drift boat oars

[flyfisheraa573]

I am looking to invest in some new oars for my drift boat. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks ahead of time for any advice,

Jonathan

[James Buice]

I'm a big fan of the Cataract internally counterbalanced oars with the floating blades. The counterbalance cuts down on fatigue and the floating blades keep the oars from sticking during side float or wedging up in current if they're free.

-James

[Rusty Fowler]

Sawyer: www.paddlesandoars.com

[flyfisheraa573]

to both of you guys. I have actually looked at both of the sites noted.

I do have a question though, here in the SE, especially the HI, the rocks can be pretty rough. Granted I realize that you are not supposed to hit rocks, but it does happen. Will wooden oars, like Sawyer hold up to same the abuse that composite oars will? I personally like the look of wooden oars, but I know the performance of composite oars such as Cataracts are hard to beat.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks again,

Jonathan

[Drifter]

jonathan,

As you've probably noticed, oars ain't cheap. The best deal I found was to get the oars that Greg Tatman sells on his website. They were shipped with my kit so I save a little on shipping costs. I have the 8 1/2 footers that sell for $98 each. They are made of fir by Gull Oars. They are light and strong. I've had mine for five (5) years now and never broke or cracked one. (Of course I have now jinxed myself and will prolly break both of them on my next trip ;) I ordered wooden oars simply because my boat is wood as well.

I have the rubber sleeves on the tip for protection. If you get the Gull's let me know. I have a bunch of the sleeve sets in the garage gathering dust. Tatman sent me some extras at no charge but I still have the originals on the oars.
http://www.gregboats.com/images/sleeve.jpg

[flyfisheraa573]

Yes, I agree, oars ain't cheap at all!

I haven't heard of those, but I will check them out, I was also looking at a set from another company in BC.

While we have this discussion going let me ask this as well. What is a good length on oars? I have heard 9 ft on Hi-Sides and 8 ft on Lo-Sides and 8'6" is also a good all around size. Is there any particular formula that anyone can shed some light on?

I have a 14 ft Hyde low-side, Just FYI.

Also, I asked the question under another topic and no one really responded, so maybe you can also answer this. Where are some good places to drift in GA. I know you can on the Toccoa, and Hootch, but I don't know the specifics. Put-In and Take-out, how long is the drift, etc. Can anyone help me out with this?

Tight Lines,

Jonathan

[Drifter]

I mis-spoke.....the 8 1/2 footers from Gull are actually made of ash. Eamil the boat manufacturer (Hyde?) and they can tell you what length would be best. I have a 16 footer and Tatman recommended them.

I like to float the Hooch with my 6hp motor attached. I can motor upriver from Medlock or Abbott's Bridge and drift back down. Prior to purchasing the motor, I would call a taxicab for my shuttle. I had one particular driver that knew where the ramps were located.

If you like to fish for shoal bass, try the drift from Sprewell Bluff State Park (near Thomaston) to Hwy 36 (Flint River Outdoor Center). They have a shuttle bus for the rafters and tubers. I typically put the boat in at the SP (boat ramp) and drive to the Outdoor Center. Pay my $5 and ride back to the ramp on the bus (my son stays with the boat and gear). I think the bus runs 4 or 5 times a day beginning at 9:00 am. Make sure they will let you back your trailer onto the gravel bar behind the center to take the boat out. This was not a problem in the past. You can also do a longer float from Goat Mountain campground to Hwy 36 (they run the shuttle to Goat Mountain as well.)

[flyfisheraa573]

Thanks for the info, I have often heard that the Flint is an awesome river to fish, for Shoal Bass. I will have to try that out.

I may shoot you a line later for some additional information on fishing for Shoal Bass.

Tight Lines,

Jonathan

[Rusty Fowler]

I have two sets of Sawyer oars. 9ft Ash Dynelites and 9ft MXS-G dynelites. The blades are some kind of very light composite. I have used 9 footers on high sides and low sides and have been happy with both. I bought these oars for their toughness and lightness. After 10-14 hours on the water you want something that is light. These guys build oars for whitewater rafts,drifters,ect..and paddles for the whitewater industry. I wouldn't be too concerned about the wooden blades. Some of the guys that work for Sawyer still use the Smoker oars despite having the composites available. They offer all kinds of accessories for oars...oar rights, counterbalancers, ect.

I have the PoleCat breakdown oar as a back-up in the boat. This is their most economic oar but you would never know it. You should talk with Bruce Bergstrom before you make any coices. Tell him what you have and what price range you're looking at and I think you'll be happy with what he recommends. If you would, please tell him I sent you;).

[flyfisheraa573]

Funny you mentioned the Pole Cat oars, I was just looking at them. I was also looking at the wooden ones as well, and the ones that are offered on Greg Tatman's website.

I can see the point the lighter the better, I do not prefer my oars because they seem so heavy, however my buddy has lighter counter-balanced oars and they seem to handle so much better.

Thanks for the tip and I will tell him you said hello.

Jonathan

[flyfisheraa573]

I just got off of the phone with Sawyer.

Bruce was on the other line with you, so I talked with another fellow.

He helped me out though, and set me up with some prices.

I will let you know the outcome.

-Jonathan

[Rusty Fowler]

Jonathon,

You won't need a counterbalancer for the models I have, nor will you need them for the PoleCats. They're all very light! Yeah, I had to call to remind them to send an invoice. I let all of my oars go with boats I've sold over the last few months. Ol' Petey just had to have my Dynelites with the Boulder I sold him. I just replaced them last month.

I have used Sawyers for around 20 trips now and I'm very pleased with them. If you're planning on doing any trips up around East TN in the near future you're welcome to demo mine to see what you think. You'll be sold if you row with them!

[James Buice]

Rusty,
Are you going with the Ro Boats now or did you decide on something else?

[Rusty Fowler]

James,

I have one Clacka now (yellow.) I had the two red ones that I sold last October and I sold Sean Peterson (Petey) the Boulder last month. I have a 20ft Key West that I bought from a striper guide up in Nancy Kentucky. He won the boat in a tournament on Lake Cherokee. It's a new boat and I plan to use it for striper and bass on the lakes in E.TN. Flyfishing and baitcasting trips. I have a jet boat on order to hit the tailwaters but there's a shortage on Yamaha jet outboards. It seems all I do is wait on people. The tailwaters are about to be prime for stripers and trout!

For anyone interested in doing some unique trips please keep an eye out for flydrifters.net. I plan on having this website back online very soon!

[flyfisheraa573]

Thanks for the advice and offer, I may take you up on that, or if you want when I borrow those, I'll take you as well to give you some time off of the oars.

Again thanks, and I will let you know of the outcome.

-Jonathan

[Rusty Fowler]

You're welcome, Jonathon. That sounds like a deal to me, let me know when you plan to be up here.

[flyfisheraa573]

Will do so!

By the way did you send me a message about fishing E. Tenn rivers a while back to my personal email? If so, thanks between you and Rocky, ya'll have kind of changed my mind.

Check, hiwassee.net, under "new rates." It is an ongoing saga, but a pretty interesting read in some places, in others, just plain dumb. In the end, I can see the worth.

You'll understand what I mean.

Also, when are you getting your website back up?

Thanks again,

Jonathan

[Rusty Fowler]

Put it this way, I'm so bold that you will be pleased with Tennessee fishing that if you don't like it by trip number 4, I'll pay for your license. Let me plan your trips and you'll catch these tailwaters at their best. If you hook into a couple of Clinch and South Holston specials you may even consider moving;). I've moved trout so big that I thought they were stripers! And, I have caught stripers while I was fishing for trout. When Kent started posting about the striper trips down on the hooch that was all I needed to get things going up here. Striper water is everywhere around here!

I'm hoping to have my website back up by the end of next month.