Jet Boat Tours on the Klamath & Rogue Rivers

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

They have those really long big jet boats on the lower Klamath and lower Rogue Rivers still today.

When we are on the lower Klamath every fall now they go by a few times a day about 20 miles up from the mouth.

http://www.jetboattours.com/


I was on the lower Rogue about 45 years ago with my dad, uncle and cousin. They went by then too.

http://www.roguejets.com/



30-40 years ago they brought one of those big boats and were running tours on the lower American River but only for one short time. I was fishing at Watt and it went by loaded with people.

[Randy B]

We did the jet boat tour on the Rogue out of Grants Pass a couple summer ago. It was fun and the whole family had a great time. They could spin those big boats around pretty darn quickly and soak just about everyone. I was amazed that they were powered by 2 or 3 V8s.

[Darian]

I recall seeing them in the Klamath and Rogue during the fall. If memory serves me correctly, they were originally run up the rivers to deliver mail, etc., to small, remote communities/miners. I guess tourism became a way to pay augment paying for the trips. 8)

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I believe you are right Darian...........I think they called them "the mail boats".

[Tony Buzolich]

Bill,

I remember just about getting run over by those boats several times. I used to wade the outside turn of Paradise Beach coming in from the filtration plant off Howe Ave. The upper riffles were great for half-pounders but these jet boats would come blasting around the turn in deep water and really open it up to hit the riffles and I'd be standing there up to my armpits sometimes and couldn't move.

I remember once the guy driving did actually stop (before running over me) and told ME I shouldn't be wading out so far! Want to guess what I told him?!!!!!!!

It was shortly after they were told to stop that they started putting in all the willows and rip-rap eddy breaks below Paradise to help erosion control. Good striper ambush spots now.
TONY

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That was some years ago Tony......I glad someone here else saw them too.

[Bruce Slightom]

Years ago on the Klamath there was a wood tour boat called the Klamath Queen that ran tourist up the river. Larry Simpson ran the guide service out of Time Flies in Arcata. Larry made a plywood fish all painted up nice and when he heard the Queen coming up river he would run back to his boat and hold his "fish" for the enjoyment for the sight seers.