Floating the Rifle

[turtlehead]

Long time lurker...

I have some buddies coming up this weekend in search of some steel on the east side. We were planning on floating the Au Sable in my drift boat, but was wondering about floating the lower Rifle. I have only waded in the past, mostly above m55, but was curious about floating it lower down.

Any suggestion for put in/take out spots for a drift boat in the lower stretches? I am worried that the water is just a little to skinny for a drift boat, but I know people do it.

I promise I will end my lurking ways and post a report.

[loomisfun]

I don't know what you consider the "lower stretches". There is very little public access on the rifle that would be suitable to launch or retrieve a drift boat. There are a bunch of private canoe launches but you would have to coordinate with them putting in and taking out. The upper stretches of the river are pretty low right now.

[Ralph Smith]

There's a public access below the rapids, would probobly go from there down to the old whites canoe livery(Melita/7 mile rd) and pull out there if its still open.

[ridgewalker]

There are public access points at some of the bridges. It depends on the sections that you want to float. Most of the lower areas would be ok to float.

[TroutSeeker71]

Turtlehead...looking forward to a report as I am headed up that way this coming weekend. I have both my bucks and have always wanted to fall fish the Rifle. I have had good success in the summer but am looking to cut my teeth on steelhead while I am staying at my buddies deer camp in Rose City. Anyone have any pointers? PM if needed. Thanks, Scott

[loomisfun]

Wear an orange hat!! There are quite a few blinds right on the water and others that are visible from the water as you float by. I am sure they will be occupied Saturday and Sunday.

Loomisfun

[Blaketrout]

Wear an orange hat!! There are quite a few blinds right on the water and others that are visible from the water as you float by. I am sure they will be occupied Saturday and Sunday.

:yeahthat:

We always used to give the river a rest during gun season. Gun hunters have only 15 days and fisherman have all year. Figured we could at least give them the courtesy of staying out of the woods until season was over. It's a little safer when the bullets aren't flying anyway... :lol:

[turtlehead]

Thanks for the replies guys. Just got back today. We floated the Au Sable on Saturday. My buddies are not the most accomplished anglers in the world, so I was a little nervous about how 4 in the drift boat would work out. Friday night I went through the gear and gave everyone a little primer on rods and rigs. They had their own waders so everything should be good for the morning right?

Well, after a somewhat long night of drinking, we shook off the cobwebs and headed to Foote Dam. One of my buddies was struggling, so he took a little nap on the dock while we loaded up and got waders on. My other buddy pulls his waders out of a garbage bag and what do you know? Two silver dollar sized holes just above the boots on each leg. At this point I'm thinking this trip was not a good idea. I didn't have the proper patching materials so it was off to the Dam Store for a new pair. $130.00 he was finally ready to fish.

We spot the cars and finally push off. Ran into one guy who had motored up to the dam and floated down who said he saw one fish. We floated down a little ways and stopped to try to get everyone comfortable with the river and immediately the guy who was struggling so bad hooked into a steelhead smolt. The day was looking up!

The next couple hours were fruitless, we floated and fished, and would stop and wade likely spots. Finally came upon some crusty salmon on some gravel and stopped to take a look. We saw maybe a couple dozen salmon and about a half dozen steelhead working alongside and behind the gravel. Fished these spots hard, but had no takers. The guys were excited to see the fish however. From then on, nothing at all, but we didin't see another fisherman the whole way.

Sunday, we fished the Rifle on the way home. Stopped just south of 55 and waded. I fished streamers and had a couple of resident trout give chase, everyone else was chuck and duck with eggs or nymphs. Waded downstream for a few hours with not as much as a look. Ran into a guy and his daughter picking up trash in the woods and he said he caught a few steelies last weekend. As we were leaving, we saw another fisherman who said he'd been fishing the last three weekends and he had caught a few browns.

There are a few fish to be had, but you have to really work for them.

Heard shotguns that seemed really close to the river - must have been bird hunters.

All in all a great time with good friends, but easy to see why nobody is fishing the east side these days.

Again thanks for the replies. Next time I'm going to try to get the drift boat out there, but I think it will have to be further down. The river was fairly low and clear where we were. Looking at the atlas I was thinking Greenwood Rd, or Melita like some have suggested. Maybe it is overkill to take the drifter...canoe would probably be better.