Trout in Nolin Spillway

[smashdn]

Buddy and I are thinking of doing an overnight kayaking trip from the Nolin Dam down to Houchens Ferry.

Just curious how far down I can expect to catch trout, if I can at all? Also maybe some tips or tactics to try. As we get farther down I will probably switch over to trying to catch a catfish or crappie for dinner (not putting all my eggs in the catching fish for dinner basket though).

Thanks.

[Big T @ E.C.]

I don't think they stock trout below the dam anymore. I'd check with fish/wildlife to make sure. The nolin river part has a lot of lay downs, some reach almost all the way across, from bank-to-bank, try small minnows for crappie, or worms or crickets for some big bluegill. Should be a good trip... Tr

[restornator]

they stock a lot of trout under Nolin. garlic cheese gets a lot of bites. Also try roostertails and drifting nightcrawlers along the bottom.

[first2fish]

Be careful,just noticed they are starting to let flood water out of nolin

[Bass Addict 170]

Buddy and I are thinking of doing an overnight kayaking trip from the Nolin Dam down to Houchens Ferry.

Just curious how far down I can expect to catch trout, if I can at all? Also maybe some tips or tactics to try. As we get farther down I will probably switch over to trying to catch a catfish or crappie for dinner (not putting all my eggs in the catching fish for dinner basket though).

Thanks.

A group of us floated this same leg two years ago in jon boats with trolling motors, and completed it in one day...was a dawn to dusk trip, with multiple stops in-between. Caught some rainbows close to the dam, and as we went further down, caught some KY's and LM's, just not any size to any of them. Still a nice trip though, decent numbers and the company made it enjoyable...plus there are a lot of cool spots for pictures, so be sure you have a camera.
Also, as First2fish said, watch for high release rates. We took this trip in the summer, so the water was still really cool and the water release rate wasn't bad. Good luck!

[smashdn]

Checked the usgs site. Will probably wait on it till it is safer as I have never done that stretch. On the upside hopefully some of the bank to bank laydowns will be swung out of the way.

Thanks for the info on the trouts.

[restornator]

On the upside hopefully some of the bank to bank laydowns will be swung out of the way

the same laydowns have been there for decades. don't count on it.