Stoney? Anyone?

[Danny]

Stoney, I tried to email you, but I see you have disabled that option and I have lost your email. Anyway, I'll be doing the float/camp thing on the SF and was looking for some info on the best put-ins/take-outs/camp-sites. And any info on exactly how the camping in the canyon works. I called the forest service and the DWR and they give some very vague info on signing up the morning you put in at the ramp you put in at and "hey, you never know whats available so good luck getting a camp spot." How does this work? The fewer surprises the better.

P.S. Losing my transmission coming home from the Green last week was enough surprise to last for the rest of the year.

[jdubya]

I'm 99% sure it is first come first served on the BLM section...

[Danny]

Does that mean first one to sign up at the ramp, or first one to drop anchor and throw up a tent?

[Grizz]

If you put in @ Conant all the information is there. They also have free maps with campsite locations. It's 3 bones a night. When you fill out the form, you have to list where you "think" you're going to stay, but if that camps occupied, ............................(there's a ton of room in each camp area, just watch out for the Bald Eagle habitat.)))

put ins for the Canyon section are Conant & above. if you want to add water to your trip, put in at Spring crik, The fall crik channel, Irwin N. or S. or at the Dam. Take out @ Cottonwood, Wolfs eddy or Byington.

The camps I prefer are the PC-3 (there's a sweet channel you can back row into that provides seclusion & some good fish) camps & the Dc-3 camps. all camp numbers are listed on the detailed map you pick up @ Conant. Julies shuttles will take care of your vehicle, but list your take out date a day early in case you get off ahead of schedule.

Stoney can probably add to this, just thought I'd throw around some recomendations.

pea's

ps: I have a couple extra maps here at work in SLC, if you need one I'd be happy to give one up. candelin@utah-inter.net

[jdubya]

Does that mean first one to sign up at the ramp, or first one to drop anchor and throw up a tent?

latter

69 Cottonwood Road
P.O. Box 123
Swan Valley, ID 83449
Phone: 208-483-2903
Cell: 208-709-4227
Fax: 208-483-2309
Contact: Julie Haas


If you float the South Fork, you need Julie’s Shuttle Service.*We get you where you need to get.

$17 from the dam to conant, etc.

[Grizz]

Julie's a sweetheart.

peace

[Stoney Clarke]

Danny,

I use to put in at Conant, but now I go further up stream to Irwin West (same side as Conant). The put in can be a little tricky, but there are some great gravel bars just below it. To get there go past the Spring Creek Put In, which is also a good place to start, and follow the dirt road for a few miles. It is by the supports of an old bridge which is gone. The guys at SF Outfitters can probably give you better directions.

As for camping Pine Creek 3 is good as is Pine Creek 5 (river left). There are a few sites there and it offers good wade fishing. Lufkins Bottom is also a good spot, again offering some good wade fishing. The official disginated sites end at Lufkins. But you will find some spots below there which are on Forest Service Land. A good one is on river right about 500 yards above the Cottonwood take-out, known as Hoyts Hideout, named after some bootlegger. Nice fishing in front of it also. If your doing a 3 day 2 night float and you put in before noon PC5 for the first night and Lufkins or Hoyts the second is a good bet. Doing Hoyts the 2nd night will offer a shorter float the last day, Lufkins to Byington is about 13 miles.

All the camping in the canyon section is primative and first come first serve and free. The sites are different than The Green, where a designated site will only have one camping site. On the SF for example PC(Pine Creek) 5 or Lufkins for example have over 5-10 sites each spread over a few acres. I've camped at 4 different spots so far at Lufkins alone. So there is usually plenty of room. Sometimes at PC3,5 or Lufkins I'll go to the top of the site, find a spot and leave the boat there, then we walk through the whole site, could be 1/2 mile long, see if anything else or better is available, leave my partner there if there, get the boat and row down. I have never had a problem finding a site if I'm in camp by 5:00. But I have had people floating by at 7:00 asking if we have room. Crowded up there is a dream day on the Green. The put in at Conant usually has some maps of the Canyon Section, which shows the camp sites, again they are free also, but purchase a map at SF Outfitters, it will show the entire river from the dam to past Byington.

Have fun, my e-mail is gmaddock@firstam.com if you have any more questions.

SC

[Grizz]

any dates planned? I feel a little movement.

I'm in for sure the 29th - 7th, & it's looking like next weekend too.

??

peace

[Stoney Clarke]

Between now and mid July I'm booked (which sucks), but I might be able to squeeze something in. But around July 22-26 I'm thinking of floating the Green and camping at one of the upper sites on "B" and just hanging out for 3-4 days in one spot, fishing, eating, drinking, napping, fishing, drinking, fishing. My brother-In-Law will be in SoCal, Cary will be getting a sunburn in Hawaii, so as of now I'm going solo, I was just going to stake a claim at one spot, you and Chris and anyone else for that matter, are more than welcome to join me for the whole time or just a night. We will avoid the crowds, there is some great fishing there and we won't have to pack-up each morning.

SC

[Grizz]

Booked?

Are you a model? for Orvis?

The "B" section relaxation / drink / angle trip sounds fun. I'll keep 'er in mind.

pea's

[Grizz]

A good one is on river right about 500 yards above the Cottonwood take-out, known as Hoyts Hideout, named after some bootlegger. Nice fishing in front of it also.
SC

any camps below Hoyts? is Hoyts marked?

thx

peace

[Stoney Clarke]

I saw your post earlier but wanted to look at my map to give you accurate directions. Directly above the Cottonwood take-out (about 200-300 yards) is an island, but depending on the water levels it may not appear to be an island. Hoyts is on the river right just after you round the final bend to Cottonwood, it is directly across fromm a steep slope with lots of pine trees. It is not marked but you shoulds be able to see it from the river, fire ring, bunch of log seats. Another camp to check out is about a 1/3rd of a mile below Cottonwood on the river left. It should be the first island after Cottonwood on the far river left, before rattlesnake Point. If you have a standard South Fork map you'll see both of these island. I have also seen a bunch of camps below these but have never stopped and camped at any of them. But if your on BLM land you should be fine.

Hope the Salmon Flies are out for you.

SC

[Grizz]

thx Stoney

I hope to see you on the 29th, the day after I'll be chasin' 'em on the Madison! daydreamin' up the road 'round cliff.

Varney

bottom scratches

peace