Elkhorn Information

[Denver1911]

Okay, I made my first trip to the Elkhorn today and wanted to get some information. Basically, I went on a scouting trip with rod in hand.

I'm not looking to snatch your personal honey-hole or access, but would like to find somewhere to do a little catch-n-release fly-angling away from the crowds once or twice a year.

I stopped at the ramp on 25 north of Georgetown and saw quite a few fishers. Can you walk downstream from the dam and fish? How far? Is there good fishing upstream of the dam if I took my 'yak?

Same questions for Great Crossing and Switzer bridge.

What about taking my kayak from Canoe Kentucky's put-in at the 1900 bridge and using their shuttle service? Are there any good shoals in this section?

What about the South Fork? Any good spots?

You can PM me if you don't want to post public. Any help would be appreciated.

ps. trout information in Cumberland River, RR Gorge, Smokies, West Virginia can be given if you fish these spots.

Thanks,
Denver

[Denver1911]

Billy?

Thanks,
Denver

[mhall]

Billy?

Thanks,
Denver

Send him a PM, and you might get some info.

[redneckshadrap]

Send him a PM, and you might get some info.

Sounds to me like you already have an idea of where to look. Just go to those places you described in your post. Exploration is fun.

[Denver1911]

Any of you other Elkhorn guys can offer any help with:

1. Paddling upstream of the dams in the slackwater = worthwhile?

2. Wading downstream of the public access points = overfished? legal access? how far down can you go before you hit private property?

3. Floating from 1900 to Canoe Kentucky: Can you get out and wade-fish without problems with landowners? Any good spots along that section?

Thanks,
Denver

[know1]

I can't answer too many questions for you as I'm just beginning to explore that same area myself. I did paddle the slackwater up from one of the dams on Memorial Day early morning and didn't have much luck. Of course, I'm not very good at fishing.

[jcb]

Any of you other Elkhorn guys can offer any help with:

1. Paddling upstream of the dams in the slackwater = worthwhile?

The pool above Old Grand-Dad is pretty slow usually but with the creek being so low it might not be now. You can't go very far until you hit almost dry creekbed though, just past the Forks bridge.

2. Wading downstream of the public access points = overfished? legal access? how far down can you go before you hit private property?

(a) probably (b) not usually (c) not very far

3. Floating from 1900 to Canoe Kentucky: Can you get out and wade-fish without problems with landowners? Any good spots along that section?

I know several landowners on that stretch. Some are resigned to wade fishing, most others take it pretty seriously as trespassing. There are some good spots along that section when the water is normal level, not so much now. The safest and best bet is to stay in your watercraft.


JCB

[condusivecranker]

Right now the creek is 47 cfs. I've never been on it that low, I've only seen it as low as 75 cfs. At 75 the creek is low and the canoeing is a bit of a drag . I remember fishing at that level as good because the water was so low and clear you could easily see the fish, especially the rough fish in the creek.
I typically fish the "whitewater section", being the section from the forks bridge to knights bridge (i think thats 1900 im not sure). I have never caught a fish above the Jim Beam Old Grand Dad Dam. BE VERY CAREFUL if it is your first journey down the creek and you are canoeing this section, as the dam is extremly dangerous to portage if you do not know what to do. Do get detailed instructions from someone or better yet, go with someone who has done it before. (NOTE: THE CREEK IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CANOE ABOVE 2500 CFS DUE TO THE DAM BEING UNPORTAGEABLE, HENCE THE FLOOD STAGE) I've seen people go over the dam before and almost not come out.
The fishing along this strech is very good, especially since it is more of a "kayaker's strech" with the great whitewater than a fisherman's strech. I've always had luck with Mepps inline spinnerbaits. LOTS of smallmouth. Dont be worried if your not a good judge of whitewater. Other than two rapids (the one immedietly below the dam and the one immedeietly below that--The "S" curve), the rapids are not that difficult. The dam rapid and the S Curve are easy to navigate below 700 cfs, but above that, they are very pushy.
If you want any more info just private me

[Denver1911]

Thanks!

I'm not looking to fish the Elkhorn a lot, but want to make my trips more productive.

I've been trout fishing since I was a kid (grew up on lake Cumberland and fished the tailwater a lot) and my Mom got me my first fly-rod with S&H Green Stamps if that says anything. I want to use my fly-rod on some creek smallies and just wanted to know where to start.

I've got a Tarpon-120 Sit-On-Top Kayak that'll be good for fishing either of these sections it sounds like.

Again, Thanks.
Denver