I float the south fork 3-6 times a summer in a drift boat, I always give courtesy to the power boats as they normally do me, but this year I had a power boat come within 10 yards 1/2 to 3/4 throttle thur some pretty fast water, go up the river 100 yds turn around and come right back by the same distance. Dam near swamped my drifter ( what a fricken @Ss#%&&.) I had my wife, dog and boat full of camping gear. I couldn,t believe this guy. I wish I could have got to my camera fast enough.
I’ve watched this over 30 years. Not the most popular opinion but I don’t think paid guides should be allowed on public waters… livelyhood or not. Many of them feel they have more rights than the typical sportsman.
Most recent situation was at Hells Canyon last year. Several of us were bobber drifting from the shore. All helping eachother; having a good time. Guided jet boat roars up 20 feet from the shore and the paying customers start throwing all their crap right in the middle of us… I’m sure you’ve all seen it in the jet and drift boat scene.
Doesn’t have to be that way and all are not a-holes but many are… happens on hiking trails, the rivers, in the ocean, etc.
I float the south fork 3-6 times a summer in a drift boat, I always give courtesy to the power boats as they normally do me, but this year I had a power boat come within 10 yards 1/2 to 3/4 throttle thur some pretty fast water, go up the river 100 yds turn around and come right back by the same distance. Dam near swamped my drifter ( what a fricken @Ss#%&&.) I had my wife, dog and boat full of camping gear. I couldn,t believe this guy. I wish I could have got to my camera fast enough.
As a jet boater hearing this type of deal pisses me off as much as it does anyone. There is no reason while running a jet to do this type of thing. I know what a pain a wake can be while in a drifting boat ( used to run the upper section in canoes while I worked at the scout camp) and I know that it will often time put feeding fish back down for 5 or 10 min. No reason to screw up some one elses experience just to be a dink.
The problem I see coming down the road is restrictions placed on the river because of complaints or one user group lawyering up and trying to get power boats pushed off of the river.
Well Bmarsh I hope it don’t come down to power boats not being able to be on the river. I think theres room for both! But it all depends on the people! This was my first encounter with idiot in a power boat! every other time its never been a problem!
I have to agree with the guy who wrote on your truck. Having floated that river for 30 years I’ve seen very few jet boats run up side channels. I guess I hav’nt run into you yet. Running a jet boat up a side channel is dangerous and D-bagish. Why don’t you do what 99% of the other jet boaters do, park your boat on the main channel side and walk over to where you want to fish. Or enter the channel from the top and float down to where you want to fish.
Having said that, in 30 years I’ve only had one bad experience with a jet boater and that guy was from Utah, enough said.
I have to agree with the guy who wrote on your truck. Having floated that river for 30 years I’ve seen very few jet boats run up side channels. I guess I hav’nt run into you yet. Running a jet boat up a side channel is dangerous and D-bagish. Why don’t you do what 99% of the other jet boaters do, park your boat on the main channel side and walk over to where you want to fish. Or enter the channel from the top and float down to where you want to fish.
Having said that, in 30 years I’ve only had one bad experience with a jet boater and that guy was from Utah, enough said.
Ah how to word this so you don’t get offended. Based off your idea that running it down is ok, but up it is some how a d-bag thing to do and is dangerous makes no sense to me what so ever. A jet boat draws about half as much water while up and planning on the water as it does floating down. Which is why the shallower it gets the more throttle happy a guy has to be with one.
But in response to the rest, We do park, walk and wade the majority of the time we fish. And there may be a reason you haven’t ran into us. We try to be on the water when people aren’t on there. Rarely are we on the river before 4 or 5 and are usually the last boat off at night. But if you see a guy in his 30’s and an older gray hair in a phantom jet boat, waving…thats us 
I said floating down is OK, not running down.
I’ve been thinking about the last time I seen a jet boat run up a side channel on the SF and it has been quite a few years. Fortunately 99% of the Jet boaters on the SF realize how stupid and dangerous it is and don’t do it.
“The shallower it gets the more throttle happy a guy has to be” My point exactly. Like I said before, running a jet up a narrow, shallow side channel that someone in a drift boat, pontoon boat or raft might be floating down is D-Bagish and dangerous.
I was pretty far down the river up near Lower Mesa falls last year, walking down the river. I had seen a couple drift boats and have never had any problems sharing some of the better holes with them since there is plenty of water and usually not many boats.
You do know to get a boat in the water below Lower Mesa Falls is about a 1000 foot drag down a steep rocky, dirt hill. The next time I see a drift boat on that section of the HF will be the first. Rafts yes, Drift boats, no.
I said floating down is OK, not running down.
I’ve been thinking about the last time I seen a jet boat run up a side channel on the SF and it has been quite a few years. Fortunately 99% of the Jet boaters on the SF realize how stupid and dangerous it is and don’t do it.
“The shallower it gets the more throttle happy a guy has to be” My point exactly. Like I said before, running a jet up a narrow, shallow side channel that someone in a drift boat, pontoon boat or raft might be floating down is D-Bagish and dangerous.
Had to look back through your posts…forgot your a nice troll on here. Kept any fish lately? Posted any reports? Or just post to disagree?
Good part about running up vs floating down… I can see people coming down and can shut er down and let get back out of the channel without having to go past em. Floating down on the other hand, not always an option.
But enjoy the trolling there BS.
I think this thread has run its course. I think that it is an important issue and we should all try to be courteous no be we drifters, boaters, or waders.
I also think there are too many variables to consider so we should all just use common sense. Side channels come in all different sizes, depths, amount of brush etc…
Peace.[angelic] Lets go fishing and post some reports.
Windriver
i thought i would chime my two cents in even though the thread has been closed. I think we are all sportsmen and there is certain etiquette that every body should abide by. there is etiquette for every fisherman/sportsman to abide buy. as much as it may differ from jet and motor boats to drift boats and waders it should all be common courtesy. but no matter what you do there will always be people who shun jet boats or drift boats or wade fishing. we all need to get along to further better our amazing sport.