Tygarts Creek Fishing Guides
A two-hundred-and-forty-square-mile northeastern Kentucky creek cutting a sandstone gorge above Greenup, long regarded as one of the state's better smallmouth floats.
Guides on the Tygarts Creek
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About the Tygarts Creek
Tygarts Creek drains two hundred and forty-two square miles of Greenup and Carter counties before reaching the Ohio River, and for much of its length it runs through a steep sandstone gorge that is among the more striking pieces of country in northeastern Kentucky. The gauge near Greenup reads discharge and stage continuously, and on a creek that is floated as much as it is waded, the discharge reading is the number that decides whether a trip happens at all.
The creek has a reputation among Kentucky anglers as a smallmouth float, and it earns it. The gorge reaches run over sandstone ledge and cobble, with long pools separated by shallow riffles and the occasional rock garden, and that alternation of deep holding water and shallow broken water is exactly what smallmouth bass want. The surrounding country is largely forested and sparsely settled, so the creek runs clearer than most Kentucky streams of its size and the float feels genuinely remote in places despite being a short drive from the Ohio.
Water level governs everything. Too little and the float becomes a long series of drags across gravel; too much and the creek is pushy, coloured and unsafe in the gorge. The productive window is narrower than on a larger river, which is why regular anglers here watch the gauge closely and go when it is right rather than when the calendar suggests.
Smallmouth bass are the principal quarry and the creek produces good numbers with a genuine chance at a better fish. Spotted and largemouth bass are present, rock bass are everywhere and are excellent sport on light tackle, and longear sunfish, bluegill and green sunfish fill in. Channel and flathead catfish hold in the deeper pools, and creek chub, white sucker and carp complete the assemblage. Carter Caves State Resort Park sits within the drainage and provides the most convenient base for a visiting angler.
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Access
Greenup - the county seat near the creek's lower end, with fuel, food, lodging and supplies.
Carter Caves State Resort Park - the state park within the drainage, with lodging, camping and trails.
Road crossings through the gorge - the standard put-ins and take-outs for a float.
Olive Hill - the nearest town to the upper creek, with basic services.
Ohio River - the river this creek enters, offering a large-water alternative.
Grayson Lake - a nearby reservoir with ramps and a very different fishery when the creek is out.
Ashland - the regional city to the east, with tackle shops and guides.
Seasons
Spring: high water makes floating difficult early, but as levels settle the smallmouth fishing comes on strongly.
Summer: the prime float season, with clear low water, warm days and smallmouth bass willing on topwater early and late.
Fall: the best fishing of the year as smallmouth feed hard, with the gorge at its most attractive.
Winter: low cold water concentrates fish in the deepest pools and the creek is largely left to itself.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Tygarts Creek?
As of Oct 18, 4:45 pm, the USGS gauge TYGARTS CREEK NEAR GREENUP, KY reads 35 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Tygarts Creek?
Anglers target Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Creek Chub, Flathead Catfish, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Longear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, White Sucker on the Tygarts Creek in Kentucky.
Where can you access the Tygarts Creek?
Greenup - the county seat near the creek's lower end, with fuel, food, lodging and supplies. Carter Caves State Resort Park - the state park within the drainage, with lodging, camping and trails. Road crossings through the gorge - the standard put-ins and take-outs for a float. Olive Hill - the nearest town to the upper creek, with basic services. Ohio River - the river this creek enters, offering a large-water alternative. Grayson Lake - a nearby reservoir with ramps and a very different fishery when the creek is out. Ashland - the regional city to the east, with tackle shops and guides.
When is the best time to fish the Tygarts Creek?
Spring: high water makes floating difficult early, but as levels settle the smallmouth fishing comes on strongly. Summer: the prime float season, with clear low water, warm days and smallmouth bass willing on topwater early and late. Fall: the best fishing of the year as smallmouth feed hard, with the gorge at its most attractive. Winter: low cold water concentrates fish in the deepest pools and the creek is largely left to itself.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Tygarts Creek?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Kentucky agency site: https://fw.ky.gov/FishBoatGuide/Pages/default.aspx