Looking for Smallmouth fishing river where I can use my drift boat.

[JTH]

I dont know if this is the right place to post this. I am looking for some rivers where I can fish for Smallies using my drift boat. I would like ideas for TN, KY, WV, or any place close.  I am in KY. there is great Smallmouth fishing, however most you cant get a boat in or the water is to thin (even have to drag a canoe).  Any help would be great! Thanks 

[cornlong]

I will take a stab at this one.  I live in Murfreesboro.  We have the Stones River and it is pretty decent for smallmouth.  I would put in at Walterhill on 231N.  There is a real good boat ramp there and go as far upstream as you can go.  Fish back downstream and pay particular attention to the area below each bend of the river as you are coming back downstream. 

In the February and March you can put in at Mona and run as far upstream as you can and fish back downstream.  Big smallmouths make this run every year up the river to spawn.  I have caught some big smallmouths during this time of year.

Hope this helps.
Roy

[JTH]

That sound good and all, but I dont want to row upstream. defeats the purpose of a drift boat. Its best to put in upstream and float downstream to the next take out.  However I do put a trolling motor on it but its very slow going upstream.

[TWiles]

Drive up I-81 about 100 miles into Virginia and try the New River next summer.  You'll absolutely love it.  Chocked full of very catchable smallies..even some muskie.
The easiest access float is from above the I-81 bridge to downtown Radford.  There are shuttle services.  I ride my mountain bike about 4 miles by road to get back to the truck.
There's also a 7 mile float Eggelston to Pembroke that is a dream to fish. 

The middle Holston River (Kingsport to Surgoinsville) offers about 30-40 miles of top notch smallie fishing that floats great all summer as well.

I'm learning the Nolichucky and French Broad...these rivers are Wild, beautiful, and have great float potential....they also have some rapids that would splinter a driftboat into pieces...so a raft is going to have to be in my future.

Good luck...You'll have a blast if you fish any of these waters.

Travis

[JTH]

Thanks Travis,
I have be wanting to float the New, but didnt know which area I could in my drift boat. I think the WV of the New is out. Virginia sounds good. I will start my research.

I have floated the Holston in the trout down to Nances ferry(I think thats is what it is) but that was before the smallies were really fishing good.

I did a lot of research on the Nolichucky but was told it would nt be good for a drift boat.  I need a raft as well.
Thanks for the info.
JTH
 

[TWiles]

Trust Me....the New is worth it.  Probably my favorite warm water river that I'll ever fish.  Crystal keeps reminding me that we need to get back soon.  We stay at a cheap hotel at the Claytor Lake exit.
For shuttles and float information, contact Tangent River Outfitters.  All the backroads take you into some of the prettiest valleys you'll ever see.  Take you a few days in June and/or September and immerse yourself in the area.  You'll want to go back every year, I promise you.

Here's the link to Tangent:
http://www.newrivertrail.com/















Better Start tying some poppers, craws and sculpins

[adamtn]

you might have to drag her over a few shoals but you could probably float the elk in a dory.

[MikeA]

Travis lets plan it and head up there this year. My Wife would love to go do that. I'll buy a Canoe if we need one.

[Steve H]

What if we had an event up there? I'm like you Mike, I would buy a canoe and go!

[TWiles]

Mike, Steve,etc....Crystal and I would love to show it to you guys.   We'll talk it over this season for sure--we might have a connection with a campground owner we met last March--he owns several acres upstream of the last picture.
  
All summer long is great...but there's something about September that makes that place Perfect.

Travis.

[David L. Darnell]

yes you will have to drag a boat on the Elk, I have an 18' canoe that will go in 3" of water with 3 adults and I drag at times with just 2 people.

Think of the Elk as a big creek not a river.

[JTH]

Travis

What is a good Min. and Max flow rate(in CFS) to float.

[TWiles]

What is a good Min. and Max flow rate(in CFS) to float.

Tangent outfitters would be the best ones to answer the flow rate questions.  You could look over releases from Claytor Lake Dam(geological info) to see what normal flow rates are, but the river always flows naturally, plus the releases from the dam.

In the summer, heavy generation cools the water, and can slow the smallie bite.  The only time the river might not be easily floatable is late August in a drought year (like the summer before last), but all the rest of the year, there should be plentiful water....esp for the Radford float.

Travis

[John M]

T Wiles,  if I still have the drifter next summer we need to do this float.  I did not do enough smallie fishing this year tryin to figure out the stripers.  It is definetly something Im going to do more of next year and KC will be back in Chattanooga to join us on a few trips

[TWiles]

Looking forward to it John.  The Hyde will be right at home on those rapids.

Hey everyone:
Here's VA's piece by piece description of the River's floats.  This state really does angler's a great service by being so descriptive.


http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=163&section=maps

BTW...there's no way you'd ever even scratch the surface in trying  to learn all this great water.  Still gives us something to imagine and look forward to.