Helena Frye
Drift boats are a little backwards, with the bow pointing downstream but the stern end determining the direction of travel. This can be confusing for people who are used to conventional boats. When rowing a drift boat, it's important to remember that pulling on the oars will slow the boat down as you proceed downstream. If you want to avoid an obstacle, turn the stern in the direction you want to go and pull on the oars to pull yourself away from the object.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Direction | The stern end of the boat determines the direction |
| Obstacles | Turn the stern in the direction you want to go and pull on the oars to avoid obstacles |
| Rowing | The row seat is located on the stern end of the boat |
| Rowing | Pull on the oars to slow the boat down as you proceed downstream |
| Rowing | Backtrolling is when a boat rows in the current |
| Stations | There are three stations on a normal drift boat: the guide in the centre on the oars, an angler in the forward position, and an angler behind the guide in the rear position |
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What You'll Learn
How to avoid obstacles when drifting
Drifting in a boat is a little backwards. Even though the bow is the high end and points downstream, it does not control the direction you wish to go, but rather the stern end, and which way it is pointed, determines your destination. If the boat is drifting towards an obstacle and you wish to avoid it, turn the stern to the direction that you wish to go and pull on the oars, thus pulling yourself away from the object before straightening the boat out to proceed downstream. Most people's inclination is to push on the oars, which only ensures that you will hit the obstacle before you can manoeuvre away from it.
If you are sitting in the row seat, which is located on the stern end of the boat, remember to pull on the oars and slow the boat down as you proceed downstream. If there is a boat rowing in the current, running plugs (backtrolling), the worst thing that you could do is to drop downstream just below them and begin casting. Usually, when drift boats are set up to backtroll plugs, they fully intend on fishing all the way through that hole and either rowing back up to the top and running again or proceeding downstream.
Drifting in a car is all about car control. A drifter has to know how their car will react with the road surface, how to instantly react to outside forces, where to look, and how to recover from mistakes. A drifter has to have impeccable hand and foot coordination and confidence in a vehicle. Drifting can save you from losing car control when moving around corners at high speed. To avoid accidents, keep your eyes focused ahead to the next phase of a course. Put into practice on the road, this keeps your eyes up and ahead, paying attention to the next turns and allowing a wider field of peripheral vision to avoid obstacles and other drivers. This looking-ahead vision, and eye work (keeping eyes moving) is a key to situational awareness and knowing the 'out' in a difficult situation. It is a habit taught in every motorsport.
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How to avoid poaching when fly fishing
Poachers are opportunists who will strike when there are no police or bailiffs around. To avoid poaching when fly fishing, it is important to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour. If you suspect poaching, do not confront the suspected poachers. Instead, take a photo of their vehicle's license plate, note what they are wearing, document identifying boat names or numbers, and take a cell phone video if it is safe to do so. You can also call the OSP TIP Line to report suspicious behaviour that might be linked to poaching.
One way to recognise poaching is if you see someone fishing and they begin to aggressively yank on the line several times to try to hook a fish. This is called "snagging" and is different from setting the hook, which is usually one or two sharp tugs. If someone lands and keeps a fish that has been hooked in the back or tail instead of in the mouth, this is also a sign of poaching.
Another way to avoid poaching is to be aware of the legal fishing hours for certain species. For salmon, shad, steelhead, sturgeon, trout and whitefish, it is only legal to fish one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. For other species like bass and walleye, it is legal to fish at night.
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How to backtroll plugs
To go back on a drift boat, you need to turn the stern in the direction you want to go and pull on the oars to pull yourself away from any obstacles. The bow of the boat points downstream, but it is the stern that controls the direction of the boat.
Backtrolling plugs is a technique where plugs are strung out behind the boat into the current. The length of line you release depends on the type of plug, the depth of the water and the clarity of the water. The oarsman then backs the plugs down the river at a snail's pace. Boat control and this slow pace are very important. The traditional way to control the boat is to use oars to manually slow down the boat's drift while allowing the current to bring wobbling plugs to life. Most veteran plug pullers prefer the "wall of death" method, where all the plugs are let out at equal lengths, creating a wall of plugs that backs down the river. Anglers who are skilled at moving the boat to steer their plugs into productive water are treated to explosive strikes.
When backtrolling in a river, the boat is used to present wobbling plugs to fish holding in runs and shallow holes. The guide can skillfully position the boat and deploy an assortment of wobbling plugs immediately downstream of the boat. Rod holders are used to space out the rods and allow the plugs to fish without tangling among other lines.
When backtrolling, you should start at the top of a run against the right bank and slowly slip downstream towards the left-hand shore. You would continue that right-to-left tack until you got to the left bank and then you’d slowly work your way back to the right side again.
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How to manoeuvre a drift boat in swift water
When manoeuvring a drift boat in swift water, it's important to remember that the stern end of the boat determines which way you're going, not the bow. If you're sitting in the row seat at the stern end, you should pull on the oars to slow the boat down as you proceed downstream.
If you want to avoid an obstacle, turn the stern in the direction you want to go and pull on the oars to pull yourself away from the object. Don't push on the oars, as this will cause you to hit the obstacle.
If you're backtrolling plugs, you should either row back up to the top and run again or proceed downstream. It's considered bad etiquette to drop downstream just below another boat and begin casting.
There are three stations on a normal drift boat: the guide in the centre on the oars, an angler in the forward position, and an angler behind the guide in the rear position. The forward angler has the advantage of getting to the fish first and being in the sight line of the guide, who can direct them more easily.
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How to direct anglers when fly fishing
When fly fishing, anglers should be aware of their positioning. If you've figured out where the honey hole is, and where the trout should be stationed, you should position yourself perpendicularly across from it. Sometimes, slightly downstream of perpendicular is best. This will allow you to present your flies upstream of the fish, and you’ll be in good position for line management, resulting in a drag-free drift through the entire stretch of prime water.
The direction of the cast is determined at the moment the rod tip reaches its highest velocity. The type of cast used when fishing varies according to the conditions. The most common cast is the forward cast, where the angler whisks the fly into the air, back over the shoulder until the line is nearly straight, then forward, using primarily the forearm. If the nymph is drifting too slowly, you should mend downstream. A beginner need simply to point the rod at the fly, lifting the rod in the event of a strike. This is a "downstream technique" where the angler moves in a downstream direction.
If a fish strikes, the angler pulls in line while raising the rod tip. This "sets" the hook in the fish's mouth. The fish is played either by hand, where the angler continues to hold the fly line in one hand to control the tension applied to the fish, or by reeling up any slack in the line and then using the hand to act as a drag on the reel.
If you're fishing from a drift boat, there are three stations: the guide in the centre on the oars, an angler in the forward position and an angler behind the guide in the rear position. The forward angler has the advantage as they will get to the fish first and are in the sight line of the guide, who can direct them with greater ease. If the boat is drifting towards an obstacle, turn the stern to the direction that you wish to go and pull on the oars, thus pulling yourself away from the object before straightening the boat out to proceed downstream.
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Frequently asked questions
The stern end of the boat determines the direction of a drift boat, so turn the stern in the direction you want to go and pull on the oars.
Turn the stern away from the obstacle and pull on the oars to avoid it.
Pull on the oars as you proceed downstream.
Drop downstream just below it and begin casting.
The forward angler will have the advantage as they will get to the fish first and are in the sight line of the guide.
