Hey everyone, Well? I have had a pontoon boat now about a year and spent most of my time on lakes and now I have been asked to do a float on a river in wyoming and have never floated a river before! So I am asking for some advise from everyone, will I need my flippers? positioning? etc, this will be a 3 day float and lots of fly fishing! please help?
Thanks
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Does anyone of your floating group know the river? If not get as much info as possible maybe from internet and satelite sources. Mostly you need to know how much portaging and how deep, fast, and narrow. You will need some way to move away from obstructions as they come up during your float, anything from rocks, logs, tree limbs, to barb wire, etc. This can be done with paddles, poles or flippers if deep enough. You may be able to hold position simply by standing up, heading for shore, or tying up to tree limbs or may need an anchor if river is deep with steep banks. I have had good luck catching fish in shady areas before or after rapids- around structure casting upstream in general.
Hope this helps.
Pon
[quote jason84118]Hey everyone, Well? I have had a pontoon boat now about a year and spent most of my time on lakes and now I have been asked to do a float on a river in wyoming and have never floated a river before! So I am asking for some advise from everyone, will I need my flippers? positioning? etc, this will be a 3 day float and lots of fly fishing! please help?
Thanks[/quote]
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I have done a couple of float trips down the snake in my float tube. I went to google earth and did my homework there. When you look at river pictures it can be tough to tell if you are looking at faster water or if you are looking at waves being blown by the wind. The biggest problem I see is obstructions in the river. Logs, rocks, things that could grab your boat. If you got pushed into a big rock or log you could flip. That worried me a little with float tubes.
When we have went down the river here we all carry two way radios. I went first and let the guys behind know what was coming up. I also use a GPS to mark spots that might be a problem when I find them on google earth. The GPS is also handy for putting in waypoints to know where you are in the river and to know how far you have went and need to go. If you have cell phone coverage the GPS can give rescue units a location to help if needed. I am guilty of overloading my tube. Try not to do that. It make them sluggish to maneuver and I am sure a toon would be the same way.
Also make sure your toon is rated for the river you plan to float. I am no expert but just a few ideas. Ron
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Hey guys, thanks for the reply! The river that we are going to float is the Salt River by Alpine. I have walked some sections of this river but never floated it? The GPS is a great idea! and I bought a couple 2 way radios for the journey, and the two other guys that I am going with have never been down the river either? now when you talk satelite? what web or services are you using? I have tried google eath and it will only bring me so close, but I still cannot tell water structure etc?
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One other way to get details which I have used in unknown waters is kayak clubs. Some have state or local organizations with detailed web pages on just about any river in their area. Here's something found on a quick search:
http://greater-yellowstone.com/Star-Vall...River.html
Watch the barb wire if you have inflatables. Check the flow rate and be very conscious that rainy weather way upstream can cause life threatening flash floods way downstream especially on smaller rivers.
Pon
[quote jason84118]Hey guys, thanks for the reply! The river that we are going to float is the Salt River by Alpine. I have walked some sections of this river but never floated it? The GPS is a great idea! and I bought a couple 2 way radios for the journey, and the two other guys that I am going with have never been down the river either? now when you talk satelite? what web or services are you using? I have tried google eath and it will only bring me so close, but I still cannot tell water structure etc?[/quote]
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I use google earth. With the version I have I can click a button to show me historical images. In some cases you can bring up images that are up to 15 years old. By doing that you get different flow rates and that will show you if what you are seeing are ripples from current or if it might just be from wind. I have version 5.0 and the button I am speaking about looks like a little clock in the tool bar on top. With some practice you can tell what you are looking at. It helps to also practice on a river you know. You will be able to tell water structure. Ron
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Are you talking Wyoming?
In answer to your simple questions, yes you can wear flippers. MUST WEAR A PFD on rivers at all times. You will be going forward in most cases.
I agree that finding out the lay of the river is a must.
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