Just got back from a fishing trip where my mind switched to diving

[Gary D.]

I just got back from a Steelhead fishing trip to Hell’s Canyon. We picked the wrong time because the bite was off most likely to a full Moon and the Moon Eclipse. We got a few but not many and had to release some BIG wild fish.

So with lots of time on our hands between rapids we got a real good history lesson about the area. Our boat captain is a third generation guide on the river and well respected.

We saw rings stuck into the rocks to pull Steamboats through rapids in the early 18-hundreds. It was over a three-day trip from the Lewiston area to an up river Copper mine and a roughly a 4-hour trip back.

There was some evidence that might be from a big boat accident near the entrance of Hell’s Canyon.

Our Skipper told us one of the cables snapped while pulling something like a 130’ Steamer through the rapids and it turned sideways and got stuck. After a few days it broke in two and sunk. Apparently everyone got off OK.

Now my thoughts went from 100% fishing and running rapids to 90% thinking about diving this wreck. I am seeing a dive in the future…. Research is in order……….

The trip was great, NO PAGER and even the Cell gave up the ghost for three days.

Anyone have a good history on the canyon?

Gary D.

 

[Rick Inman]

I just got back from a Steelhead fishing trip to Hell’s Canyon. We picked the wrong time because the bite was off most likely to a full Moon and the Moon Eclipse. We got a few but not many and had to release some BIG wild fish.

So with lots of time on our hands between rapids we got a real good history lesson about the area. Our boat captain is a third generation guide on the river and well respected.

We saw rings stuck into the rocks to pull Steamboats through rapids in the early 18-hundreds. It was over a three-day trip from the Lewiston area to an up river Copper mine and a roughly a 4-hour trip back.

There was some evidence that might be from a big boat accident near the entrance of Hell’s Canyon.

Our Skipper told us one of the cables snapped while pulling something like a 130’ Steamer through the rapids and it turned sideways and got stuck. After a few days it broke in two and sunk. Apparently everyone got off OK.

Now my thoughts went from 100% fishing and running rapids to 90% thinking about diving this wreck. I am seeing a dive in the future…. Research is in order……….

The trip was great, NO PAGER and even the Cell gave up the ghost for three days.

Anyone have a good history on the canyon?

Gary D.

So THAT'S where you've been. Crime has run rampid while you were gone.

Here's some good news for you, Gary. There's still a bounty on squaw fish on the snake.

If you decide to dive this mystery wreck, and you need someone to carry your gear and buy gas...