927 McKenzie Style Drift Boats, Whitewater Rapids, and the Middle Fork Salmon with Jeff Helfrich

Show Notes: Presented By: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho , Togiak River Lodge , Jackson Hole Fly Company , Drifthook Fly Fishing Sponsors: What happens when a family helps shape the history of drift boats for nearly a century? In this episode, Jeff Helfrich joins us to share stories from the early days of McKenzie River drift boats, how his grandfather Prince Helfrich helped evolve whitewater boat design, and what it's really like navigating technical rivers like the Middle Fork Salmon and Rogue River in wooden boats. We dig into the transition from plank boats to plywood, the origins of the McKenzie-style drift boat, and why certain whitewater rapids still give experienced guides butterflies. Jeff also shares incredible stories from the Frank Church Wilderness, including flash floods that created entirely new rapids overnight, how drift boats handle technical water, and why these wilderness river trips remain some of the most unique fly fishing experiences in the country. Show Notes:

You can listen to 927 McKenzie Style Drift Boats, Whitewater Rapids, and the Middle Fork Salmon with Jeff Helfrich online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

927 McKenzie Style Drift Boats, Whitewater Rapids, and the Middle Fork Salmon with Jeff Helfrich is an episode from Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast by Dave Stewart.

This episode is 01:07:06 long.

This episode was published on May 22, 2026.

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