Athabasca getting better!!!

[Drewski Canuck]

Fall time for Walleye on the Athab. Problem all summer was it was about 6 feet higher than normal and lots of brush coming down.

Set up with a pickerel rig and worms for an hour and a half, one almost legal for my efforts, BUT THE RIVER IS DROPPING!!!

Should be getting better from here forward.

Drewski

[ineptflux]

Good to hear - I'm planning on making the drive north a bit in a few weeks.

[mike.elmes]

A few years ago I launched by the ferry car crossing and took my jet down to the intersection of the Pembina and Athabasca..OMG
Some folks were fishin the shore but we had the Prime spot!!

[Drewski Canuck]

I'm fishing where the Calling meet the Athab. Long run from Poacher's Landing, but sometimes see a Jet anchored. key is getting out to the hole, which may or may not be near shore depending on the year.

Drewski

[Safety D]

How far a run? Id imagine that would be a good place for eyes !!!!!

[BGSH]

Originally Posted by Safety D

How far a run? Id imagine that would be a good place for eyes !!!!!

Anywhere is a good spot on the Athabasca, countless ends of eddys islands and banks.

[Warmbreeze]

I see I'm not the only one getting bored of Calling! Tonnes of places to fish it. Heck, even from town of Athabasca had to wait for a while so had my pole and got walleye right behind skate park.

I want it open all year like NSR. Talked to a fish cop and he said its probably for safety. Because November would be fun.

[Pinhead]

What kind depth is the river? Can it be run in a normal boat? I have a 17ft boat with a 50 tiller, can I use it on the river?

Thanks,

Dan

[Warmbreeze]

You could probably try a "float" down and get someone to pick you up further down river. I use aluminum boats with tillers and don't mind the odd scratch. You could use motor when you know its deep and lift up and drift when your not sure. Bring waders.
The idea behind this is to be safe, you don't have to worry about getting upriver. Obviously a jet boat is a different story. It would definitely be deep enough in the spring and early summer but can be lots of logs.

I'd like to hear what other people do for non jets on the river.

[mike.elmes]

Originally Posted by Warmbreeze

You could probably try a "float" down and get someone to pick you up further down river. I use aluminum boats with tillers and don't mind the odd scratch. You could use motor when you know its deep and lift up and drift when your not sure. Bring waders.
The idea behind this is to be safe, you don't have to worry about getting upriver. Obviously a jet boat is a different story. It would definitely be deep enough in the spring and early summer but can be lots of logs.

I'd like to hear what other people do for non jets on the river.

Prop repairs if you aren't careful, I used a 16foot with 50 merc for years in the nsr. banged up the prop fairly often but always brought a spare prop.

[Safety D]

props no business on the river

[Pinhead]

I know props are not ideal but when you don't have a jet what do you do ? - not fish ? I have used my boat on the NSR with it trimmed right up and was all right. Obviously I did not go very fast, but I thought the Athabasca was deeper than the NSR.

Thanks for the help.

Dan