:: :: Rafting Season?

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Rafting Season? ( 00:31:54 TueApr 8 2014 )

So, I was wondering when rafters start showing up on the Klamath below HC and all the way down to the last claim (Cottage Grove)? There must be some minimum flow rate they need to traverse certain sections of the river. Which sections are most popular. Id prefer to avoid those.

If I was on the Ukonom claim, would I be seeing rafters going by every day, even during the week in April or May?

Also, Im bringing a kayak with me. Which claims or local lakes have bodies of slow moving water that would be nice to leisurely paddle on. I might even throw a lure or a worm if someone can recommend an area with calm water and good fishing in April and May.

All advice and experiences welcome. [1 edits; Last edit by MojaveJoe at 00:33:03 Tue Apr 8 2014]

redwood

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Re: Rafting Season? ( 03:37:26 TueApr 8 2014 )

Hey MojaveJoe, I'm not sure of the water needs of the rafters but I'm sure you'll see a lot of them regardless of where you are on the Klamath River through our club claims.

I have seen a lot of them pretty close up while prospecting along the Klamath. I found that generally the folks who are the clients are quite friendly. Many of the guides not so much.

When they pass by I have found it's really easy to have a quick chat with them. They usually ask if I'm finding any gold. To which I always reply, "yes quite a bit, want to see it?" Well the guides won't slow down for them to look so I holler "come back by and I'll show you some". A few actually have and were really interested. Try to make the best out of it Joe.

We had a couple raft loads pass by last season while my brother, my older son Frank, and I were highbanking on the bar below Independence Creek. Well, Frank was getting pretty hot and sweaty from all the work brother and I were getting out of him so he went to the river bank for a little dip in the cool water. As he is emerging from a dive in the river a couple rafts of mostly women passed by real close. Frank is a nice looking 25 year old, 6'5" tall and built like Tarzan. I don't think the ladies cared one bit about our prospecting for gold, but they sure were happy to see Frank.

Mike [1 edits; Last edit by redwood at 03:39:07 Tue Apr 8 2014]

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mendoAu

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Re: Rafting Season? ( 19:24:07 TueApr 8 2014 )

I've taken my 10 foot Avon many times down the Klamath above Happy Camp and would think that this time of year you will see people enjoying the river....getting a thrill out of Sluicebox and some of the other great rapids. From my experiences their is NO line in the sand between miners and rafters....just a general love of adventure. Wave back with a smile on yur face and a cold one in yur hand.....and maybe find a few new friends.

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Dave_Mack

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Re: Rafting Season? ( 22:49:38 TueApr 8 2014 )

My guess is that we will likely have more rafters on the Klamath as the smaller rivers in the State get too shallow for the activity. We even get more rafters from Oregon in low water years.

MojaveJoe

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Re: Rafting Season? ( 04:29:53 WedApr 9 2014 )

So I guess I'll be hugging the edges of the river when diving to avoid problems. But do they raft down past the last Cottage Grove claim too? From the Sat maps sure looks doable.

Thanks guys for the input.

aunuts

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Re: Rafting Season? ( 15:32:20 WedApr 9 2014 )

Most of the rafters and rafting outfits are friendly. Jo and I have shown the rafters how we prospect with good results and have even hitched a ride with the outfit just upriver from HC.

mendoAu

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Re: Rafting Season? ( 04:06:14 ThuApr 10 2014 )

Joe, One thing that will tend to p*ss off a rafter is a tag line across the river that is to low to float under....a NO NO, other than that slap a "diver down" flag on your in-water equipment and all is well.....we rafters are real used to bumping off of stuff and just keep on going down stream. HA!

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