Lower Buffalo Wilderness (May19th - 22nd)

Last week for my birthday, I got to float the Buffalo River from Rush Access to the White River. I went with my Dad, Uncle Dan, my godfather, and Matt Horton. If you have never done this, I highly recommend it. This is truly one of the last untouched areas in Arkansas. I mainly guided Matt because it was his his time in this stretch of the river.

The river was a little high (5.8' at the Highway 14 Bridge) to fish with normal tactics. We still manage to catch around 700 smallmouth in 4 days! We also caught and kept dozens of longear sunfish, green sunfish, four ozark bass (no state records), one catfish, and one bluegill.

Including the lamprey that was attached to the catfish, we caught 7 species of fish!

We also learned that the lower Buffalo River is full of softshell turtles. We caught 10 of them while catfishing!

Pretty awesome to see such variety. How long of a float was it in total miles and what was the bait of choice for smacking the brownies?

Good story with photos. I know there used to be lots of fat Channel Cats in that river. Sounds like a blast floating the river. Always wanted to go on a long float. Send me a pm if you want to try some rivers in west Arkansas sometime.

The float was 28 miles. We didn't catch any spots. But the smallmouth were smacking 4 inch flukes pretty good. Smaller smallmouth were caught on salt and pepper triple ripples. Normally we fish on the bottom with tube jigs and other crayfish imitations. The flow was too much for this type of bait.

I make a motion for a Crappie.com float trip...D-10 official coordinator...

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Originally Posted by Geagle81

I make a motion for a Crappie.com float trip...D-10 official coordinator...

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I would be glad to do that! Unfortunately, there are no crappie to be caught!

Fish are fish I love to reel any kind in.

Ive done over night float trips on the Eleven Point River a few times and its a lot of fun. We normally fish the river a hand full of times each summer but haven't made a trip like that in years. We use tube baits in the swift deeper turns in river and inline spinners and crawdad cranks on the long still stretches with good success! Tend to just make a day trip anymore since its not to bad of a drive! Man nothing like a small mouth on a light action rod! Thanks for the story and pictures!

No place in the World Like the Buffalo River!!! 2nd to none!!! Yes I have been to the Border waters of Canada!! No place like the Buffalo River!!! Thanks!!! Now back to lake Conway!!! Double WOW!!!

Man, that's awesome!! Looks like a great time. I still haven't caught my first Smallie....hint hint :biggrin