The Drowning is a small river, and at low water, some dragging is inevitable. At high water, the water has nowhere to go, and it stacks up in a terrifying fashion, obliterating portages and creating havoc in places where havoc never existed. The first time I ran it, the water was very low, and there was a large trout die off going on. The river stank of dead fish, and I probably saw over a hundred specs between 8 to 18" belly up, floating in eddies. When we went upstream on the Wabagimiga River, we found a small spring dripping cold water into the river. There were about 200 specs there, ranging in size from small to probably 5 pounders, all trying to get some relief. I couldn't bring myself to catch any, it would have been like shooting fish in a barrel.
The second time I ran it, the water was very high. The river is so small in places that with a big flush like that going on, there is no possible way to scout for anything up ahead, and strainers can be a real problem. Huge haystacks appear out of nowhere. I had to extend most ports by 3 to 400 yards to make entrance to them safe. In some places, the concept of "must make eddy" took on a meaning far past what I considered to be reasonable. I tried a few casts, but the water was just too high.
I'm not sure what the fishing is like on the Drowning anymore. There are quite a few places where locals can access the river. If one is a dedicated spec fisherman, I'm sure success would occur. I was in the port clearing business when i ran it, so it was all work and very little play.
The Kowkash River (actual name is Kawashkagama, but locals call it Kowkash)is another trout river in the area. I've run it quite a few times. It's a much easier river than the Drowning, at high or low water. There are only a few ports, and it is basically a placid river, interspersed with three or four water falls. It also has easy access and exit points, unlike the Drowning. Getting out of the Drowning is one of the highlights (lowlights) of the trip. The Kowkash has good road access at both ends. The middle of this trip report describes the Kowkash
http://www.canoetripping.net/forums...orts/329-g-town-to-meta-gchs-outers-club-2012
We have only tried fishing on the Kowkash at Howard Falls. We fished the little streams that came off the falls, as well as the eddies in the main chutes. It was tough, bug filled fishing, the kind you have to clamber around in the bush to get to. However, lots of trout were there. One needs to have a fair amount of patience, and lots of hooks. Never tried fly fishing on the river.
If you send me your mailing address, I can pop the Drowning info in the mail for you.