Gorge in a small boat?

[kentd71]

I will be at the Gorge June 16-17 to fish and in the area a couple more days. I am thinking about fishing out of a shallow 12' V aluminum boat from Sheep Creek. Is it windy there where where I have no place to get out of it if it comes up fast? Is there mac and kokanee close by? Jig for macs and troll for kokanee. I will have a 6hp motor also. I have fished out of the Linwood bay area before.
[signature]

[Troutfoolery]

The Gorge is known for wind to kick up fast. I had a 12' V with a 10 hp engine and one bad day on this lake convenced me to sell and buy a bigger boat. Drowning will seriously cut in to your fishing time! Lots of Macs and Kokanee in the Gorge though.
[signature]

[wiperhunter2]

Sheep creek is better than Linwood bay if the wind comes up but I would not risk it. There are some places where you could get off the lake quick in that area. The area can be very good for kokes and small macks but I haven't read many reports of big macks caught in the Sheep creek area. Good luck and be safe. WH2
[signature]

[GEEZER]

Thirty or so yrs. ago a buddy & I got caught in the first open area up lake from Sheep Creek in my little 14' aluminum with a 5 hp Johnson on it. Not fun at all! We were lucky to get upwind until we got under the lee of the mountain & into quieter water. By that time the boat was about 1/4 full of water. We would have been better off if we'd have been more aware & gotten off sooner. With just 10 hp. I'd want to run like he-- at first sign of wind & not run for the ramp either. Just get into a lee area & wait it out if it takes all night.
[signature]

[bigbow81]

I grew up on the gorge. In my early high school years all I had was a 14' jon boat with a 5hp motor. Fished sheepcreek with it regularly. It is do able but be careful in the afternoon!
[signature]

[toyguy]

[font "Verdana"][#000000]I have fished out of Sheep Creek in a 10’ 8” Portabote. Took it to Boatmens and all around Kingfisher.
[/#000000][/font]
[font "Verdana"][#000000]
[/#000000][/font]
[font "Verdana"][#000000]There’s tons and tons of fishing at the Gorge within 200 - 500 yards of shoreline, and that’s perhaps how you ought to be fishing it in a 12 footer.
[/#000000][/font]
[font "Verdana"][#000000]
[/#000000][/font]
[font "Verdana"][#000000]Yes, the wind can come up fast, but it’ll give you a warning-window, and it only takes a minute to reel up and head for the nearest shoreline. Bring rod-holders, throw out a line, and wait it out onshore. As I’ve mentioned to others lately, you get 5 days worth of weather every day at the Gorge. It’s sunny, then it howls for 30 minutes, then it partly clears, then it howls and rains later on…
[/#000000][/font]
[font "Verdana"][#000000]
[/#000000][/font]
[font "Verdana"][#000000]So just plan on going when the weather forecast is reasonable, be disciplined enough to reel-up and get and to shoreline when it starts to blow, make a couple of extra baloney sammiches for the occasion, kick back and wait for your shore rods to go tight-line. Be smart and you’ll be fine. Make that your plan.
[/#000000][/font]
[signature]

[Troll]

12' is mighty small for the Gorge. Mighty small.
You might be ok, if luck is with you.
I would do it if it was flat calm and the weather prediction was for it to stay the same. I would never be more than 1/2 mile from shore, I would have a detailed float plan left with someone. I would WEAR my best lifevest at all times. One rouge wave from a 30' cruiser 2 miles away could swamp you.
I would consider Mustang Ridge also. I have done well jigging by the Islands near the Dam. No Kokes though. Mustang has a very protected bay/cove to hide in.
[signature]

[orvis1]

I just did the same trip you are thinking about in a 16 ft with a 6hp with 4 guys. Hug the shorelines and when the wind comes up get into shore. Even if you have to fish from shore for a while you life is worth it. I also would advocate wearing your life jackets at all times as well. I just bought a sport troll downrigger for my boat looking before spring getting another one and a 18hp for it so I can get into shore and out to spots quicker to fish the bigger lakes. Want a new boat but with the econmy the way it is I think I will be lucky to scrape together 2K before next fishing season for a big motor to go with the smaller one.
[signature]

[HookJaw_Brimhall]

You will be fine.
I have fished flaming gorge out of a 14ft Aluminum for the last 5 years in a row. Sheep Creek is one of the best spot for a small boat. I have been out in the middle of the Cedar Springs area and still been fine. Just watch out for crazy boaters and try to get the fishing done in the early morning and you will be fine.
[signature]

[kentd71]

I don't plan on crossing and big gaps unless it is dead calm. I have picked tubers in Henrys lake that were being blown across the lake.
[signature]

[kentd71]

I fish Henrys lake in Idaho mostly and have been in 6 foot waves in it with my deep 16 foot aluminum with a 40 hp motor. Very wet ride and constant manuvering and watching the water. As bad as the ocean if not worse. Where is a good place to camp for a couple of nights in that area? Just a spot for a small trailer, Other wise I would bring the bigger boat. Is there Verizon cell phone service in the area? Thanks for the info.
[signature]

[line_dangler]

I think all the warnings you have recieved are good in the sense that they will make you that much more careful.

I will second HookJaw_Brimhall. I also have a relatively small boat for the Gorge, a 14 foot Smoker Craft Canadian. I have a 10 HP on it. You will find that your biggest obstacel will not be the wind, but wakes from monster boats. The east side of Sheep Creek Bay has many places where you can hit shore and pull your boat up a bit and wait out dangerous winds, those above about 20 mph.

My suggestion is to listen to the weather reports each morning you head out. If the winds are not forecast for speeds over 10-15 mph. you will be fine. If they are forecasting 20 or above stay close to the east shore line and don't go farther than the south tip of Kingfisher Island.

One of the worst areas I have experienced at the Gorge is the Antelope Flat and Linwood Bay areas. There is a huge surface area for the water to get real nasty there. I wouldn't go there with that small a motor if any wind is forecast over 5 mhp. In these areas, the trough of the waves gets real deep, and by the time the next crest comes along your boat falls in and takes in water. The only thing that helps is a bigger motor that can travel faster than the waves catch up. This is why I want a bigger motor. At least a 20 hp for a 12-14 foot boat.

As a last resort a bilge pump will help get water out faster, especially an electric one so you can run the boat and pump out spashing water.

Regardless of all the potential problems nothing keeps me from enjoying the Gorge in my fishing boat. I hope you really have a productive and enjoyable trip. Good luck finding some nice Macs, and don't forget the bass will be pretty active when you go too. Let us know how it goes. []
[signature]

[BS]

Ah, the glory days. Once at the Gorge I was in my old 16' Smokercraft with a 40 hp Merc and barly made it to shore. I think if I was in any smaller of a boat it would of been real ulgy. Be careful.

Yes on the Verizon service at the Gorge.
[signature]

[bigfish6]

i second the verizon but you may have to go up on a hill or to a higher elevation. at least from holmes to buckbord. as far as your little boat,, here is the saying for little boats at the gorge,. stay in the bay and you MAY be ok. I HAD AN EVENING OUT AT THE MARSH ONE TIME IN MY 20FT BOAT . WAVE' S CAME OVER THE BOW LEFT AND RIGHT AND MADE MY BOAT FILL LIKE A RAFT !!!!
[signature]

[toyguy]

Where is a good place to camp for a couple of nights in that area?

Camp at the ramp. The parking lot there is set up for it. Facilities, designated spots (if I recall), grills, and the fee tube of, course. $5. Just search the internet for complete details.

There'll be others there (maybe even full?). With your set-up, you're not gonna get away from people anyway, particularly in high summer, so why travel to another people'd site when you can be at one 150' away from the ramp. Quicker to get on the water in the AM.

And you want to be on the water. The canyons around Sheep Creek make this a particularly beautiful part of the Gorge. Especially in early-morn sun and still-water, which you'll likely have.

Take a camera.
[signature]

[bodine11]

I would definantlly be careful. I run a 20' foot custom weld and a thunder storm came over the cliffs in sheep creek and within 5 minutes I was taking water over the front of the boat. Which for me is no big deal because I have self bailing scuppers but with your boat it could be a disaster. Just use common sense and be carefull.[cool]

Bodine
[signature]