Green River through Mammoth?

Canoeing the green river through mammoth in a couple weeks with a group of friends. We've never fished this river before, just looking for some fishing tips. We'll mostly be going for smallies.

I don't think it's a good idea!! In a few weeks they will have Green River Dam open getting the lake down to winter pool. So the river will be high and fast!!!

I agree with the man...if you put in at Site 1, it's gonna be pretty swift. White water swift. Plus, your chances of catching a smallmouth are slim to none, in my opinion on that float trip anyway. I always enjoyed Little Barren River creek for smallies in a canoe.

[QUOTE=Bass man;467531]I agree with the man...if you put in at Site 1, it's gonna be pretty swift. White water swift. Plus, your chances of catching a smallmouth are slim to none, in my opinion on that float trip anyway. I always enjoyed Little Barren River creek for smallies in a canoe.[/QUOTE]

White water swift? Be for real. River will be up and running yet very run-able and quite a nice trip in a canoe or kayak. Have been on it as high as 20' only dangers are the dead falls. On that river till you get to the Brownsville Dam and you'll no it when you get close just don't get to close. Go for it fish will be stirred up. Beats the typical flat water of the Green.

In my limited experience the smallmouth fishing was pretty slow, also talked to a few others who say they don't do well for smallies there.

Coombro, I may have asked you this before, but have you done the trip from the Nolin Dam down to the confluence with the Green? Thought about doing that one next summer and then paddling the two miles upstream to Houchin Ferry to take out.

[QUOTE=Tim_T;467645]In my limited experience the smallmouth fishing was pretty slow, also talked to a few others who say they don't do well for smallies there.

Coombro, I may have asked you this before, but have you done the trip from the Nolin Dam down to the confluence with the Green? Thought about doing that one next summer and then paddling the two miles upstream to Houchin Ferry to take out.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely beautiful Tim. never paddled it as I always took jon-boat. Have caught rainbows right at the confluence. Spotted bald eagles there in winter. I would tend to think they'll be back this winter. Not done a whole lot of good fishing it though. Guess I wasn't fishing it right. Seems fairly consistent so far as bank and depth. Around 8' deep avg. I'd say. have done some serious prop damage on that stretch. Mainly toward end. Winter is awesome as you can see the rock formations through the woods. There's signs on the river welcoming you to Mammoth Cave Park. Campsites are set up on bank in areas yet back country permit required. Be kinda hard to paddle up to Houchens with the green's winter flow (not impossible though) yet in summer the Brownsville dam has it backed up to where if you don't paddle you don't move. In kayaking term's it's " your paddling up hill". Gorgeous any time of year. Be happy to take you up and down it this winter if you'd like as i'm about an hour away.

Thanks, I'll pass this on to the rest of the guys!

We're going to give it a try. We've canoed some quick water on the New River in WV. Hope it's not that fast. I'll let everyone know how we did!

Thanks, we're going to give it a shot.
[QUOTE=coombro;467541]White water swift? Be for real. River will be up and running yet very run-able and quite a nice trip in a canoe or kayak. Have been on it as high as 20' only dangers are the dead falls. On that river till you get to the Brownsville Dam and you'll no it when you get close just don't get to close. Go for it fish will be stirred up. Beats the typical flat water of the Green.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=moore42;467746]We're going to give it a try. We've canoed some quick water on the New River in WV. Hope it's not that fast. I'll let everyone know how we did![/QUOTE]

You'll be just fine man. just watch where you set up camp as they may increase flow while you sleep. Been there wake up and uh-oh!

[QUOTE=Tim_T;467645]Coombro, I may have asked you this before, but have you done the trip from the Nolin Dam down to the confluence with the Green? Thought about doing that one next summer and then paddling the two miles upstream to Houchin Ferry to take out.[/QUOTE]

I have. Back in April of this year. Green was up and chocolatey. Nolin wasn't moving as they were holding water. Made for a long paddle to hit Green. Made for a hard paddle when I hit Green. It took me as long to go 6 miles on Nolin as it did the 2 or so up to Houchins.

I caught one spotted bass in Nolin.

Coombro and smashdn, thanks for the info. If we do it, it will probably be in the middle of summer so hopefully the flow will be okay to make the paddle to houchins. I can deal with slow fishing as long as the scenery is good and it sounds like it will be great.