How To Row a Drift Boat: We Asked The Professionals - Fly Fishing

We met up on the Green River with our good friends over Spinner Fall Guide Service, Scott Barrus and Charlie Card. These are two of the best fly fishing guides and drift boat rowers we know. Together they have over 50 years of rowing experience.
In this "How To Row a Drift Boat" Video Scottie teaches us the basic yet critical rowing stokes used when navigating a river. The back stroke, front stroke and crab stroke. He also shares basic drift boat etiquette when fishing on a busy river.

Fly Fish Food

[flyfishscook]

Great video! There are only a couple online that are good. This is definitely at the top of the list!

[jmort]

We needed this about 20 years ago, Curtis knows what I’m talking about😀

[mikekuczynski]

One of the prettiest floats around, my wife and I have floated this section many times at a lot of different flows. I think the best advice I ever had when I first started floating rivers was “ Bow to danger “ going down the V is always good . The first time I went through the Mother in law I was off line right and the river throws you towards the wall and I was back rowing hard and came face to face with the wall but never touched it, but it sure got my attention. After that stayed more left and cruised through . This is a great video I especially like the pointers on etiquette it should be mandatory that people floating rivers understand what’s expected. Living on the upper Madison River I get to see a lot of what not to do in a drift boat or a raft, it can bite you . Thanks for the video

[dblkluk]

This video should be played on a loop at every ramp on the Henrys Fork during the Salmonfly hatch..

[brett]

Charlie seems like maybe not the safest guide but definitely a fun one. Think I would go with him

[mannymayer]

I wish I had this video before I started pulling sticks some 30 years ago. I had to learn by the “school of hard knocks” made several mistakes and somehow never sunk my first drift boat. Grateful for you educating newer boaters.

[lukeramirez]

Scott is awesome. I’ve hired him a few times over the last 10 years. Great guy!

[ethanemery]

I miss the Green, Charlie, and Scott.
Glad to see you are doing well!

[glennklinger]

Great Video!! I feel there isn’t enough rowing videos out there and with all the new rowers we see every year this is very important for them to see and take seriously, not only for their safety but for the safety of others in their boat. Great job as always guys!!! 👍👍👊

[ronkreed]

Another great video by FFF. Spinner Fall is a great guide service on the Green. I've hired them a half dozen times over the years. Great guides. Have had the great pleasure of Scott Barrus being my guide a couple of times. They are patient teachers for first timers too.

[skillznmagik]

Best modern video I've seen in rowing! Only thing I would add for new oarsman is start reading and rowing away from dangers earlier than you think. The most panic I have seen is when the inexperienced rower does not read or see a feature and tries to over correct at the last minute

[perrymcaward]

Very helpful and informative 👍 best instruction video I've watched for drift boat techniques!

[eklarsen]

Very good video, covered most of the fundamentals and common issues. Thank you for posting it.

[default]

Yeah, thanks for this. I live in New Zealand, drift the Upper Clutha in an old Alumaweld 18' driftboat. Drift fishing is not a thing here, so luckily I don't need to worry about other boats at all!
But a lot of things learned from this video, especially on the subtle strokes. Have rowed for decades, but a drift boat is way different from a single scull!
My boat is set up for two anglers in the front, but I may adapt it to have a bow and stern angler, looks easier to manage.

[PVW]

Hey i pastor a church here in Alaska! Dont send them all to practice in my parking lot😂. Fun to watch though👍!

[fishpimp]

very informative. I'm relatively new with my drift boat and this video was extremely helpful. Thx!

[teamhalibut]

thank you! my dad just got us a fly craft and i’m a little scared but definitely learned a lot from this and there isn’t a lot of stuff out there it seems for this

[hntrains]

Watched it to the end, to my surprise. Good job!

[bighornangler]

This is awesome guys! Scott and Charlie are the dudes!

[pmdun]

Here's a tip. While you are getting your boat & gear ready in the staging area, double check to see that your driftboat's drain plugs are properly secured in. Keeping a spare one in the safety kit isn't a bad idea.