Drift boats, like this Clacka Craft, are one of a kind.
Drift and Fish
During a recent trip out west, I had the chance to encounter an entirely new type of boat: river drift boats, like the Clacka Craft pictured here. No, it's not exaclty a saltwater fishing machine, but their unique and interesting nature warrants a closer look. These boats are made for drift-fishing trips taken down rocky rivers, which may include some rapids. That makes them one of very few designs which are intended to harness current, instead of wind, internal combustion, or humans, for their power. The oars are more for steering than propulsion, and there's no need for a motor or sail. Note the up-turned bow and stern; having both ends of the boat turned up provides some relief from hitting rocks, no matter what direction you're turned in, as the boat is swept down-river. The flat bottom keeps it as stable as possible while an angler or two stands and casts. Rounded chines help deflect impacts, while rolled gunwales help deflect water and also allow fishing lines to slide along the boat without getting roughed up. Many drift boats also have narrow, shallow channels in the bottom or slight keepls, to improve tracking. The Clacka Craft adds an interesting bottom tweak in the form of dimples, which are designed to allow the boat to drift farther and faster, with minimal input from the captain. Naturally, this is a highly specific design which you wouldn't want to apply to other bodies of water - other than small lakes and ponds, it's appeal is limited strictly to drifting rivers. But there's no doubt that when it comes to this form of fishing, a dedicated drift boat will beat out any other variety of ride. So if you plan to slide down the Snake, cast in the Colorado, or paddle in the Platte, check these boats out.
Contact HookedOnFishingBoats.com by e-mailing lr@geareduppublications.com. Copyright 2009, by Geared Up, LLC.
