Thomasville to Cane Bluff

[bryanrob]

I would like to float Thomasville to Cane Bluff for a smallmouth trip. I am looking for any info like perfect water level, ideal time of year, etc from those that are familiar with this section. I did Cane Bluff to Greer last year and really liked it. I heard that the water gets too low very fast on this upper stretch often? Any info or tips would be much appreciated.

   

[Gavin]

Do you like cows and the smell of manure? 

[jdmidwest]

Spring of year is best, spring floods clean out the crap.  Just have to watch the weather and gauges. 

There will be cows and it does affect the fishing.  Last time we floated was a long day in July.  It can be a 13 hour float if fishing alot.  We dropped one rig off at daylight at Cane Bluff and drove into Thomasville turning the headlight on that nite. 

If you were impressed by the Cane Bluff to 19 float, the upper is better.  But the cattle ranchers are allowed to run the cattle down to the water.  We take the jet boat up from 19 when the river is high now to Spring Creek, a few holes short of Cane Bluff and float back.  Back in floating only days, we dropped in at McCormick Lake and went to 19, but that has been closed off.  There is an access on other side of river off a gravel road at a long dead hole.

[Mark]

 I floated that stretch one time in the summer with water at normal level. Very small creek at Thomasville and had to portage over a couple log jams on the first 1/4 mile or so until a spring adds water. After that, we only had to get out of the canoe  couple times for shallow shoals, but not too bad. Yes, a bummer to see cattle taking a dump in the river right in front of us, and yep it's  long day floating to Cane Bluff. But several nice springs enter along the way. Fish were hanging around springs.  If you don't mind a little work, esp the first few miles where it's more of a creek, it is doable and a decent float.