Pit River

Tug · Veteran Member

Pit River

lightfoot · Senior Member

By far my favorite river to fish. smile

I tried to get somebody to ride shotgun a few months ago and got no takers. It's not one of those rivers you really want to fish alone, even though that's my normal route.

Flows pushing you into the trees? Crossable?

rgloft · Senior Member

PM me next time one of you guys want to share the gas on a pit run

Tug · Veteran Member

Lightfoot, flows pushing into the trees, not crossable, At least not by me.

lightfoot · Senior Member

Kind of what I figured. My take on the increased flows is impartial over the long run. If the flows stay at that level long enough then the trees and vegetation will eventually be cleared out to represent the new water levels. Granted this is going to take years. Did they need to be bumped up, I doubt it but my political lobbying pocket book isn't as deep as most.

It will make it tougher to cross for those nutty enough to try and cross it but opens up other possibilities as well. I see a road trip coming up.

-- Edited by lightfoot on Sunday 22nd of January 2012 08:45:57 AM

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

I'd be game for a Pit River excursion too. Might need to get me a wading staff first.

lightfoot · Senior Member

Rake handles from ACE. They don't colapse very well when trying to stuff them into a car, but on the plus side, they don't colapse very well...ie I havn't broken one yet. Hard to beat the price as well.

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

That was my plan. That or an old ski pole.

Cole Davis · Senior Member

You can't fish there without a staff, seriously. Well you can but you're only going to be able to fish 1/4 of the water, especially now. Spikes and a staff are like having 4 wheel drive up there.

lightfoot · Senior Member

Bob Loblaw wrote:
That was my plan. That or an old ski pole.

Take the old ski pole and throw it away. It won't survive the Pit and when it fails your in trouble.

windknots · Senior Member

For the Ace Hardware rake handle, did you cut it down or leave it as you bought it? Did you drill a hole and attach a lanyard? I've been thinking about doing this for a while and would be interested in what has worked best for those who have made one of these.

lightfoot · Senior Member

Mine I leave full length and drill a hole through the end to tie on some rope. I add a little black tape as the rope I use (mule tape) tends to loosen up over time. I tried running a hex head screw in the bottom at one time for a make shift cleat but it didn't work out so well. After you've used the staff a few trips, the bottom gets a little beat up and "grips" rocks rather well.

Cole Davis · Senior Member

I have a very similar setup although a little more organic. This is a piece of manzanita. My lil brothers buddy made this for me almost 10 years ago, and it has seen some serious time on the water. Paid him 20$ for it when they were both fifteen. It's a little crooked just like me. Note the rope is one of those woven boot laces that you can find at any store. Strong as hell and very thin. Attach it to the wading belt and your set

SK60 · Senior Member

Cole,I think you should trade your pontoon in for a tule raft and use your staff as a push pole.

Cole Davis · Senior Member

That's how we'll make our money. (since there's none in owning a fly shop these days). Lightfoot can kick out some boats, I can do push poles and Greg is gonna have to guide because I sure don't have the patience for it.

windknots · Senior Member

This is very helpful, budget it crazy tight but I think I've got room for a custom Pit River Special. Time to check between the sofa cushions and under the car seat and go whoop it up at Ace Hardware, unless I can find the right manzanita bush nearby.