short notice Point Defiance trip tomorrow evening (report added)

I'm going to hit Point D at about 5pm tomorrow if anyone wants to join.  I'm going to launch from Owens and troll to the point, jig a while then troll back.  If anyone wants to join, come on down.

Bobby

Definite possibility. if that makes sense!!!

Doesn't it get kind of crowded with all the boats.

It wasn't too crowded with the boats but...The water was anything BUT flat. I launched at 5pm and started trolling towards to the Point. Before I knew it, I was at the Point. Had what I thought was a hit, and another boat next to me said hey man! you just had a bite! Checked the rod tip and it was still so I figured I was just scraping bottom and continued on. Once I reached the Point, the water was choppy to say the least ( 2-3 foot swells are probably no big deal in a powerboat, but in a little piece of plastic, they're a little more difficult! ) but I pressed on. Another 15 minutes went by and i looked back and HOLY CRAP! I'm 3/4 of the way across the Sound! Uh oh. Did a 180 and tried to make my way back to the point but by now, the current was FRICKIN' RIPPIN'! I came across a line of wood and debris so I reeled up and what'ya know?! There's a 10" Black Rockfish on my cookies and cream spoon! I have no idea how long it was there. I suspect quite a while. I turned him loose. Rats.

Heading back to the Point, I was paddling as hard as I could and was making 6 knots. Backwards. I got into an eddy and got turned 180° in a heartbeat. Time to GTFO out of this ASAP. Turned perpendicular to the tide and made for the shore and beached the 'yak. Paddled at 110% for 45 minutes just to make a 1/2 mile. I was exhausted! I ended up on the beach just around the corner from the Owen's side. I caught my breath, watched the seals play and came up with a plan. There was no way I was going to be able to paddle back around the Point so I put the 'yak on it's wheels and hauled it over the clay mound (no mean feat with a 120lb 'yak) and waited on the beach on the Owen's side. I just kicked back and watched the flooded-river-speed current whip by. There was nothing I could do but wait for the current to slow. I waited an hour and launched again sticking as close to the shore as I could and started making my way at 1.5 mph. about 1/3 of my normal speed. I beached twice more for a rest and hung onto a few dead heads here and there for a quick break. I made it back to Owen's at 8:30. Mustered up enough energy to load the 'yak on the Jeep and head home.

For the record, yes I checked the tide tables before I left, I just had no idea that the water could get moving that fast! I gained some experience in that respect. It was a pretty big tide change. I'll stick to the smaller ones in the future. I'm glad and proud to have made it. I didn't have to have help, which is a big thing for me since I'm jackassedly stubbornly independent. Mental note; do not put yourself in that situation again!

There were two powerboaters that could see I was stuck and offered assistance so many thanks to those guys! I just took my punishment and waited out the tide. I did not fish on the way back in because I didn't want any extra drag.

In the end, all was well but I must admit I was a little nervous a few times. Too bad I couldn't have kept my one little fish. Maybe next time it will be a salmon instead.

Bobby

Nice report. Chalk it up to a learning experience. I'm sure most if not all of us have done the same thing. I know i did.

I like the way you think!  I agree.  No harm, no foul.  Lesson learned and I had an adventure that I was able to get myself out of.  Feels really good actually.  Just wish I could have brought home some fish for all that paddling!

Wow, sounds like it was a tough one. Good deal on waiting out the tide and sticking out your plan. Glad to hear it came out alright.

Z

Glad it turned out OK!!  Brisk North wind at Pt D equals a choppy mess, and the Narrows is no place for a yak on a strong flood, nasty rips there!!!

Good decision making. 

Thanks for sharing your experience. Being a newbie I certainly do not want to get in that situation. How do you figure if the tide out/river current is going to be too strong going out? MPH? What is the mph a typical paddler move? Is this the situation on all rivers? Is there the same concern in the Coquille and out of Charleston. Being a newbie I do not want to get pull out to sea. Thanks in advance for any advice