They have finally invaded small rivers

Did they have leashes on? That’s a big clueless no-no that people are doing and need to stop. SUPing woody rivers with a leash on.
It's a personal decision. Many experienced white water SUP riders use a leash. I'm guessing inexperience leading to choosing the incorrect leash was the mistake creating the accident.

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Did they have leashes on? That’s a big clueless no-no that people are doing and need to stop. SUPing woody rivers with a leash on. Not smart. There were two fatalities on the Snoqualmie in 2023 because of that behavior.
That was the part they were doing right. No leashes. It was one of the many questions going through my head when I first saw them so I made a point of looking for it. That's how I discovered it was Jill that was missing a flip-flop (actually a slide).
Could make for a memorable walk out of the river. 😁
 
I always thought it a shame that the sign on a lake that says "fly fishing only" means that's the only way you're allowed to fish and not that's the only activity that's allowed there. This impossible dream comes from witnessing lakes, especially in central Oregon, being loved to death by the intrusion of multiple boards, kayaks etc. I know......wish in one hand and fart in the other and see which one weighs the most. The only cure is to go fishing when the weather is shitty.
 
If you don't fish you don't know. They were probably focused on not hitting you.

Might want to think about joining them. It's a great way to fish.
I definitely wouldn't mind a board for carp, but not on a small river like this.
 
central Oregon, being loved to death by the intrusion of multiple boards, kayaks etc.
yep, the SUP hatch is a real thing at all the smaller non-power lakes here in D county. Don't begrudge them, however, everyone is entitled to get outdoors and recreate. As to courtesy on the water, best to view it like driving...never expected from other drivers, pleasantly surprised when offered.
 
It's a personal decision. Many experienced white water SUP riders use a leash. I'm guessing inexperience leading to choosing the incorrect leash was the mistake creating the accident.

Another great NRS product.
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It’s a personal decision for sure. And a potentially fatal one, if you decide to wear a leash on your SUP in a woody river, like the Cedar. I’m no whitewater expert, but I was talking about this SUP leash thing to a dude who is a whitewater expert, and he also agreed that it’s just not something people should do. Those leashes are for other places, not rivers with rapids and snags. So sez I.
 
You should try throw netting fish…way more productive than casting a fly rod…then there is explosives…both may deter sup encounters (especially explosives)
My hillbilly relatives used an old military crank up field phone and 2 wires dunked in the body of water they were poaching at the time....
 
I understand the frustration. When someone is actively fishing in a river and clearly working a spot, it’s just common courtesy to give them some space and, if possible, pass behind them. It’s not about claiming the river, but about respecting what others are doing. A lot of people on SUP stand up paddle boards don’t have much experience around anglers and probably don’t realize how easily they can ruin a good chance at a fish by drifting right through the spot. You handled it well by staying calm and trying to explain. It would be great if more people took the time to understand how to share the water.
 
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I grew up fishing on the Cedar River. No SUPs back in the day, but lots of inner tubes & rafts. Nothing has changed. You pretty much have to expect that’s going to happen regularly on that river…

I’m still happy we get to fish it. It’s a nice little urban stream.
 
No, not stripers. And not carp in this river, but those probably are in the bottom mile...

No, I mean F*&%ing paddle boards. I knew it would happen one of these days. It's here.

I was fishing the Cedar tonight to check for shad, which have not invaded yet this year, and saw a really nice trout rise under some overhanging trees. I had already gone through with the shad jig and was now slinging a crayfish since that's pretty much all I brought besides the shad gear. I was only about 3 or 4 step-downs from having him in range and here comes clueless Jack & Jill down the river on their boards. Now, I realize it's a small river, but this was a hole that there was plenty of room to go behind me. When Jack was still in a position to try I said "you think you could go behind me?" He either didn't hear or was confused. He finally focused on me and was like "I'm sorry, what?" I said "Never mind, I was hoping you would've gone behind me since I'm fishing." He didn't say a word just a blank stare not too far from the infected people on Last of Us. It was weird. He obviously has NEVER fished a river.
He proceeded to go right over the fish. And then Jill came following and went in front of me, but at least didn't go over the fish.

I didn't get mad since I was just out for a shad scout and was slinging a big crayfish. There was a pretty decent mayfly hatch going on. If I would've been trying to match the hatch on that feeding fish I would've made more of an effort to have them go behind me. And would've been more...vocal if they hadn't.

So...should paddle boarders be expected to go behind people fishing if safe to do so? Like, does the paddle board crowd, if there is such a thing, understand that? Having people go too close in the lake is one thing. Coming right down the prime lie in a river is another.

Btw, no pfd on either Jack or Jill, but I know that's probably normal for the SUP crowd. Hopefully, they didn't get stuck in any of the many log jams. People man...
had a string of folks pass me on donut floats on the Cedar one year. When they worked their way through, about a minute after they had passed straight through the run I was working, hooked the best fish of the day.

Thought of it later as the donut hole...

You wonder if they had their fins on, a lot of the water there is going to ruin a paddle board fin and the sudden jolt off the board into the slickness of that river may not make for a great date. Much better to be in a unicorn or donut floaty....
 
I had some tubers comes up on a hole I was fishing on the Cedar. 2 of the 3 got out before the hole while the drunk one proceeded to go into the hole, hit a sweeper log and was under. I was beginning to think I'd have to jump in after him when he popped up. Him and his buddies got up on the bank, asked if I had any matches so they could like a joint ... crazy folks - water and booze doesn't always mix.
 
We even got 'em. I came across a riderless tube down by the state park.
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I’m no whitewater expert, but I was talking about this SUP leash thing to a dude who is a whitewater expert, and he also agreed that it’s just not something people should do.
It's a leash with a quick release. Most whitewater experts use one.
 
Tubers are totally expected on the warmer days. And I don't expect them to have any control, or courtesy. I don't fish the rubber hatch. I've been a tuber myself. It's fun on a hot day! I don't begrudge anyone floating thru on those days.

SUPs have more control and this was a cool enough day I was wadered up with a flannel on. It was also within an hour of sunset. So the T-shirt and shorts on SUPs in that situation was out of place.
And they had room to safely go behind me.

It was one of those new data point moments- we now have a new group of users on this river.
I've had plenty of kayaks know to go behind me if safe to do so. The SUP crowd will, hopefully, learn to do the same thing.
 
It's a leash with a quick release. Most whitewater experts use one.
Gotcha. The thing is clueless people don’t know such a thing exists (like myself) and are taking their SUPs down woody rivers with standard leashes (unlike myself). Two of them died on the Snoqualmie River in 2023.
 
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