11BravoInfantry
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chum
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Was wondering if anyone uses pontoon boats for Winter steelheading in small rivers?
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Castingpearls
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familyman
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Loc: Elma, WA
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I don't but I see a few in the winter.
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KONGELAKS
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Schwack!
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I do, I have two Skookum steelheaders, we float the Grays Harbor river systems in them during fall winter and spring.
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I love the Chum.
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Chromeo
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Makin' Old Men Mad!
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I haven't but I have a few rivers I sure would like to.
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CHINOOK73
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dual red striper
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Loc: Thurston County, Wa.
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I do. They have their advantages on some rivers. I use mine quite a bit on local river that is too small to get a Drift Boat down. The nice part about that is I usually don't see anyone else the entire day.
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B.R.D. Victim
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Lead_Bouncer
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25 dollar expert since 2007
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They will get you into water, that DB wont. Lots of steelhead are in two or three feet of water. Drift boats will spook fish in that water. There is often not enough current to pull plugs in that water. Is also a bad match between the fish water and the rowing water. If the DB does a side drift, its often a one way trip. Beaching works, but isnt nearly as easy.
Only a few tooners will do ok with an anchor. They draw a lot of water. beaching is the key. leash yourself to the boat and walk down the beach.
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Lead_Bouncer
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Quote:
CHINOOK73 said:
I do. They have their advantages on some rivers. I use mine quite a bit on local river that is too small to get a Drift Boat down. The nice part about that is I usually don't see anyone else the entire day.
Must be the nooch 
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CHINOOK73
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dual red striper
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Close, but not the Nooch. I completely agree with you on the anchor issue. I have a 14# anchor that only just slows the toon down in any type of current. I just float from hole to hole and bank the boat.
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B.R.D. Victim
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Todd R
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All the time...upper Sauk, Bear Creek run on the Sol Duc...you name it, it fishes.
Fish on...
Todd
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http://www.rvrfshr.com
For all your fishing hardware needs!
"Correct in Design"
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KONGELAKS
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Schwack!
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Toons don't work very well for pulling plugs, like bouncer said they drag too much. Basically they get you from bank spot to bank spot. i can stand up on my steelheader but they don't anchor in deep water very well.
Backtrolling and deep water anchoring the drift boat has the advantage. I have been anchored in the toon with a big fish on and it is a beeatch to land one without a net 
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I love the Chum.
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winterchrome
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I have a 9' Waterskeeter.
Ditto hole hopping, but be sure and side drift those obvious spots. Nothing funner than hooking up in the middle of the river with a hot winter fish!!!!!! Talk about a cluster F.
Dogfish recommended a flush-to-the-seat pole holder between your legs on the seat, this has been a valuable modification for those fun times when you have to row like hell to shore to land your fish.
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It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck
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Castingpearls
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familyman
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I need one of those for the driftboat. Do you have pics of that setup?
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KONGELAKS
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Schwack!
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Quote:
winterchrome said:
Dogfish recommended a flush-to-the-seat pole holder between your legs on the seat, this has been a valuable modification for those fun times when you have to row like hell to shore to land your fish.
No kidding, I just jamb the rod between my legs and try not to do too many circles before I hit the beach
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I love the Chum.
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brettheviking
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chum
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Anyone been on the Satsop or Wynoochie in one of those? I've been on the 'sop in a sled and don't recall anything like "Whitewater". Sounds like the 'nooch has some impassable canyon somewhere but I haven't been able to locate that. I've also monkeyed around with an electric trolling motor on my 9'. No good in the shallows but hovers nicely in medium flow/24" and deeper water.
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Where's my cougar?
50/50
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KONGELAKS
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Schwack!
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Done them both dozens of times. I was going to go over the spillway on the nooch one time but I thought better at the last minute. That's a sign of old age (wisdom) I guess.
Any river under 1400 cfs is perfect for tooning. When you start going past that the river has too much water and the drift boat becomes more effective. I love the Soppy at 900cfs = Fish on!
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I love the Chum.
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CHINOOK73
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dual red striper
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Loc: Thurston County, Wa.
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+1 for the Nooch. I have floated it many times. Just my two cents, but don't even think about floating the canyon. It is extremely dangerous even for an experienced person. 7400 to white bridge is a good float. Only one set of rapids that you have to pay attention to, "rock garden". Cross-over to Black Creek is productive as well.
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B.R.D. Victim
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brettheviking
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chum
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Thanks for the nooch tip. Schaffer park a good put in for the 'sop, or is lower better?
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Where's my cougar?
50/50
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CHINOOK73
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dual red striper
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Loc: Thurston County, Wa.
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Schaffer is fine, makes for a good drift.
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B.R.D. Victim
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Todd R
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Native Slab
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If you're looking for a one man boat, then most of the advice here is very cogent...if you end up with a two man boat like the one I put up above, you can fish out of it, and pull plugs with it, just fine...
Fish on...
Todd
P.S. Be very aware of what type of water you want to fish, and buy a boat that's up to the task...many boats are just glorified float tubes that will get you down mellow waters, but aren't nearly so effective or safe as a good whitewater boat for anything other than mellow floats...and, unfortunately, on that note you get what you pay for.
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http://www.rvrfshr.com
For all your fishing hardware needs!
"Correct in Design"
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brettheviking
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chum
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Mine's a "Classic Accesories Colorado XT". Does that mean I'm still stuck on the bank? Couldn't afford the FishCat. And I'm guessing that the electric motor is out?
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Where's my cougar?
50/50
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Lead_Bouncer
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25 dollar expert since 2007
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Loc: king county
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just watch out for wood. There is a concrete block just up river of the hwy 12 bridge. Can be a tight squeeze depending on the nearby sand bars.
Just ask before you jump in the OP rivers.
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Tailout
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4 salt
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Pontoon boats work great in the summer during low flows. Not much better than wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and your wading boots and fishing low levels for summer steel and trout.
In winter, it can be cold in a toon, as your proximity to the water often means spray from oars/riffles hitting you. Any way to safely access water (pontoon included) will get you into more fish. If in doubt, walk your pontoon around sweepers,etc.
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Life is short, go fishin!
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winterchrome
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Native Slab
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Loc: Tumwater
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Quote:
Castingpearls said:
I need one of those for the driftboat. Do you have pics of that setup?
Just one of these punched into the seat.
Dogfish also showed me this one...great for hooking up to your cooler/dry box.
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It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck
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Fish Jesus
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Pink Worminator
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A flush mounted jewel saver and the cooler mounted rod saver, good thinking Andy! Isn't Dogfish rowing a driftboat these days?
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Gooose
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Ancient Mod
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"There is a concrete block just up river of the hwy 12 bridge."
I believe RT made the opening between those blocks wider a few years back with Marsha's sled.
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"Seen worse".....
It's Gonna Be A Long Winter
There's lies, damned lies and then there are statistics......Mark Twain
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Castingpearls
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familyman
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Loc: Elma, WA
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Quote:
winterchrome said:
Quote:
Castingpearls said:
I need one of those for the driftboat. Do you have pics of that setup?
Just one of these punched into the seat.
Dogfish also showed me this one...great for hooking up to your cooler/dry box.
Thanks, I may have to install something like that. I like that it'll keep the rod tip high so the line doesn't get hung up on the bow or anything else while I flounder over to the soft water.
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