Good Drifts

Heading up in November for the first time with the drift boat in tow.  I'd like some insight about good floats for a first timer on the SR. Where should I put in/take out...specific as possible please. Also, are there any shops/lodges etc...that will do shuttles for me.   I'm an experienced rower and troutie, so if anyone can give me a heads up about a specific section I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a lot guys...
Josh

Heard a drift boater toot one of those little air horns last week while entering a populated area of the river. Never saw that before but it really worked well-everyone heard it over the chatter and water noises and knew he was coming through.

Great info. guys...exactly what I was looking for.  I'm planning on getting up there midday the first day, which will be a Friday, so it will be an afternoon float.  Maybe we'll just sleep in the second day and hit it a little later to avoid bumper boats. 
 
 What would you say is the prime flow for drifting it??  Also, is backtrolling a good bet (if so what style of plugs) or should we concentrate on egg patterns/drift fishing etc...?
If I put the boat in and drifted straight down from Altmar to Pineville how long would it take me in say 600cfs...roughly? 
thanks,
Josh

500 is a great flow, backtrolling the top end is the best, stay away from schoolhouse and trestle but plug everywhere else, are you plugging salmon or steel? I would skip salmon and focus on steel, I pull hotshots, jointed rapalas size j12 dark colors if its cloudy bright colors if sunny, hotshots purple and gold two best colors and silver/blue is great also. They have to have single hooks no trebles, and if they have rattles in them drill a small hole and drip some superglue in and let dry silicone the little hole and your good to go, steelhead dont like the rattle. Make sure to plug the wire hole, fraziers run, the bovines are a must, tail end of the trestle hole down the right side, fridgeerator hole, tail end of the can is also good. As far as time goes, just pulling plugs at every spot you can 6 to eight hours, depends how thurough you are, just some friendly advice, if you see another guide boat its nice to ask witch side do you want me to pass you on, try to avoid floating over someones fish and when you do keep your oars out of the water, a little respect shown will get some back believe me I know.Good luck to ya, by the way what kind of driftboat do you have, mines a clacka craft, fiberglass, took alot of crap when I got it and first started useing it up there but have never had a problem. Fish-On

ORIGINAL: 3fan

500 is a great flow, backtrolling the top end is the best, stay away from schoolhouse and trestle but plug everywhere else, are you plugging salmon or steel? I would skip salmon and focus on steel, I pull hotshots, jointed rapalas size j12 dark colors if its cloudy bright colors if sunny, hotshots purple and gold two best colors and silver/blue is great also. They have to have single hooks no trebles,

when did they stop allowing trebles after nov. 1st? i always thought that lures and plugs can have trebles from nov. 1st to aug. 15th or something. also, yes; altmar to pineville is an easy ride. i don't do drift boat but i do pontoon from time to time. i would be cautious if it's your first time on the river. ettiquette and experience go a long way on the river. don't misunderstand me, i am not trying to deter you or put you down, but expect comments to be made towards you if it's your first time on the river. good luck....

p.s. if it is 750 plus run off or higher, becareful if you go down the east side of ellis cove, it's very easy to get sucked in to the diversion on the far bank... be careful to say the least... also, when drifting the northwest side of bovines, be aware of all overhanging trees after the sharp bend... oh yeah, and by the way, this area is great plugging water...

Thanks for the great suggestions guys, I really appreciate it.  I've gathered that it's probably going to be pretty busy, so I'm thinking about moving my trip to a Sunday afternoon float and a Monday morning float...(might be less busy??)  I'll probably not plug the first night just so I can check out the whole stretch first, unless by some chance there's lots of wide open river.  I'll definitely give the guides the "right of way".  I'm in the business myself and I understand the importance of giving clients a good product.  I'll just be fun fishing with my son.  Also, I know those NY guides are a special breed...LOL!! Watch out! 
 
3fan, I have an old Lavro fiberglass drift boat.  Definitely not fancy, been around awhile but she's big and easy to pull.  From your comments I'm guessing the Orvis/Hyde contingency looked down their noses at you.  I got over that a long time ago.  I always loved walking into a fly shop and the owner wouldn't even look at me unless I was wearing Filson or something...whatever...
 
Once I have time to take a look at the map and match it up with some of the names of the runs and holes I'm sure I'll have more questions.  I think I found a place to stay and someone to run the boat shuttle for us.  Once again, thanks guys and I'll let you know how it goes. 

Some (not all) of the guides up there don't like the idea of private boats taking a free drift on  "THEIR" river.
 
haha - it's a public waterway,, have at it LDD, no worries
 
I hope you hook up with doubles and make steam come out of their ears..
 
 

ORIGINAL: 3fan

Dime probably is right on the treble hook thing, you might be able to run them  after the first. Personally I run a single all the time and have found thru hours and hours of plugging that it did not effect my hook ups so I have never changed back, in fact I think the one single hook gives the lures more action.  One thing I have loved to do with plugs over the years is stick them where some wont, by this I mean overhangs some log pile ups things where you could possibly loose a lure or get a strike. Ive lost some but have got more fish than the few lost lures were worth.

sounds good to me, i'd just hate to see someone buy 200 dollars worth of lures and plugs when they already have what they need...

ORIGINAL: draketrutta

Some (not all) of the guides up there don't like the idea of private boats taking a free drift on  "THEIR" river.

haha - it's a public waterway,, have at it LDD, no worries

I hope you hook up with doubles and make steam come out of their ears..

 
Even some things are still free in New York huh?!

depends on your ability LDD. the floats are definitely more versatile and you can adjust your leader from just moving the float up and down due to water depth. i recomend the floats especially since it's your first time on the river.in regards to plugging... you will pass by an old train crossing where the footing is stilll iin the middle of the river. this is called the trestle pool. once you come around the bend below the trestle there is a long flat section with an island below it. you should favor the left hand side which is a high bank... plug that whole bank especially to the tail out. maybe even anchor for a while. i'm sure you will be rewarded. pm me if you want more specifics

i'm not talking about the bend, i'm talking about below the bend... along the high bank... all of the water you mentioned is good as well...

I know where you are, just adding more nice water for him to try.

I really appreciate all the insight. Heading up next Sunday/Monday.  I'll be printing out all these little nuggets of wisdom to take with me.  I owe you guys. 

No way 3Fan, I'm soaking all of it up.  Tips like that might make the difference between an ok day and a great one.  One other question...what size hooks/flies etc...?  The steelie fishing I'm most familiar with is on the Erie tribs where we use pretty small stuff size 12/14 even smaller...maybe streamers as big as 10s.  I'm thinking that things should probably be a bit bigger on the salmon because of the flow and the bigger fish.  6-8lb leaders and tippet??

ORIGINAL: draketrutta

The best float for a first timer would be Altmar to Pineville. Although you will encounter more boat traffic on that stretch, it has the least amount of hazards to avoid - especially in flows < 500cfs.
Most guys won't run a boat if cfs < 300. The only spots where you need to pay close attention is the bend at Ellis Cove and the Trestle Hole.

If you want to avoid playing bumperboats at 6am, I would consider an afternoon float so you can enjoy yourself and get a feel for that stretch...

Not sure about any shuttle services, but you can inquire at area lodges.

The lower stretch floats (Pineville to 2A, 2A to Ball Park) have some nasty can-opener rocks. If you have a fiberglass boat, be very careful if you go lower.

I went for a couple boat rides down to the Black Hole (right before the DSR pay-to-play property).
It was fun hitchin a rope to a drftboat and yanking it up the steep bank with a pickup...

 
I've been looking at the maps and I have a question about the Ellis Cove bend.  Should I stay in the main channel the whole way through the bend? I know that Dimebrite mentioned this...is it just a matter of being aware and pulling hard so the boat doesn't get sucked to the bank?...or is there something else I should know? 
thanks...