budman

you might increase the area of you search. I put mine on 100 miles and got lots of choices. But I got lucky and found one within 5 miles of my house.

Look on Facebook Market, I just found a two year old Wilderness System Ride 115, with a Air Max seat for $700. The seat by itself goes for $399. Lots of other kayaks and canoes but I was looking for another Ride115.

Whiskey or a cold beer is great to cap off your day of floating and fishing, but no glass is allowed on the river. So you will have to take cans and transfer your whiskey to a plastic flask. Large dry bags are a must. Walmart sells some pretty good ones that are inexpensive.

I have made this same trip a few times with friends and we used our kayaks and we used Buffalo River Float Service, they keep you vehicle at their place until the day you request it to be at you take out. They are right at the turn off for Rush Landing. Don't remember the exact cost, $80 maybe. We have took out at Shipps Ferry, about 5 miles down stream from the mouth of the Buffalo, and Riley's Station, which is just across from the mouth of the Buffalo but is slightly up stream. Hard to make it there if they are flowing much water. As for what to bring you need to have a water filter so you don't have to carry all your water. We use a jetboil stove for cooking, we eat mostly Mountain House food, Breakfast Skillet to make burritos in the morning and something for dinner. For lunch we got some of the Summer Sausage, that does not need to be kept cold, cheese and cracker and different kinds of trail mix.Any food we take that needs ice we eat the first night, steaks or something to grill. Use match light and a portable grill. Make sure you have a good tent and ground cover, we also have a tarp to hang for a cover in case it rained. We all have a cheap, $39, low cot from Basspro that keeps you off the ground and is great even if you can only find a rocky beach to sleep on. My kayak has a seat I can pull out and use as a chair, only wish it was a little taller. We always carry some of those fire starter block, I think they are Pine Mountain from walmart. Besides not camping on an island you shouldn't camp with a bluff to your back, you always want a way to escape rising water which sometimes happens when there is no rain in your area, could have happen 50 miles up stream. There was not much cell service along the way so don't count on it. There is a campground at Rush but you have to cross the creek over a low water bridge to get there so if the water is high you might not be able to get there. Just a primitive camp with a pit toilet, but I haven't been there in a couple years to you need to check with park service. I attached a picture of what I packed the first year and found I only used about 2/3 of the stuff and the next couple time I had a lot less on my kayak. I also have the Buffalo National River Guide Book, and it gives you a good break down of land marks, creeks and miles and gravel bars along the whole river. I got mine at the store in Gilbert for about $12 but I think you can get them at lots of places. We have never done it in the spring time only the fall so you will most likely have more water and won't drag as much as we did. It is a great trip and look forward to my next time. And we did have some good fishing.

Here is one that makes a great appetizer. Take a 8 oz pack of cream cheese and cut it in half and then cut into 1/4 inch thick chunks. Cut the duck into about the same size and place on top of the cream cheese. Put a slice of jalapeno pepper on top of them and then wrap with bacon, about half a slice, and stick a tooth pick through it to hold it together. I put them on the grill or smoker, not directly over the fire if on the grill, and cook until the bacon is done. I don't flip them because the cream cheese fall out. Hope you enjoy.

We decided to float something we know instead of the unknown. Haven't floated this section in three years. Has anyone done this section lately? We will be in kayaks and camping on gravel bars for a couple nights. Looking forward to a little floating without a crowd. How has the fishing been in this section? Going to carry both fly rod and spinning rod, anything that we make sure we fish with?

I like the meatloaf recipe and will have to try it. I have a meatloaf recipe with all the same ingredients except take out the sour cream and add half a bottle of guinness extra stout. Use the drippings and the other half of the beer and thicken to pour on top of the meat and potatoes. I think I only cook mine for about an hour.

Was on the Buffalo River a few years back and a young couple was camping next to us. As I walked by I noticed they had a lot of food stuff in boxes and ice chest sitting on the ground next to the picnic table. I thought I better inform them about the coon problem. I told them they better put all their stuff up or the coon would come out about dark and raid their camp. They said "thanks" and picked all their stuff and placed it on top of the picnic table. Needless to say the coon had a feast that night. They got up just before we hit the water the next morning and could not believe that all their stuff was eaten. I can still hear them saying "they even took the cheese out of the ice cheese and unwrapped each slice, how did they do that." We all laughed about that the whole day. Don't know about the garlic because had some get in my tackle and tear into a pack of garlic scented tubes. Didn't really eat them just tore the package completely up.

Thanks for all the information. Not sure if that is where we will go but wanting to add another river to our list and have driven over it a few time and it always look great. As for raccoons we always us a ratchet strap on our ice chest or put dry goods back in the dry hatch on the kayaks.

Looking at a possible 3 day 2 night trip on the Current, around the first of Oct. We have never floated the river. Are there places to camp along the river, gravel bars or campgrounds. We would be floating in Kayaks and hope to camp on the river. Any advice would be welcome, someone to shuttle truck, floatable water levels or another section to float and fish. We have floated the lower section of the Buffalo the last few years but wanted to try something different.

Going to be in Pagosa Springs for a week at the end of the month. Have never really fished the area. Can you give me any ideas on where to fish some streams or small lakes. The trip is more to get away from a very busy summer, but plan on doing a little fishing. Would like to find some places without having to hike too far but don't really want to just drive up and get out of the truck and fish with a crowd.

Had a little work in the Denver area last week and knew I had a little time to drive through the park but not really enough time to fish, without leaving the wife for a day. So we took a drive and had a picnic beside a nice little stream that was along the Old Fall river road. Ran into a couple young guys fishing a small stream just below a 50 water fall and got to see them catch a few small cuts and when they caught one that was 10-12 inches I had to go talk. They were fishing a large streamer with the smallest San Juan worm I have ever seen. It was tied on a size 22 hook and the worm was not much thicker then a hair. Really hard to see, but not for those trout. Made me wish I had brought my rod. We got to see a cow moose with twins feeding in a small pond along a trail we had been hiking. But the highlight was this large bull we got to see along the head water of the Colorado. He walked over to where we were parked and just stood and posed for us. We have not seen one this large before.

Going to Tylers Bend on the Buffalo River next week to do a little fishing, floating, good friends, fishing, a little drinking, a few good cigars and good food. Anyone been on the middle Buffalo lately? What are the water conditions and has the fishing been any good? A nice one from a trip a couple years ago.

Check out Kiamichi Park, 2300 acres, is open to bow hunting and all bucks must have a 15 inch outside spread. It has been this way for years so most of the buck reach maturity. There is also Hugo WMA, 18,000 acres of Public hunting land around Hugo Lake. There are a couple special hunts there and it is closed to all hunting during these time, usually 2-3 days each. I haven't been there is lots of years but saw several nice bucks and one of my sons shot a nice nine pointer that gross scored 135.

I am going to be on the White Feb. 5-7 and besides bringing my #5 and the normal midges, smaller streamers and a few dry flies I am wanting to bring a bigger rod and throw some large streamers. I have never done this so I was wondering what I should tie up, colors and sizes and what would be the best way to fish them. Will be staying at Whitehole and plan on wad fishing but will be bringing our kayaks. May also float the Norfork one day. Any ideas would help a lot.

I was there yesterday also. Had read you report and decided to give it a try. Really slow in morning up close to the dam. After lunch we went down to the Watts area and the fish seem to turn on when it started to sprinkle. I think I talked to you as you we walking out about 3 pm. We were fishing along the riprap just below the parking lot. Glad to hear you had a good day and glad to see the water had cleared up and the fish were biting again. We had several runs where one of us caught fish on three or four cast in a row. We tried several different flies and finally settled on a #10 or #12 olive bugger no bead but enough weight to keep it just below the surface. Hope to get back there soon.

All my trips before this had been in a canoe so I just thought I needed everything in the picture and thought I could get by without a small ice chest. I have since reduced the amount of extra stuff that I bring and that gave me room for a small ice chest. I use one of those Walmart Yeti soft sided one. Don't use it for much, a few cold beers, cheese and a little meat. I freeze several bottle of water to keep things cold and then drink the water after a couple days. We get the summer sausage that does not need to be kept cold, until opened anyway, and eat it and cheese with bread or crackers for lunch. I have a jetboil, so we eat Mountain House meals for dinner. I have found a few I like, Chili Mac, Stroganoff, Lasagna and get the Skillet Breakfast one and make burritos or have oatmeal and fruit in the mornings. I have a good water filter so we don't have to pack a lot of water, but do carry the powder Gatorade to mix, sometime, to add flavor. Having everything in dry bags is a must and I always pack a tarp to put up for when it is raining so we don't have to get in the tent just to stay dry. I use the small duraflame fire starter blocks to start my fires, so unless everything is really wet you can always get a fire started.

I had been trying to get my wife to do a float trip where we did river bank camping and she wouldn't go without a cot. I got one from Bass Pro that worked great. It fits in a small bag and keeps her about 4 inches off the ground. I added a two inch memory foam pad, twin size, and it makes a nice bed. The cot is under $40 and I bought the pad at Walmart for about $25. We carried them on our kayaks and enough for a three day trip. A couple friends have the Thermo-rest and Big Agnes cot, both over $200, and the only thing better is that they weigh about 1/2 as much. Usually use a 2 person backpack tent but it wouldn't fit our gear and two cots so I went with the Ascend 4 person red lodge and it worked great, even in the heavy rain we had the first night. The wife liked it so well we have another trip planned for early next summer. And you can pack way more than you think or need on your kayak. The attached pictures are from about 4 years ago for a 4 day trip. Didn't have the cot then, just used a pad and bag. Having the cot makes for a lot better sleeping.

Take a drive back to Ponca, on Hwy 43 and look for Elk along the fields. The big bulls will be bugling and herding up their cows. You can also go to Lost Valley and take a hike up to a nice cave and go back inside about 75 feet and find a 25 foot waterfall at the back of it. You can either crawl up the creek bed, 3 ft high, or take a narrow slot on the right and come out almost at the back. You will need a flash light in the cave. The Buffalo will be very low and sometime it will be limited to pools separated by long sections of gravel where the water is not flowing above the gravel.

I like the Section from Rush to the White, have floated it a couple times in the fall. We used Buffalo River Float Service, they are at the turn off for Rush. We floated three days and camped two nights. If you fish a lot it could easily be a for day float. There are plenty of great camping spots along that section of the river. We used larger streamers and craw patterns. Pistol Pete, it looks like a bugger with a propeller on the nose, # 6-10 Oliver buggers and Autumn Splendor. Used small craws, grubs and Ned rigs on spinning gear. Took out at Riley's Station one year during low water. You can paddle across to the island at the mouth of the White and walk up stream to the first cut and then paddle down to Riley's dock. During high flow on the White we took out at Shipps Ferry, about 5 mile down stream from where the Buffalo joins the White River. We did not fish that section and it only took us about an hour to go the five miles. Check the gage at Harriet for water flows. I think we had about 85 - 90 CFS flowing when we went and there was plenty of water and only had to drag through a few spots. We are thinking of doing that section the second week of Oct so if you go give us a report.

What section of the river do you plan to float?

It has been a couple months since I fished the Lower Illinois because of the high water and increased releases. Was thinking about giving it a try with the cooler mornings this week. The last I heard the water was still really muddy. Has anyone fished there lately. Oklahoma fishing doesn't give much other than fishing with power bait just below the dam.

Anyone tied or fished any of these on the White or Norfork. What size jig head and did you add more weight. How do you fish it, on the bottom or strip it on the fall. Is one color better any other. Found several different colors at Walmart and auto part stores, they are car wash mitts or dusters.

We were there in early Feb. and took our kayaks. We could paddle up to Redbud Shoals easily. Caught lots of fish while wade fishing. Fished mainly with small olive sow bugs and scuds, but caught lots on other stuff. There was a guy parked in the middle of the river just up stream and spin fishing with a 100th oz olive jig under an small bobber and caught 2 to our 1 all day. Caught more fish at Redbud Shoal than down stream at Rim Shoals. Took a day to go below Norfork and floated to the White and it was a good day. Caught mostly rainbows but caught a few browns along the way.

What size jig heads were they using. I will be there starting May 8th for a few days. Plan on floating from the parking lot in the park to the White, with our kayaks. Will be carrying my normal stuff but after seeing this will have to make up a few of these worms. Don't think I have a single trout fly in white.