Wyoming outdoors: Light boat eases angling
Bob Krumm
WYOMING OUTDOORS
I pulled on the oars and the boat slid easily into a small back eddy and, with the slightest of strokes, the boat stayed put. My fishing partner, Andy Toohey, made a cast with a CDC black caddis to a fish that was rising 20 feet away.
Andy's curve cast allowed the fly to float ahead of the leader and line so that the trout took the caddis without hesitation. When Andy set the hook, the rainbow vaulted out of the water and went on a tear down river.
With Andy's reel screaming like it might freeze up at any second, and the fly line disappearing quickly, I decided that I had better row after the trout. The boat slid into the current when I pushed on the oars. With a few hefty strokes and 15 seconds of time, I had gotten close enough to the trout for Andy to retrieve most of the fly line. A short while later the 20-inch rainbow was in the net.
I told Andy, "Your boat is so light and easy to row, the rainbow didn't stand a chance to get away from us. Your boat is like the sports car of drift boats."
Andy thanked me for the compliment and turned his attention back to spotting rising fish. About 20 seconds later, he saw a fish rising behind a mat of moss fairly tight to the shore.
The easiest approach was for me to row out 20 or 30 yards, get below the fish, row close to shore, and push on the oars until I had Andy about 30 feet from the rising fish. Andy's lightweight boat responded to my oar strokes and, with a minimum of effort, I had Andy in position to cast to the rising trout.
The fish was feeding on spent black caddis floating off the moss mat. The rhythmic rising was a sure sign that the fish was intent on eating lots of bugs. Andy cast the black caddis about two feet above the fish and let it drift to the actively feeding trout. The fish took the CDC caddis' first float and another frantic fight was on, but again the responsive boat made it so easy for me to keep up with the trout.
After a five-minute chase, we were able to net a husky 18-inch brown with an awesome girth we later determined to be 13 inches.
For two days, I had the pleasure of rowing Andy's revolutionary drift boat. I couldn't get over how easily it rowed and maneuvered. To top it off, the clearance on the boat was 1 ? to 2 ? inches better than all the mass manufactured drift boats on the market.
Andy has mastered making top quality drift boats out of high-density polyethylene. This tough- as-nails material is also significantly lighter than fiberglass or aluminum. You can pound on Andy's boat with a hammer and scarcely leave a mark.
The lightweight material allows boats to float higher and be less likely to run aground. With water levels exceptionally low this year, that extra two inches or so can make a heck of a difference to an angler. The boat is so easy to row that an inexperienced oarsman can maneuver the boat without much effort.
Those people who like to float turbulent streams should look into Andy's boats. The boats are virtually indestructible and can handle lots of abuse. I doubt that the polyethylene would be punctured by most any rock.
To top it off, Andy's boats have inside gunnels so that wind has little effect on the boat. Andy assures me that the boats don't have much air drag so they tow quite well and help a person get decent gas mileage.
If you would like more information about Andy's great boat, contact him at Boulder Boat Works, Boulder, Colo., (720-565-0789).
Bob Krumm, of Sheridan, is the Wyoming outdoor correspondent for The Billings Gazette. Contact him at rkrumm@fiberpipe.net.
