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PONTOON BOAT CLINIC THURSDAY, APRIL
26TH. GBF will host a pontoon boat clinic for members who want to
improve their boat handling skills. Rick Radoff, will be teaching
the clinic, which will be held at Sailor Bar on the Lower American
River. We will drift from Sailor Bar to Sunrise and take out there.
The drift will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or so. There is no
limit on participation, and there is no fee. We will announce the
clinic at the meeting this coming Thursday evening. There will be no
need to sign up--just show up if you want to take part in the
clinic. We will arrange shuttles when we get there. If you decide to
participate, please be there at 4:30 so we can begin the drift
promptly at 5:30. If you have questions, call Bill Carnazzo at (530)
367-5209, or Rick Radoff at (916) 624-2107. This will be a fun
event--if you wish, bring rods, BBQ, party stuff, etc.
PONTOON BOAT REMINDERS
by
John Peterson
The time is prime for fishing many local rivers. Drifting in a
pontoon boat can be an enjoyable experience. Following common sense
rules and these simple reminders will go a long way in keeping you
out of trouble on the river.
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Learn to read the water. The real secret to successful
drifting is to let the natural flow of the river do the work.
Use it to your advantage!
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Safety is always a concern. A personal flotation vest is
mandatory on most waters. Caution: some states/rivers do not
allow inflatable life vests. Vests should always be worn in
rough or unknown water or windy conditions. It is a good idea to
tie down your oars as they can easily be pushed out of the oar
locks if struck by an object. A spare oar is not a bad idea. I
always tie a loose 10 ft. line between the bow-stern rings
pontoon rings which can be used to secure the boat when exiting
or tethering the boat or otherwise can be grabbed easily if
needed in an emergency. I usually carry a hand pump as air
pressures change during the day. A patch kit is optional, but I
always carry a Leatherman type tool in my side pouch.
Periodically check for loose rubber doughnut retainers on your
oars.
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Anchors are another issue. They should always be used when
the boat is beached. Throw out at least 8ft. of rope,
regardless of water depth. I have chased several boats down
river when anchored too tightly. Anchors can be used midstream
in mild flowing water. Always deploy the anchor when the boat
is facing straight down stream; if the boat is angled, a pontoon
can dig in or otherwise tip you over. Take care when anchoring
in very fast water. My motto: “If not sure, don’t anchor”.
Caution: Anchors do get caught in rocks & may not be
retrievable; cutting the rope & abandoning the anchor may be the
only option.
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What to do
about rods? Tie them down or tether if in unknown or
questionable water. I personally do not care for vertical rod
holders as I have seen many rods lost when pulled out by
overhead branches. My preference is to lay/string my rod
lengthwise along the pontoon. A plastic case, rope loops or
shock type cord all work well. Remember to pay attention to
what is above and below you when floating down a river. Banging
into obstacles in the river or on the bank can expose rod tips
to breakage.
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While drifting down river it is common to get into shallow
water, to graze the bottom, hit a rock or bank. The pontoons
normally are rugged enough to withstand most impacts. Always
face down river and let the natural current do the work. The
key is to keep away from sharp objects! Watch out for sticks,
sharp rocks and overhead sweepers (trees or branches hanging
over the water). Keep your feet on the pegs, out of the water
when drifting or they may get caught and pull you out of the
boat. I do not use fins on moving water for similar reasons.
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Reading the water is important. As the river flows you will
encounter fast, slow, shallow & deep water. Water will form a
natural “V” indicating the channel, follow through the “V” where
practical. An inverted “V” indicates a submerged object, pass
to one side or the other. When there is a bend in the river the
deeper channel is usually towards the outside bank.
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When faced with an obstruction or anything else you want to
avoid, point the boat towards the object and row away from it.
Short, shallow, strong strokes work well for adjusting boat
direction. Many times the above-water obstruction creates a
“bow wave” which may help by pushing you away from the object.
In a very swift water flow, the current can carry you directly
into the object. There is usually a depression after passing an
object midstream and you may be drawn back towards the obstacle
(back eddy).
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It is common to encounter small waterfalls (drops) along the
river and many times we become overly concerned when faced with
this dilemma; “do I find a way around or do I go over?”. If
there is no other easy option, face the waterfall, aim straight
forward, and normally the boat will porpoise straight through
the falls. Going over/through a waterfall sideways usually
results in flipping the pontoon boat.
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Hydraulics are similar to depressions except they are
created by objects under water and are not always visible.
Hydraulics can be scary. They are rough, and can bounce you
around, spin, or otherwise hold you in place for what seems like
an incredible length of time. Rowing either forward or backward
will help stabilize/control the boat and eventually will carry
you out/through the rough water.
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Holding the oars down into the water can assist in aiding
the current to carry you down stream and stabilize the boat. A
hard upstream wind can halt your progress and may even push you
backwards. Just holding the oars submerged in the water can be
more effective than rowing, assists in offsetting the wind
influence, and can keep you moving down stream.
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If you
fall into the water, don’t panic, roll onto your back and face
down stream so your legs will protect you from objects. In this
down stream sitting position pull backwards with both hands and
eventually you will get to shore.
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