Middle Fork Salmon raft set up for float hunt

[Kyle C]

Let's see some raft set ups for dudes that have done the long float. Trying to put a trip together for a November deer hunt through there one of these years. Here's what I run in Washington and Oregon for salmon and steelhead.

 

[Jpott3]

Always wanted to do that! Looks like a killer setup!


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[PNWGATOR]

That truck rack system looks awesome!

Your frame and fishing set up looks well thought out too.

More details on both please!

 

[Kyle C]

That truck rack system looks awesome!

Your frame and fishing set up looks well thought out too.

More details on both please!

Definitely a awesome platform to row and fish out of. The bed loader makes it to where we have a few more sneaker launches now. (Off the side of a bridge).

This one was made my Shawn Ball at Headwaters Marine. I have a buddy that also builds them who does awesome work. His company is RVR (River Valley Rafts) he's out of Port Angeles.

 

[Geologist]

For low water MFS that frame/floor system appears heavy (and suboptimal for a multi-day hunting trip). However, for a day-tripping fishing rig, it looks baller!!!

At low water, you want to be able to run the tubes and floor on the soft side of soft to grease over the thousands of rocks that you will get stuck on. I've rowed MFS as low as 1.4 on the gauge (in early Sept.) and it was LOW and very technical (but the cutty fishing was world class!!!). In November it will be considerably lower, and you want to be running "backpacking light", unless you want to spend more time dragging raft off rocks than hunting. I run a Wing 14.5-foot with 3-bay lightweight frame from Whitewater Machine Works and I can switch from a fishing set-up, to gear hauler, to paddle raft in about 30 minutes. It excels at everything from Class V to flat-water multi-days.

WING Inflatables | Whitewater Rafts

Wing Whitewater rafts, the best on the river

www.inflatablesolutions.com

 

[Kyle C]

For low water MFS that frame/floor system appears heavy (and suboptimal for a multi-day hunting trip). However, for a day-tripping fishing rig, it looks baller!!!

At low water, you want to be able to run the tubes and floor on the soft side of soft to grease over the thousands of rocks that you will get stuck on. I've rowed MFS as low as 1.4 on the gauge (in early Sept.) and it was LOW and very technical (but the cutty fishing was world class!!!). In November it will be considerably lower, and you want to be running "backpacking light", unless you want to spend more time dragging raft off rocks than hunting. I run a Wing 14.5-foot with 3-bay lightweight frame from Whitewater Machine Works and I can switch from a fishing set-up, to gear hauler, to paddle raft in about 30 minutes. It excels at everything from Class V to flat-water multi-days.

WING Inflatables | Whitewater Rafts

Wing Whitewater rafts, the best on the river

www.inflatablesolutions.com

Awesome set up! Yeah it definitely isn't the lightest, but also not super heavy. We fish alot of shallow water up here and it seems to do well. One thing that make a world of difference and one of the best tips I have ever received is putting Slick Plate on the bottom of your tubes. Makes them slide over rocks like glass boat without the banging sound. I'll definitely be taking off rod holders, thigh bars, and a few other things to lighten it up a bit. Cool thing with this raft also is it has a raised floor. It's kinda cataraft/raft hybrid.

 

[PNWGATOR]

I freekin’ HATE trailers (especially on FS/washboard river roads!) and that bed rack system looks awesome.

 

[Geologist]

Awesome set up! Yeah it definitely isn't the lightest, but also not super heavy. We fish alot of shallow water up here and it seems to do well. One thing that make a world of difference and one of the best tips I have ever received is putting Slick Plate on the bottom of your tubes. Makes them slide over rocks like glass boat without the banging sound. I'll definitely be taking off rod holders, thigh bars, and a few other things to lighten it up a bit. Cool thing with this raft also is it has a raised floor. It's kinda cataraft/raft hybrid.

What size tubes is that Star? The raised floor will definitely help.

I too am contemplating a low water, late season MFS deer hunt/float some year. I was inspired by stumbling on this video a couple years ago. It's a suffer-fest for sure, and you need special skill set to survive the cold/wet/whitewater.

 

[Kyle C]

What size tubes is that Star? The raised floor will definitely help.

I too am contemplating a low water, late season MFS deer hunt/float some year. I was inspired by stumbling on this video a couple years ago. It's a suffer-fest for sure, and you need special skill set to survive the cold/wet/whitewater.

Looks a suffer fest haha. I believe they are 26" tubes. Definitely much larger then normal to accommodate the raised floor.

 

[Kyle C]

I freekin’ HATE trailers (especially on FS/washboard river roads!) and that bed rack system looks awesome.

It definitely has pros and cons. It does take longer to load and offload, but fortunately I don't fish a lot of busy river boat launches. It's also like a damn kite up there and tanks the tacos MPG. It does allow me to pull my jumping jack and boat both though.

 

[bradyhunt]

What size tubes is that Star? The raised floor will definitely help.

I too am contemplating a low water, late season MFS deer hunt/float some year. I was inspired by stumbling on this video a couple years ago. It's a suffer-fest for sure, and you need special skill set to survive the cold/wet/whitewater.

That looks like an incredible trip/float! However there was something weird about all the shots of the guy eating food...

 

[BackcountryIdaho]

That's hilarious. I know that group well. Didn't know they had a video about that trip, but I know a good chunk of that trip was well below zero. I don't know anyone who can put on more miles than some of the dudes in that video.