Learning to Row Rivers

Scout your take out before launching and be able to identify it from upstream approach.

Understand how long your float is for how you plan to fish relative to daylight left from launch and various points on the way.

Stay away from the wood.

Fish the in-between water that most rush past in their efforts to get to the sexy stuff that's already been flogged to death.

Wear a PFD and have fun!
 
If there's something you don't want to run into, point your nose at it and row backwards.

Don't follow your buddy too closely, if he stops you don't have brakes.

Pfd is non negotiable.

I've been learning recently myself and have found it really helpful to be with someone who has a better idea than me. Just for the confidence of watching someone else take a line first it's huge.

Take your necessary precautions according to your risk profile and send it!
 
If you have ONX, another tip is to do off line mapping to follow the progress of your float and where the take out is.

Plain and simple. You're going to hit rocks. You're going to mess us here and there, learning to minimize is key. if you're not feeling a "rapid" you can always line it down the bank until your skills meet the challenge
 
I've been floating for years, and the one thing I still can't quite figure out is how to maintain alignment with the current and match the current speed while moving either inshore and offshore. I've seen it done, but it's magic, as far as I'm concerned.
 
Make sure your will is up to date and have a good bottle of whiskey so you can have a stiff shot to calm your nerves after surviving a difficult run......or...... before putting into a new river go with an experienced guide first and pay attention.
 
If it looks too much current for you to handle find a river thats is not too wild like the Snoqualmie to practice on wear the PFD
 
Dave G said:
I've been floating for years, and the one thing I still can't quite figure out is how to maintain alignment with the current and match the current speed while moving either inshore and offshore. I've seen it done, but it's magic, as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...
This would be the right time to say: "Here's how..."
 
Dave G said:
This would be the right time to say: "Here's how..."
Click to expand...
Line up landmarks.
Pick something close and easily visible 90° off either oar and find something else in the distance that lines up with that feature. A quick glance every couple of strokes maintains current speed.
Do the same for something directly down-current, and Bob's yer uncle.
 
G_Smolt said:
Line up landmarks.
Pick something close and easily visible 90° off either oar and find something else in the distance that lines up with that feature. A quick glance every couple of strokes maintains current speed.
Do the same for something directly down-current, and Bob's yer uncle.
Click to expand...
I'm not following. How does that help moving toward and away from the bank without changing the heading or the speed relative to the current?
 
Ignore the "looking down-current" part and focus on the 90° off the oar portion. If you line up two landmarks perpendicular to your pat of travel and they stay lined up, you are now moving the same speed as the current. To ferry on/offshore without going up- or down-stream, set about 10° towards target (relative to current) and keep your landmarks lined up.
 
I took a class on learning to canoe. I think it was like twice a week for a couple of months. It was put on by a canoe club, and they are easily found by searching the internet.

It included all the safety stuff, and even required swimming a 1/4 mile in a pool with your clothes on while dragging a canoe. Covered all the canoe strokes and with little adaption you can figure out how to make it work with a raft.

It did cover reading the water. Granted canoe water and raft water are two different animals, but reading the water skills are similar.

The end of the class was a long float down a real river, and by that time everybody was a pretty good canoeists.

The only downside, is you really need a partner for canoeing. So pick somebody that will be around to float with after the course, and not how attractive they are!!!

It has been one of the most worthwhile classes I have taken. It is difficult to find people that know how to canoe.
 
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