[Bow River Drifting Tips]

Although it may not be apparent based on the behaviour of other oarsmen on the Bow, drift boat etiquette generally dictates staying out of the skinny side channels. If someone is fishing a side channel, you'll have no choice but to drift over their water.

 

My advice - find a boat who's captain appears competent and follow them at a reasonable distance (500-1000m).

I had not heard of this boat etiquette before, thanks

[Bow River Drifting Tips]

Float a 100 yds stop get out walk around repeat.Anchor, fish for 10 minutes, slide down 20 yds anchor again fish repeat.You'll find all the spots within the spots that you just wouldn't see if you just floated by.

WOW! you really do need to spend days and days and days and days on the water. Waht a great life!

[A Letter To The Ersd Minister]

While we are on about sustainable resources, how about random camping, especially on the banks of prime fishing streams where damage is very very visible to the banks and water quality?

Uncontrolled off-road ATV and bikes in most of the province is probably even worse for your fisheries.

[Montana Boat Inspections]

thanks for the heads up. Since we were thinking of going to Montana this summer, I did a quick internet search and came up with Montana's laws on invasive species. It is listed at http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/ais/lawsRegulations.html

and further info on the specific law at http://www.leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/80/7/80-7-1011.htm

In part it states, "The departments shall establish a check station within or adjacent to an invasive species management area to prevent ...."

 

Looks like there should be inspections stations near popular launch sites. I hope I don't have to search endlessly for one.

[Bow River Drifting Tips]

All of your advice sounds good. I especially like the idea of walking back up the secondary channels, not only to fish but to also check out the navigations hazards.

[Bow River Drifting Tips]

I am new to this forum, and a very new drift boat guy.

We finished building our macKenzie River Drift Boat late in 2012 and got only one drift in that year. Then the floods with only 2ce on the water that year! Since the flood, I find it very hard for a relative novice like myself to drift the Bow. Picking the right channel and knowing where to slow down for the good fish holes has been very challenging for me.

It seems to me like you need to drift it an awful lot to get to know the river every year.

 

How many drifts does it take you experienced guys to "re-learn" the river after the ice goes out and again after the June floods?

[Tackle Swap & Used Drift Boat Sale]

I put ours in, but no bites. lots of compliments on the workmanship!

[Amateur On The Oars]

I would go with epoxy. easy to mix in fillers to get the stiffness you want for moulding into shape on the boat without "droop". Paint over for UV protection.

[New Zealand Last Year]

Looks like the South Island? Queenstown area? fishyfish

[New Zealand Last Year]

This was the one and only sea-run fish I caught, which coincidentally, was the only fish that broke the fabled 10lb mark as well. Many other anglers caught many more "mousey" fish this year in NZ than I, but I also can't handle flying across the world to compete for space on rivers

I assume tis was on the South Island on a river on the west coast? What area if I may ask?. fishyfish