2 day float trip recommendations?

[Memphismike]

A friend and I are taking our 10 yo daughters on there first overnight canoe trip on 11 Pts next Friday. Would like recommendations as to where to put in; camp and pull out. Tenative plan is put in at Greer loaded with camp gear and camp that night a White's Creek, then go on down to Riverton Sat. where we end. Like this plan as far since it would avoid crowds on Sat in the Greer to Whitten section. I haven't camped at White's Creek so I am uncertain if this is best place. We think we need a campsite with decent restrooms, pinic table, etc since this will be our daughters first float trip. Any suggestions or alternative ideas about put in, pull out, campsites, tricky spots with loaded canoes and honey holes for fishing (my daughter loves trout) would be greatly appreciated. If you do not want to post the honey hole spots, you can email directly. Thanks.

[Brian Sloss]

Your plan for the float is a good one, no need to change it. The girls will enjoy the cave at Whites Creek. As for fishing, remember the first section from Greer to Turner is the trophy area, so plan on releasing those fish and don't use bait or soft plastics there. After Turner the regs loosen and you are allowed 4 trout and can use bait and soft plastics. Fish the back ends of the shoals where they deepen out but still have a little current. They have been hitting particularly well in spots like that lately. Also, fish very deep.

[Memphismike]

Thanks for the input Brian. As far as getting our daughters hooked on fish, what would be best to try. Would it be rooster tails, corn, crawdads? Any tips or spots for them to catch fish would make for a fun trip for the girls. Thanks.

[Brian Sloss]

The descrption I gave of the deeper moving water just below the shoals works at just about every shoal and at just about every shoal you get to, you will have a good chance for fish there. Tumbling shoals about 2 miles below Turner is a very good spot to fish. The name is very descriptive, so look for a shoal that lives up to that name. The shoal by White's creek fishes pretty good as well. Anything that imtates a crawdad does well. Minnows do very well too if you are using bait.

[lizard]

thats alot of river to cover in 2 days. Yellow rooster tails have been working well on the swing just cast and hold on. Is that tree still crossing the river just below greer Brian?

[brownieman]

ditto on brian...fish the breaks on the riffles, mainly the lower ends.

they sit in the water right where the water starts to deepin waiting for something to wash across them from the shoal above...kinda sticks it right in their face.

if you want the girls to catch some bo bo's...corn bang em...it's the easiest bait to use and keeps very well and resembles a pellet of which they were raised on, lol.

sounds like it's planned well...just show those girls what itch weed is ( stinging nettles ) or you will HEAR IT!

I raised 2 girls myself. One swipe of a stinging nettle will turn their outdoor experience sour real quick, lol.

jewel weed is a natural antidote...takes the burn away immediately, nothing else will.

best of luck and hope you don't have to look for jewel weed, lol

[Brian Sloss]

The tree below Greer has been cut. I have to disagree about that being a lot of river to cover in 2 days. If it were you or me fishing and floating it might be a lot, but two 10 year olds usually don't have the attention span to fish every riffle and hole as long as we probably would. I and a lot of the other fishermen on this board can easily make 7-11 hours out 6 miles, but I am yet to find a 10 year old that wants to fish that slow. I may be wrong about these kids, but the 20 mile trip can be done a pretty casual pace.

[Memphismike]

Thanks for the great input. Brownieman, what is a bo bo? Brian, do crawdad crankbaits like Rebel deep teeny-wee work? Or do you suggest something different.

[Brian Sloss]

yes they work very well.