North Renous, Wednesday July 8

[dbradford]

We were up to the Renous all last week salmon fishing, and I thought I'd pack along the kayak and do a 'drift and fish'. When we arrived on Monday the water was into the trees it was so high. By Wednesday it had dropped about 14 inches and was starting to recede from the trees and alders; but was still unbelievably high.
I got dropped off just above Johnson's Hill on the N Renous and planned to paddle and fish from there to the Bridge, about 14 km total. Started at 12 noon, spent about 2 1/2 hours fishing (lost one fish) and arrived at the bridge around 5:15. I don't think I'd ever recommend this stretch to canoes, unless you had a way to make it water-tight. In this stretch of river there wasn't much anything worse than class 3+ but it was constant: even where my GPS was loaded up with coordinates for salmon pools there were only really rips to punch through.
This was the first time I've ever soloed in the kayak, and I wouldn't recommend that on this river either. All I can say though is that it was soooooooo much fun!!!! Not one dull moment, and only two low braces and one small hydraulic that I flopped into but came out of without incident. My old Dagger performed great, with plenty of room for the salmon rod, gear, and refreshments.
After one interesting set of rips I did see the remains of a red canoe scattered from there on down for a km or so. Hope the paddlers never lost too much gear... Would have been a hellish walk out too.
Anyway, it was an unexpected gift to be able to enjoy nice high water conditions like that in July. I will definitely be doing this run again.
Derek

[Ken Corbett]

Yeah, the North Renous, what a blast. I've run it several times, usually in a canoe with a spray-skirt. I flipped in an open canoe once there and was lucky to wrestle the boat to shore.

I wouldn't recommend this river to beginners, like you say the rapids are constant, and steep. You need a skirt, or almost full flotation, especially in high water.

I know some folks who went in low water, and they barely made it out, the rocks were murderous.

Thanks for the trip report, Derek.

Ken

[steph]

hi would you know how is the river from 7to8 km north of McGraw too Quarie? planing a trip and I'm not from the area i would like some info tanks!

[dbradford]

Hi steph and welcome to the board
7-8 km above the old McGraw campground would mean you want to put in at the North Renous Bridge? Once you work your way down to the forks it's all easy sailing from there to Quarryville, from what I've heard. No major water, just nice steady current. This time of year I expect your bigest issue would be not to run into all the fishermen!

[steph]

Hi Lily and thanks for your information. I was not sure of what river to do so i called dnr Black ville last week ,he suggested this part of the Renous would be a nice quiet river ,and that the water was so hi that the fisherman were in low numbers, and for the ones that would be there that whe would have plenty of room to avoid them .He also said camping would not be a problem that its mostly Crown land . Would you have any better suggestion for a 2 day quiet calm trip in or around this area ? but i dint mind a few regular rapids! On a different note I'm from the Moncton area mostly smaller rivers in this area but for 1 day trips in April and parts of may the Cocagne river and the St Paul river are a lot of fun!

[dbradford]

Hopefully the others in here with more experience can jump in with suggestions of other rivers.

I don't think you'd go wrong with the Renous though; about 38 kms from N Renous bridge down to Quarryville, and lovely camping right at McGraw Brook, if you don't want to find a more private place.
Derek