River Level Question.

[sooner_hunter]

To canoe fromThomasville to Greer what is the minimum river level? I was looking at the current stream gauge readings but they don't mean a whole lot to me since I'm not familiar with the river. Thanks for any info.

[Brian Sloss]

You can certainly go Cane Bluff to Greer now. The river is in good shape there. You might be able to start at Thomasville now, but be aware that no one has been running that section in quite a while due to the drought this past year. What I am getting at is there may be portages from any trees that may have fallen across the river during the last 8 months or so. Not saying not to do it, but realize it may require work. It might be clear, but you you could have trees to deal with. I have not floated there in a while, nor have any of my customers since last spring and I have not talked to anyone who has. Forest service will go through and clear it out some time this spring. Probably late April or early May. As for the gauge,700 cfs should be ok, but the gauge about 38 miles downstream.

[sooner_hunter]

Thanks Brian!

[Brian Sloss]

Eyeballed Thomasville yesterday and it looked lower than I thought it would. Levels will improve 1-2 miles in, but still no word portages

[sooner_hunter]

Brian I have 3 canoes booked with you for April 4-9. Any updates for that area between now and then would be appreciated.

[Mark]

sooner hunter - I have floated the Thomasville section once a few years ago. Water level was a little on the low side, but not sure of the exact readings. It was early June. The first couple of miles are tough. It is really just a small creek at the headwaters. We encountered several portages around debris and over logs. Expect a workout for a few miles and we weren't carrying camping gear.Several springs enter that are actually pretty cool - Posy Spring at 3.1 miles, Blowing Spring at 6.1, Roaring Spring at 6.5, and Graham Spring at 7.3. One of them and I am guessing Roaring Spring, came out of a bluff about 10 feet off the water and formed a nice waterfall with lots of water. We fished hard, and didn't have much luck. Although the portages and getting out in low spots cost us time, as did the looooonnnnggg shuttle, and we shuttled ourselves. Better get an early start. Admittedly, later in the float, we were just looking forward to getting done. Overall, not much luck fishing, but our trip was probably not a good indication of the fishing. Besides a lot of work, the biggest drawback was cattle in the river. The river isn't protected under Ozark National Scenic Riverways that far upstream. I was shocked to see a herd of cattle crossing in front of us, stopping to take a crap as they crossed. Lost my desire to jump in for a dip for several miles.

From my experience, lots of work, fishing wasn't nothing special, and cows crapping in the water was a turnoff. We haven't had the urge to do it again. Too much better water, scenery, and fishing downstream. JMO

[snap]

sooner hunter, I hate to but have to disagree with Mark on most of the fishing part!!! I was with him on that trip and caught all kinds of small smallmouth early in the float when I fished hard. We were really pressed for time so had to pass up many great looking spots. In the early part of the float, i saw some of the largest smallmouth I have ever seen!!! they were spooked because I was not the first to the hole.....we had 3 canoes...... Hindsight tells me to park the canoe/kayak ahead of some of those holes and sneak to them to fish......the cattle part I agree with, but it was not but for a small portion or two......not much fishing pressure up there and would love to attempt it again some time!!!

[Mark]

It's so unlike you to disagree with me Snap! OK maybe the fishing was better than I remember. I do remember it was alot of work and the cows crapping. Still, you're too spoiled now with the jet prop, you'll never get in a canoe for a long trip like Thomasville again. But let me know, I'm in!!

[Brian Sloss]

Mark- I have to disagree about the fishing up there as well. Like anywhere, it doesn't always fish easy, but that area is a great smallmouth fishery. I wish the cows were not ever in the river as well, but the reality is most of the time they are not. I have yet to float that section and see one in the river. Though it does happen and it is allowed. Portages are likely until the forest service cuts it out, but there is also more beautiful parts to that stretch than not, including the springs.

[snap]

....the biggest issue was floating to cane bluff, shuttling back to thom'ville to get trailer and truck, driving back to cane to load canoes, driving back down to whiten, putting canoes in again to float to whites creek.......all when getting to thom'ville around noon to start.......and to get back to whites creek before dark!!! squeezed the fishing!!!!