Drift Boats - advantages and disadvantages

"mdk77" wrote in message
...
I had never heard of a drift boat until recently. I've never seen one
in my area of Central Illinois. I Googled drift boats and they look
like "specialty boats" for Western rivers, but I wasn't sure. Would
these be any good for the Midwest rivers and lakes (for fly fishing
out of)?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of drift boats?


We used one out west here on the Trinity River CA. for steelhead,
when we hired a pro guide.

Disadvantages:
1. Scares the fish as we made our way down the river.
2. The wading anglers gave us a lot of dirty-looks as we passed over
their fishing holes.
3. Limits your casting.
4. More difficult to read water.

Advantages:
1. Can drift the line for long lengths down the river.
2. Speed of boat matches the drift of the current.
3. Get into deep areas that you couldn't wade.
4. Relaxing, when you're tired fishing...put your feet up and enjoy the
view and the drift, have your lunch.

That was the last time I hired a guide and a drift boat.
I prefer to wade-in or cast from the bank, just feel I can get a better
read on the water and use of my casting techniques.

We also at times used the same method of drift in Alaska as my friend
and I took turns rowing, the first year I visited. I consider it blind
casting
but it was effective using dry flies. I didn't dead-drift my second visit.
-tom