darbwa

The Elk on a Saturday is crazy. It is like a partying traffic jam on a river. Plenty of friendly people though.

Too bad slayer has to ruin his image with that horrible avatar. You really should have a photo of you holding that beautiful smallie you caught last year on the Current. Rock Chalk!!

I think 3 Rivers is located where the Big and Little Sugar meet become the Elk. I assume you will be floating from their place down to Mt. Shira (or somewhere near there) and they will be retrieving you after the float. I assume that if you have been floating the Elk for years you know what you are getting into going down that river on a Saturday. We were there last Saturday and it was nuts. I have never seen so many people on a river before. Last Friday we did great on top-waters and I love catching fish on top-waters. I would rather catch 10 on a top-water than 20 on a tube...well..maybe 15.

A group of 6 pulled off the Hog Heaven trifecta over the weekend. We set up our base camp at Hog Heaven on Friday at around 10:15 and Jean Ann had us on the Big Sugar at Crag O Lea by 11:15. The water was low but the fishing was good. We had a canoe by canoe wager and by the end of the day my canoe hauled in 30 bass (only bass counted for the wager) and everyone in the group had caught fish accept for one poor soul (for the purpose of this report we’ll call him Andi). On day one we caught only smallmouth although I did see several good-sized largemouth – I just couldn’t get them to bite. Most of the fish were small but I did get one 16” that ended up being the big fish of the trip. We got back to Hog Heaven around 6:30 and I don’t think we saw another person on the river outside of our group all day. We got moving a little slow on Saturday. (Thank you to Russ for bringing down some coffee to help get me moving.) Saturday we debated doing the same float again or just heading out from Hog Heaven and floating the Elk down 8 miles or so. We knew it would be more crowded on the Elk but we had no idea how crowded. It was crazy. Very different than the previous day and very different from any other river trip I have been on but we managed to catch some fish anyway. Some fish we pulled out from beneath rafts of inebriated revelers. You could tell that some of those raft folk cared a great deal about the fishing because some of them seemed to be very quiet and motionless as we passed – almost as if they were not conscious at all. The fishing was tougher on Saturday but the winning boat still managed to haul in 20 bass and before lunchtime everyone had caught fish…except Andi. But the big highlight of the trip came late in the day when Andi landed his first fish. We were all very proud of him. I don’t think we caught anything over 14” on day 2. When we got back to Hog Heaven our fantastic hosts had hot dogs for us and even set up a ladder-ball game and even provided a backstop for our wiffle-ball game. Day 3 had to be a short float because Andi had a plane to catch that evening. We went to Indian Creek to grab the trifecta. We put in at Lanagan and had pretty decent water thanks to a significant thunderstorm that rolled through about 4:30 that morning. The fish were hard to come by but I think the winning boat had 9 fish. We were off the river just after 2:00 and headed back to camp. We broke camp in under an hour. Our gracious hosts had Jalapeno poppers and fish tacos for us as we headed out to the Tulsa airport. Overall I would say the fishing was decent as we only caught small ones but we had a great time and we definitely stayed at the right place. I wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else if I was in the area. Jean Ann and Russ hooked us up big time! Great trip, I am sorry it is only once a year that I get to do that. Friday Boat 1 (Bobby, Ryan) – 30 Boat2 (Brett, CJ) - 9 Boat3 (Andi, Dan) - 2 Saturday Boat1 (Dan, Brett) – 20 Boat2 (Bobby, Andi) – 13 Boat3 (Ryan, CJ) – 7 Sunday Boat1 (Bobby, Brett) – 9 Boat2 (CJ, Dan) – 5 Boat3 (Ryan, Andi) – 2

Actually you are the first to mention the James. What section would you recommend? I have always wanted to do the lower buffalo. Maybe this is the time to do it. I assume it will be moving slow and my only concern is that we will have to paddle too much to fish enough. Any thoughts?

Is the NFoW a good option for smallie fishing? Or is it mostly trout in the navigable areas? We wouldn't normally hesitate to drive to the Eleven Point but one guy has to catch a plane back home on Sunday. Praying for rain.

Thanks for all the info. We aren't going on our trip until June 1st but I wanted to have backup plans in place if the water is too low. Our first choice is actually the Kings but it looks like they need some significant rain. Big Sugar into the Elk sounds like a good option for us.

The only reason I mentioned spring fed is because I assume that anything close that is not spring fed is low. I prefer floating to dragging. Unfortunately spring fed also means trout instead of smallies and I prefer smallies. I guess I will make a call to an outfitter on the Elk and see how the waters are doing and what our options are for a 3-day trip.

Gravel bars are fine. I am looking for a float of about 20 miles give or take 5. If there is a place that fits my criteria where I can regularly catch 15 inchers I need to know where this paradise lay. I am just happy to catch fish. Bigger is always better.

We have a small group (probably 6) looking for a Friday morning to Sunday afternoon float that is focused on smallmouth fishing. We have done the Buffalo twice and last year did the Jacks Fork into the Current. I'm hoping to find something closer to Tulsa for this trip. The water levels are a concern. Is Big Sugar spring fed? Is that an option for a 3-day trip?

I am looking for a good 3-day float trip not terribly far from Tulsa (inside of 4 hour drive preferable). Considering the low water levels at some of the good options like the Kings and the Buffalo, I am trying to find a good spring-fed river for the trip.

So do you know what the Berryville gage was reading when you started? I am planning a trip in May and would like to know what to look for in terme of water flow.

Why can't I turn it around and solo it? How do you do it with out any problems if I can't? You have not witnessed my inferior paddling skills have you?

I appreciate all of the feedback. Of course, it leaves me with almost as many questions as answers. I have read About Justin and Brian's issues with the newer Old Towns on other posts and it makes me wary of the Disco 169. That is why I was leaning toward a Wenonah Spirit II. Is Royalex really the best option or is it just the most durable for the price? Intuitively, I would think that Kevlar would be both light and very durable. So, purely hypothetical, if money was no object (and I only wish it weren't), what would be THE canoe?

I have read everything I can find to try to avoid posting this topic because I am sure many of you feel like you have seen it (an commented on it) before. However, everyone's situation is different. I have been on water my whole life and have spent a great deal of time in canoes but never my own. I am a relatively infrequent fisherman/paddler in ozark rivers but when I do have the opportunity, I want to make the most of it. That is why I spend a great deal of time soaking up information here on the OAF and trying to prepare for every outing. To that end, i have seen the preparation that some do (like Al's very enviable solo canoe set-up) and I know that i want to prepare in the same manner and therefore, I must get my own canoe. First, I am looking for a tandem that will hold enough to carry gear, food and beverages for 2 on multi-day trips. That is what the primary use of the canoe will be. I will also put the canoe on the pond in my backyard but, even though that is where it will spend most of its time, I want the canoe for the river trips first and foremost. Second, I don't know what material to get. It will not be a high-use canoe but I do want it to last. I will not be transporting it but a few times a year but I don't want to throw my back out trying to move it either. So, if money was no object, what material is the best? Like I said, I have read everything I can find on the OAF, Paddling.net, Old Town's and Wenonah's websites and my head is just swimming with ideas but I don't know which direction to go. Keep in mind that I will ideally get a solo canoe too. At this moment, my canoe of choice is a Wenonah Spirit II but I have no idea what material. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

This was my first trip on the Jack's Fork and only my second on the Current. We took out at Robert's Field on the Current and yes, we did see a lot of jet boats. I would say we saw about 4 or 5 on Thursday between Two Rivers and Martin's Bluff where we camped and we probably saw 6-8 on Friday between Martin's Bluff and Robert's Field. I am undecided on a return trip. I only have the opportunity to take a trip like this one (maybe 2) times per year and I still have so many rivers to cross. So far, the Buffalo is the only one that has struck me as a definite river to repeat. I want to see every mile of that river. But if I do return to the Jack's Fork, I will be asking questions here in this forum.

I should have specified that the fish was released unharmed. The tag was cut off. I will pass along the report info from the MDOC when I get it from my buddy who won the prize. The fish was caught after we were on the Current River between Powder Mill and Blue Spring.

Great post. I thought about your technique and used it (maybe over-used it) extensively on my 3 days on the Jack's/Current trip. It is so much less effort than trying to overpower the current. It also allowed me to tell my canoe partner to put his paddle down and pick up his fishing pole. I don't need help in the riffles, I need it in the pools.

After much deliberation on where to take our annual 3-day float our group of 4 decided on the Jack's Fork/Current River. We put in at Alley Spring and floated down past Eminence for a few miles where we made camp. It was hot and sunny without a cloud in the sky. Fishing was pretty slow on day one and we only caught a handful of small ones each - one guy was shutout (for the purpose of this report we'll call him Andi). We had a hard time finding any pattern for the fish as we threw everything at them and caught them randomly. The winning angler for the day caught all of his fish on top-waters. On day 2 (Thursday) we still could not find any pattern and the fishing and the weather was much like the day before. I was fortunate to catch one on a small plastic craw that was 16" and thought that it might end up as the big fish of the trip. Despite a full day of fishing, 3 of us only had about 5-7 fish each and Andi was shut out again. On Thursday we floated onto the Current and camped near Martin's Bluff. Friday was a little better fishing as there was a little breeze and an occasional cloud in the sky. On Friday even Andi managed to boat 2-3 very small fish. We were all very happy for him. The highlight of the trip came when Dan landed a beautiful 19" smallmouth. To add to the enjoyment, the fish was tagged by the Missouri Dept. of Conservation and the tag was worth $75. I think the spike in the temperatures hampered our fishing a little but we still had a great time.

So if we choose the Kings, what water level should we be hoping to see before we can expect to do a bunch of dragging? Also, any recommendation for what section of river to float for a 2 night trip? How about outfitters? We will not be bringing canoes. Thanks in advance.

I appreciate all of the great suggestions. With the water rising on the Buffalo it is hard to depart from the known quantity (and quality). Al, I have to try to pin you down. If you were me, driving from Tulsa to wherever and trying to get in as much quality river time as possible, where would you go for a Wednesday - Friday trip?

Gavin, Frog water? Thanks for the suggestions trout ringer and the link was very useful. I liked Al's rankings. I should mention that we are planning a Wednesday - Friday trip before Labor Day weekend and the camping I am looking for is not camp grounds but more the freedom to set up in any spot that looks good. I am certainly going to be limited by water levels especially for a 3-day float.

Every summer I try to gather old friends from around the country for a 3-day Ozark float trip. We have hit a few rivers but the last 2 years have been on the Buffalo and if water levels are sufficient, I have a hard time considering anything else. However, since water levels are low on the Buffalo, I am looking for a good alternative. How does the Gasconade compare as an alternative? Our priorities are good smallmouth fishing, good canoeing water, good riverside camping availability, peace and quiet, and good scenery. For those of you who have experience with the Buffalo, comparisons would be helpful.

Al, Is your recommendation to avoid the slow water but throw the small buzz baits when you have to fish in slow water?

Bernice State Park on Grand is another option, a little closer to I-44. But I can't vouch for the quality of any of the state parks over another. I don't spend any time there.