Hi Everyone - I would like to know if you feel a pontoon boat could handle this current. Here is a link to a video.
http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/r-drover1/Index.html
The rock stands about 70 feet out from the guy in the video. This is very remote so weight is always a factor. What would anyone suggest? Pontoon, Kayak?? Maneuvering into the current will be required. inflatable a must.
Thanks
Dont know about anyone else but that video/picture (whichever it is) will not play on my machine.?
Here either.
It played on my Mac for about 40 seconds, then the pic disappeared. Anyway, the pontoon will get you there with no problem, but I’m not sure what you’re going to do when you get there. How do you plan to anchor to the rock, and are you going to fish from the toon or get out and wade? What is the attraction to the rock, other than you not being able to fish around it from where you’re standing in the video?
Personally, I would not put myself in a position where i don’t feel very safe around water… especially just to catch a fish! Fast water, snotty rocks and unsure footing keep this old man away from situations like that. They make for nice pictures, but also make for significant opportunities for danger.
Joe
Hi everyone and thanks so much for your quick replies. The file is an AVI and should load into Window Explorer. I have added another link that will open it in Windows Media Player instead, its about 40 seconds long in total.
http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/r-drover1/Index.html
My plan is to land and do all my fishing from the rock, the lower side of the rock has an awsome pool where salmon hold.
Thanks
anchoring in moving water is probably an accident waiting to happen. good luck.
So based on the responses, manovering to and from cross current could be handled by a pontoon. Again becoming familiar with the boat and how it reacts will be just as important. My plan is to land on the rock and fishing from the rock. I do not plan to anchor in the current rather landing on the eddy side of the rock.
Now that I have established that a pontoon can perform this task I am looking for any suggestions on poonton products. Something mid value.
cheers
I’ve used my Creek Co. #850 in lots of white water fishing, It comes with, and fits into, it’s own backpack along with its oars, pump, etc.
It’s white water rated, light, (47 pounds), and easy to handle.
Once you maneuver into the eddy/pool, anchor the toon and perch yourself upon the rock like the Statue of Liberty or Washington crossing the Patomac, you will have not only put yourself in significant danger, but probably trashed the pool for any reasonable fishing. Sounds like an upcoming episode of Americas Funniest Home Videos. Be sure to have a cameraman at the ready when you strike out on your adventure. We’d like to see how it goes for you. I hope I’m wrong…for your sake.
BTW, how old are you? This sounds like something my 20 year old nephew would do to impress his girlfriend.:lol::lol:
Joe
Joe’s right… if you manage to cheat the inevitable fate… Salmon are lots smarter than we’d ever hope to be and there won’t BE ONE within 1 mile of that rock, once you stir things up with a boat, oaring, getting to the rock and if the Gods are with you… getting ONTO the rock.
You also, unless you’re going to “claim it as a new country” and stay there, get OFF the rock again and being around ‘Toon boats for many years, getting back onto one, shy of wading out in shallow water, sitting down and getting comfy… chances are you’re going to go swimming. Don’t forget a good, tight, chest belt on your waders.
And, since the fish aren’t going to be anywhere a 90’ fly line can reach them I’d take along a deck of cards, too, so you can pass the two days until the pool quiets down again.
let me know the night before you go so i can go to church and light a candle and say a prayer for you.
please rethink all of your options before you attempt this endeavor. the possibility of disaster is not worth one salmon.
Another of the NBOF’s checking in. Wear a PFD and have 3 friends on shore. one to video tape the episode and 2 to haul you back on the 1/2 inch line you’ve tied to your self!
Seriously, I wouldn’t attempt it. going cross current to that would darn near impossible!
Quote…“Now that I have established that a pontoon can perform this task I am looking for any suggestions on poonton products. Something mid value.”
When did that happen?
I suggest you save your $$$$$$$$$'s…
If there were no rapids downstream from that pool. I’d say I could make it in my toon and I’d give it a try. If there was somewhere real close I could swim to I’d give it a try. When and if I got to the rock. I don’t think I could safely go from the toon to the rock. If I made it out there I think could make it back. If you miss the back eddy, you have a loooonnngggg way to go before the next pool and possible safety. The falls on the farside of the shot look pretty daunting and may signal the same terrain downstream. Personally I’d check to see if a bridge was planned in the near future before taking a shot at it. When I was young I’d have given it a try, but having seen a score of drownings in my days with the coast guard I wouldn’t even consider it. Some tooners probably are qualified in that kind of water but it sounds to me like You are not skilled in that area or you would have had no need to ask your question.
So ah, who established that you…I’m assumeing…(Never having been in a toon) and no time spent learning to handle a toon in even moderate current’s, could just flop one in the water and shoot on over there in the straight line as you set forth in your first post…?
Cause I don’t see as that being remotely possible for even those who have used a toon in moderate current’s!!
I suggest you FORGET about the whole thing! Find some quieter water, Perhaps even near that location and do your fishing from there…or learn to throw a shooting head setup, Well enough so as to cast from where the dude was standing to the rock!!
Either way…Please do not attempt the trip to the rock in a toon…Your asking for nothing but disaster!
Edit:
And after watching the whole clip…And seeing that the dude is fighting a good fish from there…Ummm…Why the need to get too…where he had prolly cast…It does not look as though it would be all that difficult to lay a cast out to the rock… Practice your casting…
Thanks to everyone who has wadded in on this question. From the responses the wiser thing to do is to find something other than a toon to get to the rock. Maybe a bridge!
Unfortunately no one, not even ?Len Rich? could hit that pool with a cast, good old Labrador Spruce trees tower 30 feet behind you. Again thanks for the advice and no need to pray as this is a prime example of how informative this forum is.
Gobrock
First, -A RIVER pontoon is designed to go down the river with the flow and I doubt you can take it straight across to that rock and back. More likely your going to end up significantly down stream.
Second, -Getting on and off the rock from the toon is going be a real challenge at best.
Third, -You said it is remote and a good RIVER pontoon should be a minimum of 9ft and have a well built frame weighing 50-70lbs before you put any gear on it.
Unless you want to fish a considerable stretch of the river floating down stream from spot to spot forget the pontoon. You need to approach your object rock from up stream and slide into the eddy just below it. I do not see anything in the video that a good RIVER toon could not readily navigated by a decent experienced oarsman picking his path through the smoother glides. I capitalized RIVER toon to emphasize you do not want a cheapo poor quality toon in those waters.
Another alternative with you being an experienced fly caster is to get a spey rod that with limited practice will get you out to that rock without a need for the back cast room
I must say that I agree with Max. In watching the video, I see nothing there that would deter me from going down that stretch (from what’s viewable in that video). However, floating down rapids is not the same as ferrying across them! I’ve been rowing for some time and I’ve been thru plenty of whitewater. Like Max also said, my cat is whitewater grade for situations like that also. Once you reach that rock, how are you gonna stop the boat, let go of the oars and climb off the boat onto the big rock? Probably not a good idea to attempt that!
I’ve been put out on rocks like that…but…it was with accomplished guides and oarsmen in McKenzie river boats…there’s a lot of back rowing involved…plus skill
Sounds like you’ve come to a good conclusion
No way would I try that in a pontoon or tube. But it would be great for my Kayak!
By the way…did you ever land that fish?