Hey y'all,
I need details on a few different floats (3-10 miles) on the Salmon from below Riggins toward Whitebird. I want to use a driftboat, not a whitewater raft.
Ideas?
Thanks,
Ryan
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That whole section is driftboatable...... Just know your limits and abilities and scout your route beforehand if your not sure.
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I have rowed hundreds of miles and I would not feel comfortable running Lightning Creek, Fiddle Creek, or Chair Creek in an open boat in January. I have rafted that river for 15 years and we have whitewater boats flip in those waves. I think an open drift boat might struggle to float.
I don't know the river from Lucile down. I see varying crafts around Slate Creek down to Hammer Creek. I am looking for a typical put in -to-put in drift boat float.
Any details on that?
Ryan
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There are several takeouts through that stretch. I've rowed most of it and been able to avoid the big stuff by either loading the boat and re-launching or walking the boat around the rapid. most of it is pretty friendly like the Kid said.......Some of it is sketchy though. Couple times I've looked a rapid over and figured no problem only to discover it looks way bigger once you're in the middle of it....
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I learned to row on the section between Twin Bridges and Whitebird; most of it is a cakewalk, but there are some spots you need to pay attention. There are four ramps and a couple of unimproved takeouts between Slate Creek and Hammer Creek, you could start with any one of those short floats and build from there. Above Slate creek there are some big rollers that I never wanted to deal with in a drift boat, and the rock garden below Box Canyon (can't remember the name of the rapid) is pretty nasty. Below Slate Creek water is smaller, still a big strong river that can yank an oar out of your hand with ease. You can scout 90% of it from the highway, so use your judgement.
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Thanks for the details. I'll scope it out on the way to the Clearwater next month.
I'm wanting to find a few family friendly stretches to take the kids in the late summer and catch some smallies. This time of year would be perfect. I could anchor up and pull plugs while the kids pull bass from the rocks.
Ryan
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