Help! My Vacation Maybe Under Water....

[FatBelly]

Hey folks, need a little help please. My year planned float trip is not looking good. My brother-in-law, cousin and I were leaving this wed. the 9th for a float/camping trip on the Buffalo from Kyles Landing down to Carver. The water levels and weather have us concerned. We need a plan B within a 150 miles from NW arkansas. We were looking forward to Smallies but we fish for everything. Considering the water levels and temperature I need another option or two. Any Ideas? Anybody having luck anywhere else? Thanks.

[soggyfeet]

Im not sure where Grand Lake is in OK but might not too bad of a place to go. I dont know what the conditions are there either though, it looks like some more rain is going to be dumping on the ozarks again this week.

[rps]

Grand lies east of the I44 streach between Tulsa and Joplin.

That lake is currently two feet above conservation (power) pool. Rain is forecast for this week. The lake is developed, but not as bad as LOZ. Good fishing lake. Major tournaments schedule stops there because of the quality of fish. Found this blurb about the lake on the net:

Grand Lake O' The Cherokees

Preview: Short Take: 59,200 acres, lower lake is open water with rocks, ledges, and deeper depths; upper lake includes more flats and river-type conditions. Each year the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation ranks the state’s lakes for productivity using a number of criteria tabulated from 12 months of bass tournament results, and each year Grand Lake (properly known as Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees) consistently ranks at or near the top of the list. When the average weights of winning tournament catches, the average weight per individual fish, and the number of fishing hours needed to catch a bass weighing 5 pounds or heavier are compiled, it is no wonder this scenic impoundment in the Ozark Mountains near the Arkansas and Missouri borders has become such a popular fishing destination for all of mid-America. Created in 1940 by a mile-long dam across the Neosho River, the 59,200-acre lake has a 1,300-mile-long shoreline and an average depth of 35 feet. Other major tributaries include the Elk and Spring Rivers, as well as numerous smaller creeks. Primary Species: Largemouth and spotted bass, limited smallmouth population in tributary rivers.

Another idea, if you want smallmouth, would be to contact the member who has an Elk River outfitting/guide service. I think his screen name is wacky worm. Ask him about the Elk River conditions.

Good luck. Even if your trip isn't the greatest, it will be better that my Spring so far. I can't reach my boat unless I use a boat.

[taxidermist]

Water is still up about 5 feet over normally maybe more. Stained, with more rain predeicted this week the floating is good but the fishing is poor. Little buffalo is floatable from Jasper, even Crooked creek is floatable from Yellville to the White River. but the last miles are full of brush!!!

[FatBelly]

Taxidermist,

I've never floated the Little Buffalo. Are the fish active at all on the Little B. ? Thanks for the info folks.

[delta_queen]

just fished the Buff and Sylamore this past weekend and as the weekend progressed the water went down a lot and cleared up a lot. We caught a few small smallies - in the calmer more protected areas. There is supposed to be substantial rain on Thursday, but if it doesn't rain until then, I predict some good fishing for next weekend!

[delta_queen]

well maybe I was wishcasting b/c the weather was so nice today! just looked at the weather map. boo hoo.