02-25-2003, 09:20 PM
Hey there Stormy26,
I guess your talking about the Big Manistee and the Pere Marquette. TubeDude's input pretty much answered your question.
I don't know how many and what rating any rapids might have along those 180-some miles but there should be a lot of info if from no where else but the many float trip outfits that work the river. I assume the water level would be higher during the early steelhead season and that's a factor in making sure you have an adequate (PFD) personal floatation device. You ought to consider a CG class II or I for the river. After the tube that's the second thing you should buy!
That river can be pretty narrow in spots. 100-120 foot wide put-in spots sound pretty narrow to me at peak season. I hope you read up on river-float manners and common problems. Some rivers are a battle ground with the outfitters/guides, individual floaters and the shore fishermen tearing at each other tooth and nail. Everyone thinks they're right in this one.
Some rivers have banned or limited the number of free floaters and outfitters from a legal, political, and ecological perspective.
Even with good intentions, I've blundered into something that, upon reflection, if I had used everybodys common sense I'd not have ruffled any feathers. It only takes one guy to start screaming like an idiot and destroy, for a time, the peace we seek in fishing.
JapanRon
a.k.a.tsurikichi
[signature]