Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Fly-Fishing Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-24-2020, 06:12 PM
aiceeslater aiceeslater is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 52
Default Blackstone River raft trip info

Double posting from “general discussion” as the goal here is fly fishing.

I’m looking to float the canyon section of the Blackstone River from the FTR bridge to the gas plant bridge about 25km downstream. I’ve got a 14ft aquamarine raft and done many overnight tips but nothing through a canyon like this. The Backroad mapbook has it classified as Class 2+ (Never seen the + before?) and calls its a canoe trip but I’ve search old posts on here and found threads with people telling others to stay out of there, calling it “whitewater”

Looking for any info I can get on this particular stretch of river. I fish it some and know the river pretty well above and below this point. Doesn’t seem dangerous on any of the other stretches I’m familiar with but the inaccessible canyon bit could hold some surprises.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-24-2020, 08:35 PM
Bhflyfisher Bhflyfisher is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Prince George, BC
Posts: 1,190
Default

Nothing you cant rope a boat through. There was only 1 spot I can remember where I chose to get out. Take it for what its worth, I was in a 1 person frameless raft.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-27-2020, 08:43 PM
FlyDog FlyDog is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 20
Default

Hi - floated that stretch a couple of years ago with a buddy on our Outcast pontoon boats. Mines a 9 foot Fishcat. The water was high and running fast so it got a bit hairy a couple of times - once on a sharp bend into a rock canyon wall, and once when I butted up against a small log jam. We survived without incident, but I was genuinely frightened a couple of times.
Having said all that, if you do it when the water level is normal to low, I'm sure you'll be fine. The high water and the sheer volume of it barreling down that canyon made for an adventure I won't forget.
We didn't have life jackets or helmets - two things I would not do it again without.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-28-2020, 09:34 AM
aiceeslater aiceeslater is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 52
Default

If we made the trip, we’d do it when the water was lower and cleaner so we can have better luck fishing it. Good to hear you did it in rough conditions and still made it out alright. We’d definitely bring life jackets. How many hours did it take you?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-28-2020, 02:20 PM
FlyDog FlyDog is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 20
Default

I don't remember exactly, but somewhere between 8 and 10 hours. And we didn't stop to fish much because we were concerned about how long it would take (didn't want to be floating in the dark), and the conditions weren't ideal anyway. We've planned to do it again, but camp overnight somewhere about half way.
If the river is lower and clear then you should probably count on 10 hours without stopping. This presents a problem in my opinion.....the best water is the first 1/3rd. You don't want to be fishing it early in the morning - so my advice would be to plan on spending a night.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-28-2020, 10:03 PM
aiceeslater aiceeslater is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 52
Default

This is my rig. (minus outboard for this trip of course)I’ve asked around and seems like the only thing holding me back is wanting to go during lower flows to fish good dry fly water. I’m about 6ft wide plus oars. Hoping it’s not too wide or heavy. Don’t wanna get fetched up or have to drag it any fair distance.

Spending the night would be the plan ideally but would mean I’d be even heavier. Still think I float higher than a canoe though.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 59B2A6F4-29BC-4A3C-BD71-CE2C082668E6.jpg (19.1 KB, 70 views)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:36 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.