Search Fishin.com

Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Lexington
    Posts
    137
    Post Thanks / Like

    Helms landing fishing from a jon boat

    Hey guys, I have searched numerous Cumberland River trout posts. I am wanting to put a 16’ long 6’ wise trailered John boat with a 50 lb trolling motor and a 5 hp gas motor. I see the average flow for the next day is 10,000 with flow starting “2 or more” generators. Is this good flow or too little/much. There is no flow from midnight to 8am. Then the open 1 gate from 8-10. Is this enough water to launch in? Is it difficult to troll or gas power back up stream. The boat will run about 4 mph in a lake with 2 people. Taking my daughter for a day trip. Was going to use spinners or live bait. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
    Last edited by Rob1678; 08-07-2018 at 07:17 AM. Reason: Typo

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    338
    Post Thanks / Like
    I won't launch without 2 generators going. When and if they switch to one you can watch the water levels go down over time. My boat is a bit bigger so not sure about how hard/easy it would be for you to motor back up. I would guess it will be a difficult task because with a couple generators going it is moving pretty good. Plenty of fishing to be had from the bank there at the ramp or in fish hatchery creek if you need a back up plan.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    russell springs
    Posts
    953
    Post Thanks / Like
    you will struggle to push a 16ft boat back upstream with a 5hp motor with 2+ gens running. my river boat is a 1648 grizzly with a 25hp and it will run back up just fine but I won't win any races.
    there is a 60% chance of t-storms here tomorrow and I wouldn'twant to rely on that 5hp getting me back to the ramp before the storm hits
    Likes GeoFisher, peter liked this post

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
    Location
    Louisville. KY
    Posts
    2,970
    Post Thanks / Like
    Quote Originally Posted by stripernut1 View Post
    you will struggle to push a 16ft boat back upstream with a 5hp motor with 2+ gens running. my river boat is a 1648 grizzly with a 25hp and it will run back up just fine but I won't win any races.
    there is a 60% chance of t-storms here tomorrow and I wouldn'twant to rely on that 5hp getting me back to the ramp before the storm hits
    Yeah. I wouldn't go in the river with a 5 or 10 hp. As mentioned 25 is enough. A 15 may be borderline at best on a slow day.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Posts
    26
    Post Thanks / Like
    I was down there over the weekend.....that average daily flow is misleading. It’s 20 CFS from midnight till 10 am and then they crank on as many as 4 generators, at which point the flow jumps to 17,000 CFS. We were floating downstream at 4 mph according to our gps. It would be difficult at best with the current release schedule. I have a 14 footer with a 15 Honda and with two people it only runs 12 mph back up against the current.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Lexington
    Posts
    137
    Post Thanks / Like

    Thanks

    Thank you guys for great Advice. I do want to take my daughter on an adventure but it should be a positive adventure, I know she’s had plenty of not so positive adventures before with me regarding the boat LOL. If you had a bass boat, is that unheard of to put it in the river or does it need to be more of a river flat bottom style boat

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    338
    Post Thanks / Like
    I launch my boat as long as two generators are running and it is an 18 foot tournament tracker with a 115. Not one of the narrow type boats but the 7 foot wide v bottom boat. When it drops to one I start heading toward the ramp with my boat though.

Similar Threads

  1. Helms landing?
    By coombro in forum Kentucky Discussion Board
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-15-2011, 02:58 PM
  2. helms landing
    By kygorski in forum Kentucky Discussion Board
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-22-2010, 12:42 AM
  3. Helms Landing
    By bookworm in forum Fly Fishing (General Discussion)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-07-2010, 05:41 PM
  4. Boat ramp at Helms Landing on Cumberland?
    By bookworm in forum Kentucky Discussion Board
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-25-2009, 09:36 PM
  5. Helms Landing
    By smokefan in forum Kentucky Discussion Board
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-04-2009, 04:46 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •