Possible to fish the Clackamas or Sandy in a Hobie

Is it possible to fish the Clackamas or Sandy river in a Hobie? I tried the Barton to Carver float once and it was terrifying.

 I have a 12' Hobie Outback. I am open to buying some other type of floating device to get out there.  I live very close to the Clack and not far from the Sandy.

I am bored out of my skull right now and dying to get in the water.  Must chase steel! I don't really want to go troll for trout in a lake but I will if its my chance to get out.

Is there a safer drift like Carver to Riverside (never been) on the Clack? Or somewhere on the Sandy?

This time of year I just want to get out and about on the water. I need options.

Thank you for any advise you might have!!! I truly appreciate it.

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You can, but you may as well pull the drive and install the fairing plug. It will be a one-way trip, using the yak as a drift boat. There are places where you might bottom out, and lots of big rocks to destroy the drive.

Also, you won't want to anchor a kayak in that current, so it's pretty much use the yak to reach a bank spot you don't/can't walk to.

What you need to do is what I did - find a friend with a drift boat.

Hey Taylor, You can also just launch at Carver early in the morning before all the boats hit the "ivy wall" and make a few different passes. Ive done very well in the past. I know part of the wall fell recently too creating an even better Steelhead drift. Its fast moving and fishes out quickly, but when your finished just turn back to launch. Reuse, recycle and repeat at first light and you'll hook plenty of fish..

I have floated the Sandy a few time, as Pinstriper said, the Mirage Drive is not very useful on that river.  Don't let this stop you though, paddling an Outback isn't all that bad: I lost my original Mirage Drive and was forced to paddle the Outback for most almost a year until I was able to purchase a replacement.  It does not track well and is a pain to paddle long distance or in large bodies of water, but it actually handles quite nice in small rivers IMO and I enjoy running class II-III whitewater in it.

Here is a pretty useful starting point for floating the Sandy: https://imageserv11.team-logic.com/mediaLibrary/2036/Sandy_Water_Trail_2012.pdf

It has been a few years, but I don't recall having much difficulty below Oxbow as long as the water levels aren't too low.  I'd scout the section you plan to float prior to committing and you'll need a shuttle or wing-man with an extra vehicle.

Thank you all! I will certainly try those places. I can get a driver if needed. The ivy wall looks awesome too. I will report back with results when I get out there.

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You can float the lower Sandy with ease. The Dabney to Lewis and Clark park float is the specially tame.  There are some very good drifts  along the far bank.


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The Oxbow float is perfect for intermediate experienced kayakers and as mentioned floats better a little on the higher side. The curves just downstream from the launch are the most problematic IMO & can get up to class 2 but are manageable. Its a lot of low water, the clackamas too, so i dont see where having a Hobie could be the advantage. I run Ocean Kayaks on the rivers & i love them for versatility & control.
Ive only watched my buddies attempt to float advanced water in outbacks & its never gone well. The Hobie would be of particular advantage in larger, deeper bodied river where you could work a diver in some deeper holes. You can do this with a paddle kayak too but you're facing upstream & paddling in the seams of the current. When that fish fight starts is where things get tricky real fast. Id recommend bank fishing for sometime before attempting to fish from your kayak. When you do fish from your kayak id recommend practicing on fair weathered days, in calm frog water with long run outs & minimal sweeper traps. Good luck & looking forward to reading your reports!

Hey Taylor, You can also just launch at Carver early in the morning before all the boats hit the "ivy wall" and make a few different passes. Ive done very well in the past. I know part of the wall fell recently too creating an even better Steelhead drift. Its fast moving and fishes out quickly, but when your finished just turn back to launch. Reuse, recycle and repeat at first light and you'll v=R73f6YQJXT8

Jammer:  might convince me to buy a hobie.

Oxbow or Dabney to Lewis and Clark on the Sandy and Caver to Riverside on the Clackamas are both very doable in a fishing kayak.  I have fished the Sandy in both a Hobie and a regular kayak and being able to go back upstream to re-drift a hole is nice,but not necessary unless you are really going to work a hole like Jammer.  I now tend to use an little inflatable kayak to drift between spots and I get out of my kayak if I want to work one a bit more.  It is also a lot easier and safer to land a steelhead from the bank than on the river when you have to work on controlling your fish while avoiding obstacles.  Also, only flow the  Sandy below Lewis and Clark when the water is high unless you like walking and quicksand.