threepwood Posted January 20, 2017 Posted January 20, 2017 I am in the process of acquiring a used drift boat, and since I am a novice I am considering getting a lesson. Anyone on the forum care to share an opinion on who/where might be a good choice for that? I'd like to do it this spring before runoff, if the weather cooperates. And while I'm at it, if anyone else wants or needs a lesson, I might be willing to split one with you (they're often the same price for 1 or 2 people). I'll provide the boat. Send me a direct message. Quote
Dangus Posted January 20, 2017 Posted January 20, 2017 Cheaper way would be to invite an experienced guy or two and Pay the shuttle. They can instruct you on the oars all day. In return, they get a rowing slave for a days fishing 1 Quote
threepwood Posted January 20, 2017 Author Posted January 20, 2017 That's true. Any potential takers for that option? I row, you fish and tell me what I'm doing wrong (nicely, of course). Quote
jasonvilly Posted January 20, 2017 Posted January 20, 2017 I believe ironbow does driftboat lessons. Quote
Jayhad Posted January 20, 2017 Posted January 20, 2017 I can't paste the link for some reason but get the "How to row a drift boat" DVD from Hyde's webstore. It's actually pretty decent and a good prep for getting on the water. 1 Quote
Tpetey Posted January 20, 2017 Posted January 20, 2017 On the lower bow, just splash it in and figure it out. There aren't too many spots where you can get yourself into trouble and you'll catch on real quick how to keep the boat sitting the right way in the water. Of course this won't make you the best oarsmen on the river, nor will it qualify you to be a guide, but you'll catch on real quick to the fundamentals. First basic rule, keep the nose pointed downstream and running with the current, you don't want to be sideways into the big rollers. 1 Quote
eagleflyfisher Posted January 20, 2017 Posted January 20, 2017 Good idea ! Get a lesson for sure. Remember those Brits that decided they wanted to try their new boat in 2014 as runoff was coming down. The haystack out front of police was only maybe 5ft tall! Anyhow they tried making the launch, went sideways, flipped , 3 guys in, all gear lost, and almost 3 drown. Fella was very shook up , took him out to locate his boat & he was really not happy being in my boat. Moral of the story , inexperience, not reconizing River conditions can lead to accidents. Doesn't matter what stretch of water your on, if your in your boat anything can happen. Anyone that owns a boat can tell you their own story I'm sure. If iron bow does one go that way, if Dee is your instructor , pay attention ! Very important to be able to read the river. 1 Quote
SkwalaStonefly Posted January 21, 2017 Posted January 21, 2017 A few years back a friend with a drift boat and I spent a day learning how to handle it with Jim McLennan on the Bow. We had a great day learning and of course fishing. Not the cheapest way to learn, but probably the best. 2 Quote
SilverDoctor Posted January 21, 2017 Posted January 21, 2017 Good idea ! Get a lesson for sure. Remember those Brits that decided they wanted to try their new boat in 2014 as runoff was coming down. The haystack out front of police was only maybe 5ft tall! Anyhow they tried making the launch, went sideways, flipped , 3 guys in, all gear lost, and almost 3 drown. Fella was very shook up , took him out to locate his boat & he was really not happy being in my boat. Moral of the story , inexperience, not reconizing River conditions can lead to accidents. Doesn't matter what stretch of water your on, if your in your boat anything can happen. Anyone that owns a boat can tell you their own story I'm sure. If iron bow does one go that way, if Dee is your instructor , pay attention ! Very important to be able to read the river. Was that the boat that was pinned sideways underwater for months? I remember rowing by it a few times. Threewood, I'm sure a few here will step up and help. Another way do it is hire a guide for a day and just ask for what you need. I think if it was me just starting with a new boat I wouldn't bother fishing, just get to know your boat really well and the river. Knowing the river is half the battle, the other half is learning to row, keeping the boat on a good track, turning and pivoting and watching the river ahead. It's very different from an ordinary rowboat. 1 Quote
eagleflyfisher Posted January 21, 2017 Posted January 21, 2017 Was that the boat that was pinned sideways underwater for months? I remember rowing by it a few times. Threewood, I'm sure a few here will step up and help. Another way do it is hire a guide for a day and just ask for what you need. I think if it was me just starting with a new boat I wouldn't bother fishing, just get to know your boat really well and the river. Knowing the river is half the battle, the other half is learning to row, keeping the boat on a good track, turning and pivoting and watching the river ahead. It's very different from an ordinary rowboat. This boat found its way down out front of Zeutso red house , was upside down in about 8' of water vacuumed to the bottom. I think it was only there a cpl weeks. Unless you were right over it you couldn't see it. Very spooky. What I meant by haystack out front of Police were the Rapids,rollers, etc... 1 Quote
professori Posted January 21, 2017 Posted January 21, 2017 Haystack? http://paddleeducation.com/whitewater-kayaking/the-anatomy-of-a-river/river-features-2/haystacks/ Quote
Brunsie Posted January 22, 2017 Posted January 22, 2017 Cheaper way would be to invite an experienced guy or two and Pay the shuttle. They can instruct you on the oars all day. In return, they get a rowing slave for a days fishing Bron is right Rowing a driftboat isn't rocket science. If I can row one, anyone can. Reading the water and finding where the fish are is a bigger challenge. PM me when McCinnons opens and I'll spend a day with you. Later BK 2 Quote
monger Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 Don't you just float down the middle the river for the whole day with your bobber out the side? 4 Quote
threepwood Posted January 23, 2017 Author Posted January 23, 2017 Thanks everybody for the tips and offers. I'll be in touch when the time comes! Quote
SilverDoctor Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 If you're going to bring a Driftboat to school you have to take everyone out. 1 Quote
Brunsie Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 Don't you just float down the middle the river for the whole day with your bobber out the side? Lots of fish in the middle of the river. Quote
kritofr Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 Send me a pm; if you can get out on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday I can help you out with learning how to row the drift boat. Quote
SanJuanWorm Posted January 24, 2017 Posted January 24, 2017 Send me a pm; if you can get out on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday I can help you out with learning how to row the drift boat. Can I sling rapalas whilst you teach ? Quote
bigfry Posted January 24, 2017 Posted January 24, 2017 practice on a lake. or get out on a float with someone, then they can row over the difficult stretches and over the super slow moving stretches they can give u practice. im sure you have a line up of guys offering to help Quote
Conor Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 I wouldn't hesitate to learn the ropes on the Bow. It is a big, powerful River, but pretty tame. But if you can spare the cash, getting someone who has guided for a long time to teach you will save years of learning. Guides fish with so many inexperienced anglers that they learn to fish with the boat. Add that skill up with a few decent anglers and you will have some good days. Just the few spots they focus on or stop at will save you a season of trial and error. McClennan did it at one point. He has two or three decades of Bow river guiding experience to share. Quote
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