floating the nolin river

With the walleyes and whites running the Nolin river this time of year I have for some time fancied floating a canoe or kayak in the upper river. Bacon creek is an obvious put in spot but does anyone know a good take out down the river without paddling all of the way to wax? What about sportsmans paradise?

Further, looking at a map I am wondering about the stretch from wheelers mill down to broad ford or bacon creek. I have only hoofed a short distance above the broad ford bridge but have hoofed a good ways down and other than the big riffle below the bridge that looks like good float water but do the fish go up the river much past broad ford? A friend of mine said he thought the river between wheelers mill and broad ford was kind of knarly with rapids and such. Has anyone floated that section and for that matter is wheelers mill a decent place to set a canoe in the water?

Thanks ahead for any insights into this every spring daydream of mine...

kc

Funny you should post this. My buddy and I are contemplating the same thing. I heard some walleye were being caught weekend before last around Broad Ford. My buddy and I went this past Friday and it was just too clear and little low for my taste. Saw a few people and one guy had walleye. You could float to Sportsmans but I would hate to pack too much of canoe across that mud flat. Its been years since Ive been to Wheelers Mill but it was a bit rougher ground and I don't remember a good spot to put in but again its been years since I was there. I would recommend putting in at Broad Ford and taking your time floating to Bacon Creek. If it doesnt rain too much this week I bet the fishing will be good next weekend. A little heat, a little more water, and a little more color and I think Nolin will pop for everything. Same for Barren.

Amen on the rain and clear water. I have been up in the river early in years before with the water really clear and fishing is tough. Throw in a warm rain and a few days for the runoff to cycle through and fishing really picks up. I bet the numbers of walleyes and whites are further downstream until water conditions improve. We have had plenty of snow but little rain this late winter.

I think launching at Broad Ford wouldn't be bad but Bacon Creek isn't that far down the river. I knew some guys that lived down that way and they floated down further in a small jon boat and I think they said they would take out at Sportsmans. I'll have to run up river one day and scope it out again -- I haven't run up the river from wax in years but it is doable if you take your time. There was another cluster of places further down from Sportsmans that was adjacent to a rock bank. Maybe that would be a better take out than on a mud flat...

If you launch at Sportmans give me a PM....I can put you on a good flat.

long trip from wheelers mill to broad ford if your fishing. Straight up take out at broad foard. Bring a good rope to pull your boat up the hill. Made that run about two weeks ago caught some good eyes one at 27in. Beleve they are further up by now. They go as far as spurrier and beyound if they get over spurrier dam. River clear and low for this time of year. I live on it between white mills dam and spurrier. Needs to cloud up a bit. Yoy might try spurrier to millerstown for the eyes, however the white bass are right behind them. No rapids on the nolin other than the abandoned dams.

I appreciate the first hand feed back. That 27 inch 'eye is sure a nice one. I've seen them up north that size but not many down this way. Taking out at Broad Ford would be fun going up that hill. Maybe one day I might do a pleasure trip with my wife and scout out that whole upper river section and go through to Bacon creek. I always wondered how far up the river the fish went and it sounds like quite a bit past Broad Ford. With it being the first major riffle on the river I thought that might be where the 'eyes did most of their spring business. Thanks again for the response.

kc

Actually there are four good ripples between broad ford and bacon creek. One being broad ford, the next one i'd say has the most meat of all, the third a minor one and the last right above bacon creek wich can get pretty good and can get u in trouble if you don't hit it right. You need to float before they start holding back the lake to catch em otherwise It will be a flat float once lake is up to summer pool.

What kind of boat do you take up there thanks

Have Fun and Be Safe GREEN RIVER TIME

[QUOTE=green river time;405078]What kind of boat do you take up there thanks

Have Fun and Be Safe GREEN RIVER TIME[/QUOTE]
14' flat bottom 9.9 mercury depending the depth of mud on the ramp u can launch at bacon creek. My mercury has a shallow water tilt and i have run through all 4 of the rippels beleve me at times i was sweating bullets. I wear my waders in case i have to pull boat through at bacon creek. Water is swift,shallow and very rocky both upstream and down from ramp. If you make it through first ripple you,ve got it prettywell made til next ones going upstream. Swift water not really dangerous water in my opnion. Worst part is around ramp for a few hunred yards up and down stream of ramp.

Anyone fish the great Nolin river this weekend just asking thanks

Have Fun and Be Safe GREEN RIVER TIME

Yeah I would love to hear from anyone whos fished up the river this week as well.

Did anyone fish the river thanks

Have Fun and Be Safe GREEN RIVER TIME