Plastic_worm

Red from trip last Dec. Notice how muddy my yak is, it's from poling thru mud to get back to a pond that had a school of reds. Had a limit of fish in 20 min...caught so many that my hands blistered. Had to go find specks for a break, lol

Ham-I'm in. I'm always trying to get someone to make the trip with me. Most of the time I have to go solo. PM me and we'll work out the details. FW-That environment? Not sure what you mean. Kayaking in SELA is very popular and safe. The boat can't be beat as far as covering a large area. But they can't get into some of the shallow areas a kayak can...I've push polled my kayak thru mud to get into a pond that was full of reds. Plus I can put my kayak in the water at any point along the hwy...most boats need a ramp. Not to mention the tide...that 4ft pond could be 1.5ft by noon, and your stuck. Accessibility - Look at hwy 1 on google and you can see the miles and potential locations to drop off a kayak. I could go on, I have a 20ft bass boat put I prefer my kayak, no gas, insurance, batteries, pay to launch fees...etc. And really it's just fun to catch a big fish in a kayak.

Last month my cousin, Cody Kelley, won the co-angler FLW event on Kentucky Lake. Today he's volunteering at the expo. If your in central AR come on out and be sure to stop by the casting for kids booth for some instruction.

A good yak is a necessity for stalking reds. I can imagine how painful a rented yak would be...good for u for trying. Like ham said they might but a SB isn't the best option. A fluke on a jig head or vudu shrimp (any shrimp looking bait) under a popping cork will work for both. I keep 1 rod with a popping cork and shrimp for specks and 1 rod rigged for reds. Lately I've been using my 8wt.

Reds aren't hard to make bite...they're feeding machines. Once you locate one all you really need to do is put the bait in front of it. And if you don't want to deal with hardheads, gafftops, and rays leave the shrimp at home. A 1/4 oz gold spoon, fluke, or spinner bait will catch all the reds you want w/o hooking those unwanted species. And if you're in a kayak being able to stand and sight fish the reds is very productive...you're more likely to spook reds blind casting than making an accurate cast to a feeding red. Catching big reds in a yak is crazy fun. I love it so much I make the 6 hr drive to Grand Isle, LA almost monthly.

Around 25 miles to Buffalo City which you'd have to paddle up the White and that can be a problem if they are generating at BSD. Some people use a guy across from the confluence but I can't remember his name, someone on here will probably have it or do a search he's been mentioned many times. I like to float down river about 5 more miles to Shipps Ferry on the White. It's not the most productive trout area but I still catch a few to round out a fishing trip. And I've never had an issue leaving my vehicle there for a few days. Map link on lower left side of page, provides distances. http://www.nps.gov/buff/index.htm

Really depends on how much you fish but if you want to enjoy the float, plan for camping 3 nights. That way you only have to float about 9 miles/day. I wouldn't expect to see many people on this section it's fairly remote...no access after Rush until you get to the White. With that said I see more river jon's on this section than any other section on the buffalo. So be prepared for a little motor noise and wake...I have never had a bad experience with any boaters, just FYI. Fishing is really good. Less party floaters and fishing pressure. Be prepared for low flow's in Oct, it'll most likely be floatable but a canoe/kayak loaded w/ 4-5 days of camping gear/food will be heavy and slow already (I like to do this section in May/June). Only real hazard is the first rapid after rush, Clabber Creek shoal, depending on your ability it may be wise to portage. Hope some of this helps.

Had a great trip on the creek Saturday. Caught just about everything in the river...except a catfish...saw 1 but it wouldn't bite. See below: http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/

I can't speak to what would be best on the current but I have a 17 foot canoe and a cuda 12. I had a native ult14.5 for 3 yrs before getting the cuda. The cuda has been everywhere with me...Reds in LA marsh, trout on the white/lrr, SMB on ozark creeks/rivers and too many lakes/ponds for LMB/bream, catfish to name. I have no problem car topping it on my wife's honda odyssey...but I carry it most of the time on my titan via roof rack. It's $$$ for sure but the comfort is top notch. I float for hours and never have back or leg pain. I always get sore in my canoe and loading it is a pia. I would expect to feel worse sitting low or even on the kayak. Any kayak that has an elevated seat and around 12ft would be my suggestion. If you can demo that's best. The 1 negative for the cuda is fly fishing...too many hang-ups. The Cruise would be a better option if you fly fish and it's cheaper. But you trade storage for an open deck. I can camp 2-3 nights in my cuda and need the storage so I deal with the hang-ups. I have no other complaints really...it tracks well, not too slow, can place a cooler in tank well behind seat and is very stable (if you like to stand...not for everyone). JMHO.

Proud of my cousin he won the FLW co-angler on Kentucky Lake this weekend. Lots of hard work finally paid off...great job Cody!! http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/flw/tournament/2014/7128/kentucky-lake-paris-landing-co-angler-headline/156237/kelley-crowned-co-angler-champ/#.U7CeTJSICdk http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/

Camped at the point last 4 nights. Floated Monday and did alright with craws and tubes. Great time to float if you can get out...good flows and the fish are biting. See: http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/

I was there this weekend also. Wanted to float on Sunday but it was chocolate milk. SO I opted for Crooked Creek on Sunday and hit the Buffalo on Monday. CC was dingy but the fishing was really good. The Buffalo cleared up on Monday and the fishing was good. Sometimes it's better to have a back up plan. I never do well in chocolate milk...fast water and low visibility makes fishing tough.

I don't fish the LRR very often but it never disappoints. Again it was a great trip, mostly bow's but a few browns to round out the day. Full report: http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the follow-up report. That's actually my favorite float. I like the faster current, however I have not been on that end this yr, so I'm not sure if it's like it was last yr. In the faster current I usually keep a fluke on and it works really well. I fish a craw or tube in slower water. This weekend I decided to drive to SELA and catch redfish and I had a blast doing it. I'm watching the weather/gauges and might try to sneak up there later this week or next.

I haven't but my next trip will be an overnighter or 2.

From the pictures it seems you did have a great trip. Parking and walking down and back is my strategy also, however on this trip we were in kayaks and leap froged each other all afternoon. So while I was fly fishing he would somehow end up at the end of the run before I arrived. Next time I'll stick to my commie tackle. I agree the habitat is outstanding, I could have stayed out their all night. Might head back next week and do it all over again.

It's almost 7 miles and took us 12 hours but we fished slow and hard. We waded every shoal and stopped to fish all the deep holes. If you paddle more you can be done much sooner. So the short answer is it's really up to you.

I floated Pyatt to Snow Saturday and drug at every shoal. I wouldn't do that section again at the current conditions. Not b/c of the dragging but I think the noise spooked the larger more seasoned smallies. I keep a log of my float trip's with conditions of that float and refer to them when I make a plan. It's been a really useful tool over the last few yrs. I usually do snow to the slab but opted for a shorter float. The fishing was ok but it's been better. You can read more at: http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/

I don't own a coosa but I though you could take the hatch off? With my cuda I was thinking the rod cover would rub but I noticed it was removable and/or put it on backwards. Luckily the rack I have is adjustable so it wasn't an issue.

Without knowing what type of water you'll fish in mostly or how (fly/conventional) my response is very general. I have a cuda 12 and a native ultimate 14.5. Had the native since 2010 and just recently got the cuda. You can't go wrong with any of the Jackson's (cuda, coosa, and CRUISE....cheaper but same hull and seat as cuda). If you've been fishing from a canoe you'll shouldn't have any issues (turning, running) fishing from a 12ft yak (I started in a disco 169). If you ever fish flat water you'll appreciate the tracking of a longer boat. I like the high seat that the cuda offers (spotting fish, etc) and way better tracking than the Native ult14.5. Standing is more comfortable (feet in pontoons in native) in the cuda but not as stable. Native remedied this with the new Ult FX models. Biggest difference is class rivers you can safely paddle. I got the cuda to fish mild white water, away from shore, and off-shore in LA. You can't do that in a native. But the native is my best option for fly fishing...open area...and that's why I kept it. In short I would look at the Cruise 12, hi/low seat, stand-ability, fishing accessory options, and REALLY price @$899.00 (coosa 1199, cuda 1299, and Native FX not sure but would expect to be 1k or more) http://jacksonkayak.com/jk-kayaks/recreational-touring-kayaks/2013-cruise/ There are other options (native slayer, moken, KC kayaks (looks like a canoe fishes like a yak...think native ultimate with scuppers) but these are what I've fished with in ozark rivers, AR/LA lakes/bayous and on the LA coast. Hope this helps. You didn't ask but I'll add...if you can afford a rudder...get it...makes a huge difference. I notice more after I hook a fish and can steer away from the side of the river I'm fishing and not be dragged/carried with the current through the areas I want to fish while I'm landing a fish. There is a used coosa and ultimate in the for sale forum.

The lower end is just right for fishing in my opinion...slow enough to fish and deep enough to not drag. I like Gilbert to maumee or maumee to dillards ferry (hwy14 bridge)...if you're only doing 8-10 miles. I really like to fish Rush to the white....but that's around 27 miles over 3 day's....however you'll be fishing area's that don't get the fished hard and you may not see anyone.

I've been on the NWA site...cool page for kayak fishing. The cuda seems like a good boat, may be heavy at 74lbs w/o seat. I like the sit in feel of a hybrid but that is also b/c I paddle in LA and like to feel some seperation from the wildlife, lol...not that it would really matter. As long as you try it out you'll be happy w/ whatever you buy, good luck!

BTW there is a 12' ultimate for sale $950 in Rogers...found on craigslist. I don't know this person just looking for my brother. For the right $$ maybe you could get a fishing and ww yak, lol. You can never have too many boats! http://fayar.craigsl...2958171143.html

I have no interest in white water but I was looking at fishing kayak's about a year ago and decided to get a native ultimate 14.5. I only fish from mine and wouldn't recommend it for anything above class II but I live in SeArk and only paddle the buffalo, crooked creek, and the kings a few times a year...so most of my fishing is on lakes or other flat water in LA or AR. But it seems that you have some of the same needs that I had....stability, paddeling, and storage. In my opinion you can't go wrong w/ some type of hybrid. The stability is amazing...I stand about 50% of the time...but more importantly being able to stand and set the hook/fight a fish or MISS/BREAK OFF and not go for a swim...that's the kind of stability you get w/ hybrids. However...when in open water you become a sail when you stand and in even mild wind standing becomes a pain. So I have found that if I'm fishing docks or some visible cover I'll stand but if I'm covering water I sit. I have taken mine to large lakes (conway, monticello, cane creek, ouachita, felsenthal) where I paddle 10-12 miles over the day in wind or choppy conditions and cover water quickly, w/ ease, and w/o getting wet. I got the 14.5 b/c I can pack it w/ camping/fishing gear for several nights stay (450lbs) and pick it up or carry/lift w/o help (~55lbs w/o seat)...I'm almost always solo fishing/camping and being able to move it or put it on my truck rack w/o help was important (hobie's are massive and $$). SO if you're going to fish from a yak I would look into a hybrid...however they have no business in whitewater. But I honestly love mine so much I leave my 17' alum bass boat at home...I've only taken it out 2 times since I got my native.

Also, watch out for the river boats...they are every where on this section of the river.