River Drifting Safety

Oh, you can get crabs from skanks on the lower Clackamas, too.  Be careful.

Alot of great info has already been shared but I thought I could toss in a few more helpful hints.

I survived my early (and late) WW days by staying behind the stronger paddlers and keeping on the lines they chose.
Go with folks that are better than you but dont be that guy who is a risk to others.

Almost all of my injuries paddling rivers didnt come from big hydraulics but from portages.
Slick rocks can ruin your day if you allow yourself to drop your guard once out of the water.

As mentioned before, take a WW class or a swiftwater rescue course, but dont stop there.
Continue your education with the many books available and then play in hydraulics whenever you can.
Try to surf everything and get out of the boat and swim rapids that are free of strainers and other obvious hazards.
Getting comfortable swimming rapids will be worth all that cold water exposure WHEN you take that unexpected and unwanted plunge and know how to handle yourself when youre in real trouble.
That comfort in swimming rapids will also help you resist the urge to stand up, risking the nasty and DEADLY foot entrapment.

One last thing. If there are folks with cameras lined up on the rocks ahead, it may be time to portage.

Im at work, so I cant add pictures, but I hope this helps anyway

Good info all around.

I did what hydrospyder did; I rode the more experienced guys tail & tried to follow his line the whole time. I'd ask why we took the route after every passage through WW so I could start to see the line for myself.

If you want a river specific boat and it has to be a SOT check out this guy:
http://www.dagger.com/product_subcategory/index/product_homepage/recreational_touring/torrent

and the more versatile flatwater/whitewater boat from liquid logic:
http://www.liquidlogickayaks.com/remix_xp10.cfm

NOOKIE -

Does Dagger still make that hybrid sit in WW/FW boat?  Looked like that LL one.........

I heard the White Salmon was a good river to drift.  

There is a really good hole right under Hussum Falls

How about the OK Yak Board, any good for this kinda manouvers?
Looks like a pretty flat bottom, short and looks like it would hold a crate in the rear.

http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/single_kayaks/yak_board.html

I used to paddle the yakboard in small waves and wouldnt recommend it for fishing rivers or anything else really. Leg straps are practically a must.
Its really low volumn for as wide as it is and not as stable as you might think.
Adding any rigging, especially a drift anchor system, would be asking for trouble.
Paddling and fishing a river is kind of like driving and texting already, a boat like the yakboard is a little too dynamic.

Ive used the (now discontinued) WS Riot to fish moving water and I wouldnt recommend this boat either. It was quick to respond but I always felt cramped and it had a very low threshold to send me swimming, especailly when multitasking.

The mini-X is my current creek/river boat of choice.
It has enough volumn to support gear and is still agile. I like the easy access to the hull to stash my rod if needed and it has a good layout for rigging.
That being said if I was in the market for another creeker I would definately look at and test the 2009 version of the WS T100.

pennies thrown

It looks like you got some airtime in that first pick. 

that looks like me at PC last time 

nice collection of boats.. your personal quiver?>

NOOKIE -

Does Dagger still make that hybrid sit in WW/FW boat?  Looked like that LL one.........

They do, it's really a "moving water" boat rather than WW though.

I looked for new boats that fit this bill and came across these:

http://www.liquidlogickayaks.com/coupe.cfm

We just got them in and I haven't paddled yet, but they basically meet my criteria of WW SOT with flat deck space for mounting gear:

I did notice the two man version had SIX beverage holders. Now your talkin

I used to paddle the yakboard in small waves and wouldnt recommend it for fishing rivers or anything else really. Leg straps are practically a must.
Its really low volumn for as wide as it is and not as stable as you might think.
Adding any rigging, especially a drift anchor system, would be asking for trouble.
Paddling and fishing a river is kind of like driving and texting already, a boat like the yakboard is a little too dynamic.

Ive used the (now discontinued) WS Riot to fish moving water and I wouldnt recommend this boat either. It was quick to respond but I always felt cramped and it had a very low threshold to send me swimming, especailly when mulitasking.

The mini-X is my current creek/river boat of choice.
It has enough volumn to support gear and is still agile. I like the easy access to the hull to stash my rod if needed and it has a good layout for rigging.
That being said if I was in the market for another creeker I would definately look at and test the 2009 version of the WS T100.

pennies thrown

I feel and endo coming on that one! Nice shot. 

Really the easiest, safest, smoothest ride would be a WW inflatable like the AIRE Tomcat.

http://shop.aldercreek.com/Rafts/Inflatable-Kayaks/Tomcat-Solo-C44-i25122.html

Scotty makes rod holder adapters for them and everything.