Floating Putah?

Troutbum Tommy · Newbie

Floating Putah?

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

People have floated PC and ended up in the hospital.

Skol Bandit · Senior Member

I've seen kayaks float the creek. I've also seen pictures of people in small rafts. I think you would be better off waiting for higher flows, though.

Ross, you think it's too dangerous? Why?

East Bay Ed · Senior Member

People can do short stretches that they check out in advance. I've fished Putah for 50 years, and each year I find rubber rafts, and pieces of canoes and kayaks. Beware. I don't think it is worth the risk. You can float the lower part of the creek down towards Lake Solano.

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

It’s dangerous because there’s many trees and roots in the water. Also boulders that’ll throw the raft over. A large raft isn’t small enough to maneuver. You need the creek at high flows to make it through places and at high flows there are bottle necks that are very dangerous. A couple people die every year or two floating the creek. You can float certain places but not running the entire creek. You really wanna float something hit the Feather for spring steelhead or the American for shad/striper.

mudhen · Senior Member

There are bottom ripping rocks at the run down from the bridge, a BIG tree at the end of deer sign , and God help you negotiate the rocks at the top of access 3. You could get killed there. An experienced kayaker can do most of this ( the tree at deer sign is portage time, but a raft is courting trouble. Having said that, I have indulged any number of reckless activities, so use your best judgement.

dan916 · Newbie

Floating the creek is pure suicide. Best option is to get Out on a pontoon in the lower section where it gets soupy and dark!! I do it quite ofteN pulling streamers and always get a couple fattys

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

Saw a dead raft in the trees at access 3 on Saturday

-- Edited by Bob Loblaw on Friday 27th of April 2018 10:36:31 AM

-- Edited by Bob Loblaw on Friday 27th of April 2018 10:36:54 AM

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

Many many years ago myself and my bride to be rafted down putah and came very close to dying( no joke). Like everyone else has already stated DONT DO IT! I have personally witnessed on three different occasions people swimming for their lives after their rafts Flipped.On one occasion I helped rescue a float tuber at access five after a flood event on putah. He lost his tube his waders were pulled off him in the strong curremy ,he was left only with part of his t- shirt and underwear. He was also hypothermic and I had to revive and warm him up on a warm rock until he was able to function. that dude cheated death big time!

Bflyguy · Veteran Member

Dont be crazy! Why would risk your life for a little trout? No way man! biggrin

-- Edited by Bflyguy on Sunday 3rd of June 2018 09:59:16 PM

Bflyguy · Veteran Member

yawn

-- Edited by Bflyguy on Sunday 3rd of June 2018 09:56:43 PM

Bflyguy · Veteran Member

Na, don't do it!

-- Edited by Bflyguy on Sunday 3rd of June 2018 09:52:40 PM

Bflyguy · Veteran Member

biggrin

-- Edited by Bflyguy on Friday 18th of May 2018 10:10:39 PM

Always-on · Veteran Member

Floating is the best way to catch large fish in putah its not as dangerous as every one says. Its called COMMON SENSE! Dont go into fast moving water... its not hard???? Fish the pools and if that water starts to carry you... get out. Just use your brain. I pretty much only fish putah in a tube and catch fish nearly every time. Boats were invented for a reason it gives you better access. i stopped wearing waders though i almost drown wading twice since then its a shorty wetsuit and booties all day.

frank trout · Veteran Member

Check out a product called Wader Skins better than wet suit safer the waders

Greybeard · Member

Can't wait to see dozens of float tubes and rafts on the creek. Should really help the fishing. ;)

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

Greybeard wrote:
Can't wait to see dozens of float tubes and rafts on the creek. Should really help the fishing. ;)

Yup. Some people dig their own graves.

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

There was a comment on the forum that said the internet killed fishing. I’m truly starting to believe that. The amount of guides on PC has sky rocketed and the advertisement of the creek along with it.