my pontton. I've never fished with my pontoon on moving water before and would like to know a few things. First, is the river technical in terms of rowing? I've white water rafted the white salmon before but that is the extent of my experience as far as paddling technique. Can a beginner float this river with relatively little experience? Also, what things should I bring along for the float aside from fly rod and flies and a PFD. Should I equip my toon with an anchor or a wind sock? Should I somehow attach my flyrod to me in case it falls in the water? Any recommendations on shuttle services?

 

[cabezon]

The easiest water to float on the Yakima is the canyon, from Ringer downstream. It is not technical, but you do have to be wary of submerged boulders and when in riffles at these flows, you need to choose the deepest paths to avoid having to scrape along or you will have to carry your pontoon. An anchor is helpful, but I wouldn't use it to hold your position in any significant current as you can potentially flip a pontoon. I primarily use my anchor to hold my boat in place along the bank while I wade fish along the shore. Or, I may use it to anchor my pontoon in a submerged mid-river bar. The best use of a pontoon on a river like the Yak is to move from one section to another. If you are wearing fins, you can fish on the move because you can maintain your position relative to the bank and move to a safe spot to land any fish that you might catch. You might invest in a rod-holder, but I find that I can stash my rods along the frame when I am on the move without too much fear of losing a rod. [I did lose a rod when trying to photograph a nice fish that I caught off a mid-river bar; I came back the next day in a dry suit, fins, mask, and snorkel and actually found it!!]. I have used Reds for my shuttles as they are convenient to the canyon; I have never had a problem with them, but I'm sure that the other shops that specialize on the Yakima would be good choices too.

Steve

 

[onlymercury]

thanks. fins sound like a great idea. would love to fish while on the move. how much to pay for shuttle services?

 

[cabezon]

If you go to the Reds web site, they have prices listed for various floats. Figure about $28 - $40 depending on your put in / take out spots.

Steve

 

[Scott Salzer]

OM:

You may want to "fish on the move" but, have you considered what to do if you do hook up? Ya can't use the oars when you have a fish on and the fins just ain't gonna do it. In general, the toon is used to reach various bars / beaches on the river where you get out and fish.

Also, don't drop an anchor in moving water.......

MB

 

[JesseC]

Hey just a word - I wouldn't put it at Ringer if it's your first time. If you do, just make sure you know what you're doing on the oars first so you can haul out to the middle of the river before that turn comes up.

I speak from my own experience of stupidity - put my wife on a pontoon there a couple months ago and before I could count to 10 she was in the logs and sticks on the river right side.

-10 points for husband Jesse.

 

[BigDog2002]

The 'yak is a great river for pontoon kick boats. I've floated this many times, and when the rubber hatch isn't on it's very enjoyable.

That being said, you can either use Red's or Evening Hatch for shuttles both are reliable and reasonably priced. I don't know how theft is in the canyon this year, but as fall comes and there's less traffic, consider your put in/take out points carefully. Red's is good to use because you can always takeout at their place, which eliminates that paranoia of having a bad experience re:smashed window on your car.

Fins are a *must* I went without last year on one trip as I loaned mine to a buddy who had never done the float boat thing and I wanted him to have the best experience. They can be had cheaply (caddis?) or expensively (force fin). I'd reccomend the force fins.

Finally, a word about anchors. DON"T DO IT... Opinions may vary on this, however, from my experience floating rivers in everything from the original "float and tote" to the current generation of pontoon boats, Anchors are a death trap.

You don't ever "need" one and if you do it wrong, you're in a world of trouble.

Finally, a rod holder is nice when you're on the oars in more challenging water. I've got one mounted next to my seat, angled to the stern. Just make sure it's out of your way and secure.

Have fun, I'll probably be out there sometime later this week.

BD

 

[Rick Todd]

OM:

You may want to "fish on the move" but, have you considered what to do if you do hook up? Ya can't use the oars when you have a fish on and the fins just ain't gonna do it. In general, the toon is used to reach various bars / beaches on the river where you get out and fish.

Also, don't drop an anchor in moving water.......

MB

I gotta disagree Scott (even though you were clearly the trout master on Friday!) Most of my bigger river fish (including the one in my avatar taken from the Methow) were taken either throwing big streamers at the bank or pounding the bank with a hopper/dropper. You can't do that wading from the shore, only with fins in your pontoon or a drift boat with someone else rowing. In the case of the fish in my avatar, I was in the rowers seat of my two man pontoon with my wife in the front. I hooked him and kicked like crazy to the opposite bank where there was a shallow slope. I stood up in the shallows, played him and netted him while my wife looked on. I do that all the time with a fish hooked and I don't recall every losing a fish that way. BTW, Force Fins work pretty good to stand up in in shallow water. Rick

 

[Scott Salzer]

Okay, Rick, so I'm a wuss when it comes to drifting and fishing on the fly. I only say that because I hooked a rather large, what turned out to be, white fish while drifting the Yak in a faster stretch of water. It was not easy manuvering with fins, to stay on course, and work the fish in and finally get it in the net. Just me, I guess.

You could have cast to the shore while wade fishing this weekend with that low water on the Met.

Did ya bust any birds?

MB

 

[Rick Todd]

I got a couple quail and a hun, but it was pretty slow hunting. I think the population was hurt by poor spring weather during the hatch. We actually saw more huns than quail, which is a little unusual. Pretty darn hot on Saturday-82 degrees, so that was hard on dogs and hunters alike. Talked to a friend who picked up three steelhead near the mouth of the Methow on Saturday, so maybe they are starting to run up the river! Off to Montana Friday for a week of bird hunting and fly fishing! Rick

 

[Scott Salzer]

At least you got a few.

Good luck in Montana and, safe travels to ya.

 

[onlymercury]

Thanks for that info on the anchor. I thought about it and figured it would pose a few issues. I'm guessing i wont put in at ringer because a couple of people told me there are some technical spots I may have to be aware of and I just want to avoid that being my first time out. Maybe put in a little further down stream. I'm also gonna stop by Avid Anglers to buy some fins and get some more advice.