Which Guided Fishing Trip is Right for You: Walk and Wade vs. Drift Boat?
- Michael Dooley
- Feb 29, 2024
- 4 min read
Fly fishing guided trips are extremely varied and customizable to the angler. Many people face the option of a guided trip out of a drift boat or a guided trip on foot and struggle to discern which will fit their style, technique, or fly fishing priorities.
Use this blog to help narrow down which style of guided trip you would like to take when looking to fish new or familiar water. Both styles of trips offer different experiences, we can help tailor your trip to your goals and needs.
Water Type
You are on vacation in a new place or familiarizing yourself with local waters and want to hire a guide. There are a couple of ways to help choose which style of trip to take, one method is deciding which type of water you are interested in fishing. Do you want to fish in a large river? Do you want to fish a river you can also readily access yourself? Do you prefer fishing in intimate water where you can get close to the fish? Choosing a guided trip based on the fishery and water type will direct you to the fishing style you prefer.
If you struggle with wading and longer walks or you just plain don't want to spend the day sweating it out walking on a river bank then consider rivers that allow easy car access or a float trip. For example, the Deschutes River completely restricts anglers from fishing from a boat but driftboats are allowed to float down the river. This means anglers must exit the boat at each stop to access the fishable water. This trip offers a great compromise between a float trip and a walk and wade by allowing guests to enjoy the beautiful, canyons and wildlife in between fishing spots.
As an angler, you can take your time to present to fish, work on casting skills, and work through water thoroughly. But the wading can be slick and if the hassle of wading doesn't sound like fun to you then you may want to lean towards a drift boat trip that allows fishing from the boat.
Around Central Oregon, that means the McKenzie River or the Upper Deschutes as they are comfortable rivers to target fish from the boat. Enjoy the scenery, cast a line, and let your guide do the work to put you on the fish. Fishing from the boat is a fun experience that allows us to cover a lot of water without the hard work of wading.
Analyze your priorities and decide on the type of water you want to target. If you like small water then a wade trip will be the best for you but if you want to see a large stretch of river then a drift boat trip will be your best option. But if you are stuck between the McKenzie and the Lower Deschutes then analyze how you want to spend your day and ask yourself if the wading is included in your expectations.
Price
The price difference for a walk and wade versus a float trip can be significant as shuttling a truck and trailer, permits, and equipment are an extra cost when considering the addition of a watercraft. If you are looking for a great instructional experience on an awesome piece of water but at a lower price then a walk-wade will be a great option. Also, check out the Spring Special at The Fly Fishers Place, this is a great springtime deal for those looking to hit the water early this year. Full Day Walk and Wade Trips for 1 to 3 people are $395 (normal in-season rate is $540).
Most fly anglers are wading when they go fishing so this can help you perfect your presentation and casting from a wading standpoint. But, some rivers are simply better accessed by boat in my opinion due to their distance in-between viable fishing water and sometimes tough bank access. The Deschutes is one of these rivers due to its steep rocky banks and brush-covered banks.
There are sections of the river that are mellow and allow easy bank access but the fishing spots are sometimes far apart and necessitate a bit of hiking. Taking a drift boat will give your legs a rest and allow you to enjoy a cool beverage on the way to the next spot your guide has in mind. This way you can also access water that most wade anglers cannot reach due to the absence of a road beside the river.
Access to Water
Driftboat fishing will give you more access to water that is surrounded by private property and inaccessible to anglers approaching from a road. Also, just because you are fishing from a drift boat does not mean you can't stop and take a walk when the fishing calls for wading. You can customize your trip to maximize your wading time as well as your fishing from a boat.
Wading a river can be just as fulfilling though, especially if you like to slow down and examine each pool, run, or riffle the stream section has to offer.
Book a Trip
Now that you know a little bit more about the rivers and styles of trips we offer head over to Fly Fisher's Place to book a trip with me.
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