zthomas

I was wade fishing this spring at the County 848 bridge (I think that's the same as Chambers Spring Road but not sure) and talked to some kayakers who had put in upstream where AR16 crosses the river just east of Lake Wedington. They were headed all the way down to the 412 takeout. Said it had been a great float so far. I've been meaning to try it but haven't gotten around to it yet. Fishing was slow that day--I got mainly small lmb and green sunfish. One little smallie.

I know this belongs in a different forum, but I thought all you smallmouth aficionados might be interested. Just got back from a trip to Baja fishing for calico bass, which are one of my favorite fish anywhere—sort of like saltwater smallmouth. They live only on the west coast of North America, from somewhere between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara south to about halfway down the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula. You get them primarily in and around heavy kelp beds, wherever the current is strongest, but also on “boiler rocks”—rocks where the swells boil up and then recede. The biggest fish are often right up there in the whitewater. Getting to them there requires long, precision casts, serious boat-handling and big cajones. It’s about as exciting as fishing gets. We use 8-foot, 20-lb. baitcasting outfits, but spool them up with 50- or 65-lb. braid to kelp cut through the kelp. And you still have to fish with your drag locked down completely because when you hook a big fish in there tight to the rocks, you have to turn it instantly or you’re done. They either break you off, or you out-muscle them—no room for drag. The “holy grail” of calico fishing is a 10-pounder. There are a few caught every year, but even serious bass fishermen go all their lives without getting one. In California, the fish get too much pressure, and there aren’t a lot of big ones left—just swarms of 12- to 14-inchers. In Baja, where they get very little pressure, you get tons of 4- and 5-pounders. A 6 is a nice fish, and a 7 or 8 is worth getting excited about. I release every single calico and fish only artificials. Anyway, before I moved east, I got to fish for them all the time, but until last week, it had been over two years. So I was pretty fired up. We went to San Quintin, about 200 driving miles south of San Diego on the Pacific coast of Baja. My boat has been in the backyard of my folks’ house in Reno since we moved, so my father hooked it up, towed it down to San Diego and met me at the airport. I flew in from Fort Smith. Then we loaded up on fuel and a little last-minute tackle and crossed the border. Stayed at a grubby but comfortable little place right on the water where I've been going for 15 years. Weather, you might be surprised to hear, was cold the whole time. Mid-50s to mid-60s during the day, windy and wet. Water temps were in the high 50s. But the bass were sure biting. Any of you bass nuts interested in a seriously off-the-radar saltwater trip might really get a kick out of going after these guys. It’s a fishery that just doesn’t get much press anywhere but the west coast, but it’s about as fun and exciting as you can get. Anybody that wants to read more, there’s a copy of a longer article I wrote 6 or 7 years ago here: http://www.transpeninsularoutfitters.com/articles-pages/features/articles-features-bigbass.html Here’s some photos of the place and the fishing:

Dang, that's the kind of thing that makes the rest of us look bad. Do you think it's the little stream flowing in between the trees just left of center in this photo? We were camped directly across from it--wish I'd known... ZT

Had planned on launching Friday, but pushed it back a day with the severe weather forecast. Saturday afternoon was sunny and humid, but the temperature dropped in the evening and a few showers rolled through. Sunday morning was cool and drizzly. The $30 Walmart special shelter I bought before the trip in case of rain was was more than worth it. It was a gorgeous stretch of river with big bluffs, lots of good fishing water and plenty of nice camp spots. With around 700 cfs and 4.5 feet on the Berryville gauge, there was plenty of flow, even with a heavily loaded 17-foot canoe. We picked the wrong route and had to drag it over shallow bars maybe three times. Easy overnighter with plenty of time to fish. Saw only two other groups. Fishing was much better than two weeks ago. Still nothing big, but lots of smallmouth from 8 to 14 inches and plenty of goggle eye. Turned over one nice fish on a popper just a couple rod-lengths from the boat. Otherwise, chartreuse bugger stripped a foot or so below the surface was the hottest fly I tried. Somehow managed to forget the card for my camera, so have only a few pics my father shot. Thanks again for the advice on the previous topic!

Hey thanks, Dan and Ham! Just called KRO to pre-arrange the shuttle and reserve a little bigger boat for camp gear. Fortunately, we'll be launching around noon on Friday, so we'll get on the water ahead of most.

Bump. Sounds like Marshall Ford to Rockhouse would be a good overnighter, at least in terms of distance. Anybody know how that stretch floats and fishes relative to the Rockhouse to Trigger Gap run? Good gravel bars along the way?

Did the Kings on Sunday from Rockhouse to Trigger Gap. Beautiful day and near-perfect flow. This was my first time on the Kings and although the bluffs weren’t quite as dramatic as the Buffalo, it’s a similar experience—clear water, clean gravel bottoms, almost no litter, and far less traffic than the Buffalo. Didn’t have a temp gauge, but water felt mid-50s, and fishing was slow, at least for me. Three smallies—the biggest 12 or 13 inches—and a couple of goggle eye, all on a weighted brown craw pattern stripped slowly on a sink-tip line. River was just loaded with life, though—all kinds of suckers, gar, snakes, turtles, sunfish. Nice to see that. In case it helps anyone with trip-planning, the 8-mile float took exactly 5 hours, fishing fairly hard but only stopping for a total of maybe 20 minutes. A few trees down in lower half of run—some you’d probably want to scout and possibly portage in a canoe. I’ll probably head back to the Kings in a couple weeks here for an overnight when my father visits from out of state. Any tips on a stretch that would make a good, leisurely overnight float—maybe 15 miles or so?

Hey Adam, I just moved to Fort Smith in July. Gradually learning some spots--Frog, Mulberry, Lee, etc. Drove down to the Ouachita R. a couple weeks ago. Been meaning to try that stream at Natural Dam, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Good to know there's other people on the forum in this area, though. Danimal is from Fort Smith too.

Zack, I bought a sink-tip a month or so ago, and it definitely does help a lot. Surprisingly easy to cast and manage, too. Phil, I get the impression the Ouachita does get crowded in the summer, but not like a Buffalo or a Spring where people are literally bumping into you. ZT

Floated the Ouachita River Saturday 11/28 from a low-water bridge a mile or so above the US 270 bridge down to the Ouachita River Haven Resort near Sims. This was my first time on the Ouachita. It’s a big, pretty river, and at 2.8 on the gauge I never even touched bottom in the pontoon. Although the 4.5 mile section I did is in a valley with big pine ridges on both sides, the mountains are far enough away that you don’t really see them much from the water. Still very scenic, though, with a number of nice little riffles and runs. The couple that owns Ouachita River Haven were very friendly and helpful, and the husband is a fly fisherman. They live on site, so they stay open year-round. They charged $10 for a shuttle and helped me haul gear and such on both ends. Fishing was about like I’m starting to learn it usually is in the off-season—tough but okay. Got several little spots and assorted sunfish, and then performed a textbook long-line release on one nice bass—either a largemouth or spot—that might have gone 2-1/2 pounds. Big black wooly bugger was the ticket this time. Way outfished the craw patterns—exactly opposite of the Mulberry two weeks ago. At any rate, I’ll be back when it warms up some. There was great-looking habitat throughout the run, and it would be a really fun river when the fish are more active and out on the shoals.

Here it is. Great pic-looks like a blast!

Nice work! I got skunked over on the Buffalo. I was hoping it was just because the fish were shut down, but sounds like it was more likely cockpit error. Sure a nice day for late November, though. Looking forward to the pics. How long did that run take you? And how'd you sink a boat?

Floated Tyler Bend to Gilbert Sunday morning. Weather was absolutely beautiful and river was perfect level—at least for floating. Fishing-wise, got just plain skunked for the first time in a while. Threw big ugly flies—craw and leech type stuff—and missed probably half a dozen strikes that I’m guessing were just bream or little bass grabbing the tail. Did see one good-sized smallie out in the middle of wide, sunny run two or three feet deep. The boat spooked him, and I just got a glimpse of him scooting out of the way. Maybe I should have spent more time in the open water, but I didn’t see that fish until a quarter mile from the take-out. Saw three otters and tons of sign, and a bald eagle that kept leapfrogging down the river ahead of me. Tyler Bend was empty, one floater’s truck at Gilbert, no one else on the water, but lots of rifle shots. Wouldn’t feel so bad about the skunking except for Zack Hoyt’s Crooked Creek report from the same time: “Stopped counting at 30 fish…”

Thanks for all the help. I'll let y'all know how it goes. Yeah, I know it's a short float. But this is "officially" a trip to visit the in-laws in Marshall. So I'm pushing my luck to sneak away for even a half-day.

I'm planning to float Tyler Bend to Gilbert this coming Sunday 11/22. Gauge is at about 7 ft and 2,200 cfs right now, dropping gradually. Water temp about 52 and also dropping. What does that mean fishing-wise? I've been on the Buffalo only in the summer when it's low. Any tips for this time of year? (I'll take both the fly and spinning rods.) Zack

here

Larger version plus another similar shot.

Thanks, all, for the photo compliments. Cricket, feel free. I'll try to remember to upload a bigger version this evening too. Dan-o, hope you have fun down there. Looks like that rain brought the Ouachita up pretty good. I'll be on the Buffalo, quick run from the 65 bridge to Gilbert while I'm visiting the in-laws in Marshall. ZT

Got out Saturday 11/14 for a quick float on the Mulberry from Redwood access to Turner Bend. At 1.8 on the USGS gauge, water was a little on the low side but not really a problem. Rubbed a few rocks but never had to drag. Two hours in, I was starting to think I was going to get skunked. Had been working brown, black and olive buggers from #6 to #10 on a sink-tip line for nothing. Then switched to one of those Whitlock craw patterns with weird painted eyes and started catching immediately—several small spots (I think; is that a spot in the picture?) and a bunch of little bream-looking guys like the one the pic. What is that, a green sunfish? Never did get a smallie, though. Debris from that last flood is incredibly high up in the trees—seemed like easily 15 feet above the current water level. Looking at that, it’s amazing that some of those little bream and such can keep from just getting flushed out of the river completely. A little bit of flood junk scattered around—coolers, clothes, etc.—but not much. Looks like there’s been a good cleanup effort.

That's good to hear. As long as I can reasonably believe there's a chance I'll catch a fish, I'm good. Looks like I'll be on the Buffalo the weekend before Thanksgiving. Good luck getting your daughter into a fish. Mine's too young to actually fish, but he sure loves to ride around in the backpack while I wade. I've got a little mirror on a string set up so I can see him back there, and he's just looking around wide-eyed and fascinated the whole time.

Made it out to the 220 bridge on Lee Creek for an hour of fishing Saturday afternoon. Had a one-year-old in a backpack so left the camera in the truck. Waded upstream a few hundred yards to the next run above the big swimming hole. Water was still a little on the cloudy side, but managed a couple of 11- or 12-inch brownies and maybe a half a dozen little longears. Lost my last black woolly bugger, then switched to olive, which actually seemed to outfish the black. Bass were right in tight to root-wads in deep water along cut banks. Finally got my sink-tip line last week, which helped a lot. Just used 3 feet of straight 8-pound fluoro as a leader. And by the way, wet-wading (comfortably) in November!? Couple questions: Will these stream and river bass keep biting, at least slowly, throughout the winter? Or do they just shut down when it gets cold enough? I'm thinking of doing the Buffalo with the pontoon in a couple-three weeks when I'm up visiting the in-laws in Searcy County. Tyler Bend to Gilbert and Gilbert to Maumee are the most convenient stretches for me, shuttle-wise, but are they decent stretches for fishing?

Jeff, Checked out your swimbaits--nice! Yeah, San Q is one of my favorite Baja spots--especially for that late-summer white seabass run. Heading to La Paz in late May, but don't think I'll make it down before then. SIO3, Thanks! The guy that owns Baja on the Fly is a friend of mine, and watching him and his guides run the beach for roosters is unreal. I'm just not good enough with the fly rod to even try. They literally run along the beach trying to get ahead of moving baitballs and then boom out a 70-foot cast with a full-sinking shooting head right in front of a feeding fish. And the fight...wow. It's a battle from a boat when you can chase the fish, but from the beach it's just crazy. ZT

Thought about doing the Caddo or the upper Ouachita Sunday, but it sounded like both might be too high to fish well, and I didn’t want to drive 4 to 6 hours RT from Fort Smith to find out. So I went back to the same little creek in Washington County I fished last weekend. Water was up just enough to get the ‘toon down it, and fishing was still slow, but better than last week. Thanks, Flysmallie, for the black woolly bugger tip. Switched out the craw pattern for a size 4 bugger with lots of shot, and that did pick up the pace. All in all, a perfect afternoon: gorgeous shirt-sleeve weather; clear, pretty water; fun little riffles here and there; changing leaves; enough strikes to keep it interesting; and didn’t see another person for five hours (except my wife, who was nice enough to shuttle me on her way to Fayetteville for the day). Anybody have any particular insight into the Caddo or Upper Ouachita? I’m usually solo, so that Dragover loop on the Ouachita is appealing. Anyone know how it fishes? Caddo Gap to Glenwood sounds good too, since it looks there’s an outfitter there who’ll do shuttles.

Hello all. I moved to Fort Smith from Reno, NV in late July. Went to grad school in Fayetteville from 97 to 01, so the area isn’t completely new to me, but I’ve got a lot to learn. Grew up fly fishing for trout in Nevada and California, then caught the saltwater bug in the late 90s, moved to San Diego in 01, and got really involved in fishing and exploring Baja. Eventually wrote a book about it called The Angler’s Guide to Trailer-Boating Baja. You can see some Baja pics here. And of course, for anybody interested in Baja advice, feel free to ask about locations, travel, accommodations, etc. Haven’t had the chance yet to do a whole lot of fishing in this area—a couple of family-type Buffalo floats and a few days of wading creeks within an hour or so of town (recent report and pic are in the Other Ozark Waters section). But I’m having a ton of fun with the smallmouth and anxious to learn more. I fish fly gear pretty much exclusively in the freshwater, although I’m definitely not a purist. It’s just what I’m most comfortable with. And I’ve got a 9-foot solo pontoon boat. I know, y’all are going to tell me canoes work better for Ozark streams, and I’m sure that’s true, but the pontoon is what I’ve got. Plus, I’m pretty good with the oars but not worth a darn with a paddle. Look forward to sharing info and stories with everyone.

Been following the forums for a month or so but just now posting. I gather the protocol here is to not reveal specific locations, but this was a spring-fed creek near the Arkansas-Oklahoma line. Fished it a month or so ago, and it was a fish every third or fourth cast—mostly little guys with a couple up to a pound and a half thrown in. They were spread all over the creek from the deep chutes to the riffles. Different story on Saturday. Water was a little higher and several degrees cooler, and the fish were all wadded up at the bottom of the deep holes and didn’t want to budge for anything. Had nothing but a 4-weight with a floating line, but finally added enough lead to get a fly right down on the rocks and picked up a few—nothing over 12 inches or so. Just learning this warmwater stuff, so any input/advice would be appreciated. Hoping to get out for a half-day solo float somewhere within a couple hours of Fort Smith on Sunday. Not looking for anything top-secret—just a pleasant float where I might catch a few bass at this time of year and with this amount of recent rain. Ideas?