I am going to be hitting the Green this year again, hopefully in June or July. Usually we just wade fish but this year I am thinking of taking my Pontoon. Does anybody hvae experience floating A section on pontoon? I have seen several people do it, but I have never used mine in a river, only lakes. Is it very difficult to do? Can you fish while you float? Sure seems like you could come out of your seat pretty easy. I have the Colorado one which is 9ft. Any feedback or suggestions on running the river this way would be appreciated.
Thanks
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ive floasted it a few times off my old Creek company ODC Sprot, 8 footer, and did just fine. make sure you bring your flippers and life jacket, you WILL get checked for both. there are plenty of pools you can fish and float on, but a majority of the time i would float down 50 yards, beach and walk... none of the rapids are really nuts, mother in law rapid has a huge rock in the center of it but there is a sign the turn before the rapid. i reccomend you get out, walk down and take a look so you can set your guide line and shoot it with success. the only time i have ever fell off is when i jumped off into what i thought was 3 feet of water, turned out to be closer to 8 feet [crazy]
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You are required to have both oars and fins or an extra oar (if you are only using oars) or an extra fin (if you only use fins). Its the best place to use a pontoon and kochanut is right on about the rapids.
I would recommend a place to stow your flyrod(s) while going down the bigger rapids. You want to face downstream (row upstream) and use your oars to row away from obstacles. You want to keep your boat pointed generally upstream as a few good strokes of your oars will move you away from trouble. Rowing sideways in a current will get you quickly spun around.
My least favorite parts isn't the rapids, its the huge pools in the first 3 miles where you have to row downstream to keep moving against the almost constant upstream wind.
It is the most amazing, beautiful place to fish and my favorite place in Utah. Have a great trip!
One more thing . . . June and July have a huge rubber hatch. Start early in the morning and don't stop too often or the rubber rafts will catch you and they have a hard time staying out of your fishing lanes (they just have a hard time controlling those things).
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Thanks guys for the info. And I am glad you brought up fins. I was curious if I should wear them or not. Sounds like a good idea.
Also, do you guys have any type of strap across your lap, or just the netting the comes with the pontoon? Thought I heard somebody say they use some type of extra strap.
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I've floated all the sections in my pontoon more times than I can remember. Its an 8-foot Anglers Inn Expedition (recently replaced with a Scadden Renegade!).
Toons are the best floating "crafts" you can have, next to someone else rowing you down in a drift boat. If you have an anchor, its nice to stop on the edges of slower pools to cast to risers. Fins make it easy to control your toon and fish at the same time. Oars are the way to go through the rapids. Lots of good places to pull over, get out, and wade fish as well.
As for the rubber hatch in the summer, start VERY early. Also, you can launch about 1 or 2 in the afternoon, and often avoid most of the traffic and float right up until dark.
As was mentioned, wear your life jacket (Law), and have an extra means of propulsion. Don't anchor in fast current.
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Just from the way you have asked the ? sounds like you haven't been on moving water- so do it before you go- there is nothing that you can't handle on the Green but out of respect for the other anglers on the river it's nice to have some experience on moving water rather than trying to learn with a lot of other people trying to fish at the same time. I think over time you will find that fishing from a toon on moving water is fine but getting to an area and then getting out and wading is also a very good option, Unless you are pounding the banks with streamers or big flies where fish are in that aggressive mood it's tough to get a drift to midge risers - using an anchor, handling a fly rod- keeping out of the way of other drifters and shore waders at the same time comes with experience to do it well and effectively.
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Quick side note: How is the renegade?
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[quote flygoddess]Quick side note: How is the renegade?[/quote]
Probably needs another post, but NFO topic is a bit worn out with other "experiences." Lets just say that I did finally receive the boat, 3 weeks later than promised, its not quite all there, and I'm awaiting a reply to my request for an explanation, and/or shipment of "backordered" items.
I'm sure I'll like it, whenever I get the rest of it.
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Anything I can do to help? I will see him this weekend and pick up my Escape.
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I don't know. It arrived this week without the anchor system I ordered, and was missing an S-Biner for the foot rest attachment. Biner issue is just something that just happens, probably nobody's fault.
"Backordered" anchor system, I'll never understand. Its April, not November. NFO should be OVERSTOCKED on every item offered in my opinion, but I'm not a boat seller. I ordered the boat on the last day of the ISE show, and he looked me and my wife right in the eye and said he had the boat I wanted (Blue Renegade), with the anchor system, "In stock in Ogden, and can deliver it in two days."
Just NFO being NFO. Great product, slightly shady on customer service, and understocked on product. I trust Dave's judgement on workmanship and performance though. He had his hands in the only two other toons I've owned, the Water Otter and the Anglers Inn Expedition. Both are still floating!
I just need the anchor system for my style of fishing. No reply yet as to a guesstimate of when I'll get it.
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I'll bug him...worked with Michael...LOL
Back to the subject of floating the Green..something will someday try if I can just quit heading North. If Idaho keeps raising their prices, it won't be long.
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Shuttle prices are what's just crazy on the Green. $45ish for the "A" shuttle. That just isn't worth it.
The "B" shuttle, at around $100, is a much better deal for what you get, but still pricey. Of course, you can do your own if you're with someone and have two vehicles.
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we need to hammer out some dates [cool]
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I personally don't pay for the shuttle unless its winter and there aren't alot of people driving back up towards the dam. I stick out the ol' thumb and have never waited very long for a ride back to the dam. Great chance to talk to other people about how they did.
I leave my gear with buddies who keep fishing or if I'm alone, drag my toon over by the parking lot and no one has messed with it.
On the strap or stripping apron, I leave it off. If you should flip (unlikely) you need to get out of your toon quickly. I floated the Green in a float tube back in '93 and will never do that again. Several people have drowned in float tubes because they get stuck upside down and can't get their legs out.
Also, you can't wear an inflatable life jacket. They check you at the dam and won't let you go down the river. You must have a Coast Guard approved (type III??) life jacket.
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