Redneck Driftboating

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Redneck Fly Fishing at its best. Photo By: Louis Cahill

Yes, someone actually took the time to build this pathetic hybrid driftboat/soap box derby car.

Louis and I found it snagged on a shallow riffle and abandoned on my home tailwater the other day. It was comprised of two ten gallon sealed water canisters at the bow and stern. The hull was built with a two-by-four frame and plywood deck, and bicycle tires were fastened at the corners. I’m guessing the redneck engineering idea was that the design would be much easier to roll over shallow shoals while drifting the extreme low water flows. Here’s the scary part, whoever captained this boat/car, actually made it two miles down stream before it fell apart. I only wish I would have been there to witness it’s maiden voyage, and then force them to burn it into a pile of ashes along the riverbank.

I really can’t blame whoever built this thing though. My driftboat doesn’t do much better with the pathetic 120-150cfs of water the TVA blesses me with annually.  Right now, 50% of the United States is in severe drought for 2012 and many trout seasons on watersheds across the country will be cut short significantly this year. I feel sorry for all the fly fishing guides and fly shops that will suffer this year because of the drought. For all you out there that fall into this category, here’s something positive to be grateful for. Just be happy you’re not me. Drought conditions or not, I rarely have satisfactory water levels on my home tailwater. There’s very few days that offer easy floating with three people in a boat. For you westerners, at least you have a fighting chance things will turn around for the better next year, and if you’re lucky, you’ll find some stillwater to wet a line until conditions turn around.

Keep it Reel,

Kent Klewein
Gink & Gasoline
www.ginkandgasoline.com
hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
 
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11 thoughts on “Redneck Driftboating

  1. That one is a classic Louis. You have to love misguided ingenuity, it’s what made this country great. How else do you explain the hot dog? Living in the upper Great Lakes region we’re blessed with a little more moderate conditions, and recent shots of heavy rain have brought the rivers back up. I feel bad for the rest of the country.

  2. That’s just freakin awesome. Though I can honestly say that push come to shove, I would probably come up with something just as rediculous.

  3. That is awesome!! Reminds me of the pontoon boat that cruises my home lake: Just the platform with 2 saw horses on either side as a seat/railing combo!!

  4. Pingback: Redneck Drift Boating « Callwarner's Blog

    • Chris,

      That is a keen observation you made there, ha. I didn’t have time to grow a mullet either. Thanks for the comment and I hope you enjoyed the photo. It’s a unique one.

      Kent

  5. Bummer about your waters, I guess living in the Pacific Northwest, where it’s rumored to rain 9 months a year has it bright spots. Thankfully I have resisted the temptation to gloat about it. Summer started late and the lakes in Eastern Washington took up the time when the rivers were blown out and high well through June. Hopper time looks to be a good’n in my part of Montana and North Idaho. I’m pullin for ya, When it was the worst I just tied steelhead flys and prayed for a good fall rain. Think positive, it works for me

    • Dan,

      I agree positive thoughts seems to help. We’re so do for a mild and wet summer. It is what it is. I chose to guide here because it allows me to do my job and still be close to my extended family. Glad to hear your fishing conditions are more favorable.

      Kent

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