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

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Originally Posted by jackie53

Now back to lake Conway!!! Double WOW!!!

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You got that right Jackie! Back to work (tornado cleanup) and back to crappie fishing.

I got ya man! I will take you to an even better smallmouth creek. Here is a hint, its a very crooked creek.

Looks like an awesome trip! I've always wanted to catch some smallmouth.

The lower Buffalo and the wilderness area are literally two of my favorite places in the world. I usually go there 2 or3 times a year. My best friend caught the biggest smallmouth I've ever seen there. See or hear any hogs? I feel like they are destroying the area and more should be done about it. Thanks for letting us share your trip.

Pretty cool

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Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

The lower Buffalo and the wilderness area are literally two of my favorite places in the world. I usually go there 2 or3 times a year. My best friend caught the biggest smallmouth I've ever seen there. See or hear any hogs? I feel like they are destroying the area and more should be done about it. Thanks for letting us share your trip.

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We saw a bunch of sign and we heard some really early one morning. I agree, there are a lot in the area. Not a good thing.

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Originally Posted by D10

I got ya man! I will take you to an even better smallmouth creek. Here is a hint, its a very crooked creek.

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Sounds like a plan.

great post Matt thanks for sharing

looks like fun!!

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Looks like a great time. Thanks for sharing.

I've done that same trip during turkey season several years ago. Two of the best trips I've ever had. Doesn't get anymore scenic and I never knew we had that kind of smallie fishing in this state. We caught some hogs.

Isn't there a limit, like 1 smallmouth, on the Buffalo River, or at least part of it. I was gonna go up the Buffalo off the White River there at White-Buffalo and seems like somebody told me there was a 10hp limit on the motor and a limit of one smallmouth! I gave that up in a hurry!

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Originally Posted by Cmj

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

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I can put ya on a few with lots of Spots and Large Mouth to boot .

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Originally Posted by ski trip

Isn't there a limit, like 1 smallmouth, on the Buffalo River, or at least part of it. I was gonna go up the Buffalo off the White River there at White-Buffalo and seems like somebody told me there was a 10hp limit on the motor and a limit of one smallmouth! I gave that up in a hurry!

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You can only keep one smallmouth over 18". There is also a 9.9hp limit. No reason to be in a hurry down there. I wish it were no motors personally.

Great post and pictures. Thanks for sharing. Love the Buffalo.

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Originally Posted by D10

You can only keep one smallmouth over 18". There is also a 9.9hp limit. No reason to be in a hurry down there. I wish it were no motors personally.

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I thought I remembered some kind of limit. Thanks, Matt. And I'm with you on the no motors. That's not your usual stream of water, and I think it would be just fine if it was limited to non-powered watercraft, such as canoes and kayaks. Just my :twocents

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

I can put ya on a few with lots of Spots and Large Mouth to boot .

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You gonna catch em all for me too? Lol, just kidding. I was just giving Matt a hard time. He is the Smallmouth King!!

Sounds like a great time. I have never caught a smallmouth. Great story and pics!

Looks like y'all had a blast. Thanks for sharing.

The wife and I stayed at the White/Buffalo resort a few years back......Couldn't go up the Buffalo because of motor restrictions. I will just rent a boat/float next time....Thanks for the post and pics

Looks like fun

My avatar picture (I think that's what's called) upper left corner, is from the Lower Buffalo on one of our trips. Wonderful place.

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Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

My avatar picture (I think that's what's called) upper left corner, is from the Lower Buffalo on one of our trips. Wonderful place.

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I really like living so close to Lake Conway, but if I was being honest, I would rather live closer to the Buffalo. I lived in Lakeview for 3 years and fished Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River just about every week. I love catching some stream smallmouth! Pretty hard to beat.

Those canoes don't look wide enough for me.

Do they have catamaran XXL canoes?

Nice post Ark has some great Smallie Streams.

Great times to remember. Wife and I have made that trip several times.

Been there done that. The absolute best float in the state.

Here are a few more pictures that my Uncle sent me. The bottle in my hand is not glass. It is a home brew IPA in a PET (plastic) bottle. My Dad is getting preety good at brewing beer. The first fish picture is the largest ozark bass we caught. The last fish is a chestnut lamprey that fell off of the catfish we caught.
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Really nice trip it reminds me of the buffalo back in the 70s since you have to camp not many people I used to be really big into whitewater and have floated Richland creek the Cossatott and the very beginning of the Buffalo most people refer to as the Hailstone getting a little too old for that now but some of the best memories of my life and some of the most beautiful scenery in the state were brought to me on those trips