bobber

all bets are off..... just looked at radar, and they are getting hammered ... watch the gauge to see if it jumps. and how high !

it's an OLD TOWN CANOE

there is no camping at hasty, and carver is only about 10 sites. woolum is your best bet ..note..the grass is tall !! as you drive up to the bathroom the road that goes to the left, goes way around .it is mainly used for horse campers.. look for a big tree with low, over hanging branches best site there! river is just steps away!

if you want to cast at wet gravel go ahead and go to kyles!! ...(but there isn't any water up there.) i would be looking a carver, or woolum .. but, hey it's just me! the big pools of water aren't holding any fish,( about the only thing working is moving water.) and it's all down stream. and the late afternoon is best of all !! the campground fill fast friday.

it's too good!.... the rain from sat nite, made sunday's river take a 6 ft spike, big and muddy

national guard helicopter crashed into the river at buffalo point , this section is closed to all river traffic for the next few days or weeks as they recover whats left... saw two photos of it. all you could see was the landing rails above the waterline...

the ruling is...if you do a 5 day trip on the river, anyone of them can shuttle you! the river was too low to float out of ponca last weekend, but the rain bumped the level to a good level. and fishing has been great!! just make sure you mark water levels with a stick, or stones at camp each day so you know if it's going up ..or down!! if you have rain on your trip you need to look at camping 10 vertical feet from the rivers bank( yeah! i'm a worry wart!but i'm also the guy that gets to come get you when it goes bad out there!!) but once you pass rush your all alone !!

well, I got to go with the outfitter's last sunday to paddle out 7 fully loaded rental canoes ....( out of state canoe campers!! ) they got stuck in the storm... and had set up there camp site on a island. then they are awaken by water in there tents!!!! and panic ,with water coming up . and called the Rangers to come RESCUE them! ..... Sunday we put on the mighty buffalo in flood stage, water in the steel creek put- in was in the load, and unload area. the two stone walls are no ware to be seen.... 13 of us load into to 2,... 13 ft. star rafts . the first part of the trip was all fun and games, hitting all the big wave trains, that never seemed to end. at jims bluff we come up on the canoes ... packed with piles of soaking wet camping gear....enough for 17 people. we had to lay it all out ,and pack it all up, to head out back down river! ....no matter how we did it, even loading the 2 rafts down heavy, the canoe sat low in the water. so we set them up so we could paddle them solo,.... yeah! (old town discovery 169's.. not my choice as a solo white water canoe!!!) but anyway we take off down river .... well, the big wave trains that seemed so fun in that (safe ,big) raft didn't seem so fun to anyone now!! as we fly down stream.. you had to sit up on your knees to see over the top of some of the waves we hit head on. and each wave would fill up the canoe, so you had to bail like a mad man to keep up with all the water coming in . you couldn't pull over to the bank, the river was up in the trees, and bushes along the bank. and at times it was very hard to figure out were the river went!!...... this is where it gets fun! just above Grey rock the waves are 6 to 7 feet tall ... i kid you not!!!! the raft was first down. from were i'm looking they had a clean line . i see them go over about 5 good ones ,and then i see the guy in the back of the raft, that rudders the raft... just launch!.. and go flying up in the air! i look over to my right nobody was smiling .. funny ..nobody on the left side was either.i ask if everyone is alright and ready to go . who's next?... with the roaring river of foaming muddy water, you could have heard a pin drop!...( or the chirp cricket sound!).... i said just follow me . as i paddle off to the middle of the river, it looked better to me, i hit the first wave and it really shoots the bow of the canoe way high and it slams down on the next one and i'm getting in rhythm of the waves and then i hit the hole that launched the rafter and the canoe stands up on end. i don't know how high, but the thwart put my cigarette out!! so i'm floating around inside the canoe trying my best to keep it heading down stream, i peek over my shoulder to see the next canoe wave jumping along side me ??? but no paddler! as i go by the rafters, and yell to get the throw rope ready! they are way ahead of me. they had 2 set up and ready to go. by the time i got pulled over, they had pulled him in . the others made it down about the same way i did. we re-group and bail out all the water we can. so now we have to go down the Grey rock section! we come up with a plan . both rafts take off down river, and we space out and follow... the waves in this section start off small( about 4 ft tall) yeah!! small little 4 foot waves! but soon they grow at times it felt like i was paddling up hill ,climbing the faces of some waves. you couldn't see anything but the next wave as to crashed into them... waves so strong they tossed me from side to side and all i'm thinking is ..all i have to do is make it to kyles( i'm sure that's what was going on in everyone s head) the last shoot before kyles landing... gear, guys and canoes go floating by , i rope one in. and the rafters grab the other one. i'm pulling in on the rope with canoe, and swimmer in tow. as we blast by kyles landing like it wasn't even there! then start pushing on the sunken canoe to try to slow it down as my swimmer clings to the tail end of my canoe .at camp ORR the boy scout camp we hit the first eddy i could stop at. the water was up on the second or third step . we dump out the now empty canoe and it was a good thing ,as some of the camping gear goes floating by... we gather up all we can as another one of our canoes comes bobbing by. so we both had to push that one into some rocks to stop it, and then did a boat over boat emptying to rescue it. so there are two of us and 3 canoes!! and we are down stream of kyles our take out!!! . our group is split up.!!! "and we are trained paddlers!!..... about an hour later we hear the trucks and trailers coming down the hill into camp ORR to get us !!! later we talked to the RANGER and he tells me how helpless he felt as he watched us go blasting by kyles, and all he could do was watch.!!! but it looked like we had it well in hand from what he saw! .......said the ranger.

I'll be there this weekend ! .... but for whitewater school, as a swiftwater rescuer. and it's been way too long since we all hooked-up for a "rodeo".. we need to get okie jim in on some action too. ..........make a date for this EVENT!!! LET'S GET A HEAD COUNT

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/uv/?site..._cd=00065,00060 ~~~> here 's your sign! ....if it peaks over 4.5 your trips already over!.... without any more rain, i'm not telling you it can't be done. but i will say, it will only take about 7 hours to make that 3 day section of the river. watch the flow as it goes down stream and as each section goes up ... you can judge for yourself ....i have floated the hwy 14 to rush @ 11 ft to 15 ft. before many times. you can hear the gravel rolling across the river bottom!! but hey!! you still have 9 days and counting... ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! but...you might want to switch ends of the river?

i'm going in a few hours ...last weekend the water was milky green,they are calling for heavy rains starting sunday. fishing has been slow, i think the water is still too cold .....(and the dogwoods are still a yellowy white!!! this being my key factor!) but on a side note we have been picking good morels! hey.. fish on that section need to be 18 inches ...new law last year!... you guys, just make a float plan, so if and when you guys don't show - up somebody knows!! a simple note on your windshield at the take out ,and put in ,or a note on the kitchen table...cell phones don't work!! until the end of the trip....

i think your going to run some HIGH water for your trip looking at the weather out look .... first rapid is a class III...AND I WOULD TAKE OUT AT SHIPPS FERRY.. down stream and not try to paddle up stream at all!!.... i don't care what they all say! we have rain in the forecast and the river is coming up now !! wish i had some pic's of the flooded cars that got washed down stream from last spring. ...........GOOD LUCK!

coming from mt home the hwy 14 dillard's ferry to rush......(wild bill's is your outfitter but the pool for the little one doesn't fit this plan ,cabins at buffalo point. and i think bill has some too. but i don't think it's within seeing distance of the river?.... hope it helps!

gateway is a locked out thing !

camp grounds near Eureka springs,?( kings river outfitters), or at the hwy 62 bridge. are a few that come to mind but you can wade in at any of the put ins, or take outs! to spend the night on the river you will need a canoe, as most is private land ...and the only other is the parts you don't want?

Eureka Springs is going to be the ticket! ...."chuck full of motels"

too bad that's what your trip had to start off with!....... But send the BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER Park Service. HARRISON ARKANSAS an email about what happened ...... and just Let it out! ................> ~~BUT, GLAD TO HAVE HELPED YOU OUT ON THE REST!~~ the arkansas canoe guys are floating woolum to bakers ford the weekend of the 20 th as an overnighter, (but it could be done as a day trip) . and you can't find better folks than that bunch, too bad they don't fish.

too funny! .....oh what a wicked web we weave! it's just that i feel the frustration some guys feel that only get to fish a few times a year. or that have to travel far distances. and to find a spot that won't get RAPED AND PILLAGED BY THE NON-SPORTSMAN TYPE. i don't figure that everyone will be walking the banks on this one !!! access is bad, to say the least ! and without a craft ,canoe or kayak you won't be seeing anyone else out there! but don't think for a minute that you will go unnoticed into the national river system to due harm, or break laws!! the RANGER STAFF is in full swing and they live for that stuff!!!!besides between trying to control the canoe, make a cast, dodge the rocks, duckin' limbs, there isn't much fishing time!!

if your a rock bass man( rooster tails) small yellow or white spinner!!... but fish it all buddy! ...... deep, shallow,moving most will be less than 5 ft. but the deep dark green stuff, slow your game down... way down!! ...... HOGLAW, calm down!!!... let's wait to see if my cyber guide service works! you can e-mail my check to BOBBER @ THE END OF THE LINE!....... no really, i'm planning a trip that way soon(this month) come along! i bet old glory wants to go also! we might even bring zholt with if will RETURN MY LIFE VEST!!!!! I LOANED HIM 4 YEARS AGO AT EURBIE!!!!! JUST SO I GET IT BACK... this river is just across the state line, and will be a day trip only stay tuned for an update. BUT I WILL OFFER THIS TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO GO WITH!!!!

tubes, lizards, green or smoke with red and black flakes ,1/8 oz jig heads (green low-viz line 4 lb test) ..... fish slow as you can . water temps are still cool so fish will be slow and deep ! that would be my best guess. at the carver put in, at the start of your trip paddle over to the mouth of big creek, you can see it flowing in to the buffalo on river right. and spend some time around the narrows! we camp there, or just around the bend at skull bluff. and your about 4 miles from woolum take out ...... the only hazard you should see will be near the end of the trip the river pushes in to a large bluff wall and makes a hard sweeping right turn stay far right all the way through into the pool ................ now that makes me your cyber fishing guide! e-mail my check! yeah! ha-ha so here is the deal!.......... DON'T POST ABOUT HOW MANY FISH YOU CAUGHT OR THE SIZE OF THEM! DON'T EAT ANY ,AND RELEASE THEM ALL BACK ! .......THESE ARE THE CYBER RULES!!!!!! if you abide i'll have another river for you to try out

a good 1/2 inch would shoot it right up, if it falls around the head waters, >> about your pruitt trip.... it would be close on time i think. !!.... but what you need to do is carver to woolum ! ....(it's what your looking for!) this section is way- over looked ..call jesse @ floatthebuffalo.com < shameless plug! you can stop by and drop off a key and they will move your car... and if you don't make that .the good folks at the arkansas canoe club( another shameless plug!( canoe campers- richard mc fadden's crew) are planning a trip around the weekend of the 21 st. these trips are always family friendly and anyone is welcome, but they paddle too fast to fish with!!!

looking at the forecast...your planning a whitewater trip right?because as of last weekend you can't paddle it, there's NO WATER.... ok it's wet gravel!! and that won't work..if it were me i'd make 3 plans.... no rain water.#1 priutt to hasty ,or carver... #2 too much rain, flooding on the upper ponca.... go down river hwy 14 (dillards ferry) to rush.great float right up to flood stage or ,#3 pack the (dry bags) and take your chances..... the air space needs to be above 28 inches to even attempt a run at ponca, and that's a bump and grind. 18 inches of air space and that 's fast water and flush is a rush!!!and that's flood stage....no rentals on the river.

water temp is a key factor! along with water clarity. you can't buy a muddy bite on that river! >>but some good news they added 1300 catfish to the river system not sure if all are tagged, or some. but a tagged catfish will PAY $5.00, AND ONE WITH A LO CATER POD WILL PAY $25.00..

i'm on the other end .... in the war eagle arm... point 12 .. stripers are here now! large schools and everyone is trolling after the flocks of birds for the last week.

i use a 230 with large blades , as a back-up for a headwind , and up stream tool !... as for a regular canoe paddle, mohawk makes a paddle that has a 9 inch blade ( huge difference that extra inch makes! ) and at 29 dollars hard to beat.