North Maumee To Buffalo Point

[24KGold]

We had another incredible run this weekend. Put in Saturday morning at Maumee North, spent the night at Spring creek Bluff, then took out Sunday afternoon at Buffalo point. By the way, Buffalo point is not an easy place to take out at. Really steep gravel bar up to the parking area.

Weather was perfect, and it's hard to beat sitting by a campfire under a full moon.

We caught lots of Smallies. Most of them the usual size, however we caught several 12 and 13 inchers, and also several 14 inchers. The largest was a 15 incher. Released them all.

I would really like to urge everyone to fish for smallies with barbless hooks. Makes the release much easier and less injury to the fish, especially if the get the hook really deep. Just smash the barb...you will be pleasantly surprised.

Oh, I also got a close look at one of the lampreys I have been seeing lately stuck to fish. One was stuck to a Smallmouth we caught. Ugly little critters. And by the way, does the game and fish want us to kill the lampreys, or just let them go as part of the river system?

Terry

[stealthycat]

did you catch any goggle eyes? excellent table fare best I remember ....

[24KGold]

did you catch any goggle eyes? excellent table fare best I remember ....

We caught quite a few goggle eyes. They were all on the large size and would have been easy to filet. A couple of weeks ago we caught enough to filet and fry for dinner. They were indeed excellent.

[stealthycat]

we're floating Woolum to Tyler bend this Sat/night/Sunday I've never floated up the river that far, looking forward to a good float, fishing, frying some of those goggle eye, great camping, beautiful colors etc - I'll do a thread and post photo's ....

[24KGold]

We took out at Buffalo point, but the couple we were with floated on to Rush on Monday. They caught several 15 to 17 inch smallies on that stretch. I wanted to float with them but had to work on Monday. My favorite section for fishing is to Rush. Lots of nice small mouth. I'll post some pictures in a day or two.

[stealthycat]

what are ya'll catching those smallies on ? I fished/floated from Spring Creek to Rush and caught just a very few smallies and goggle eyes - using a shimmy shad and some twister tail grubs.

HUGE gar in that Buffalo Point pool - wow, I didn't know gar got that big in the Buffalo

[Zack Hoyt]

Bringing back memories. It's been about five years since I hit that section. Got some great pictures out of it though.

[24KGold]

what are ya'll catching those smallies on ? I fished/floated from Spring Creek to Rush and caught just a very few smallies and goggle eyes - using a shimmy shad and some twister tail grubs.

HUGE gar in that Buffalo Point pool - wow, I didn't know gar got that big in the Buffalo

I catch smallies on several different baits, however, my fallback lure is a "Bitsy Tube". Several colors will catch fish, but my favorite is a dark green olive color with black flakes. I use the small size. I catch anything from large perch, Rock Bass, goggle eyes, largemouth and smallmouth on the tubes. I also catch smallies on smoke colored Finesse worms. They seem to like plastics that you can work on the bottom, especially in the fast running riffles, and where the riffles immediately drop off into deeper running water. They tend to get tube lures deep when they take them, so I smash the barbs so that I can get the hook out without injuring them. Barbless works well with tube jigs on smallies. If you're gonna release them anyway, why not go barbless.

Southtown Sports just north of the Fayetteville mall usually has a good supply of tube jigs.

And yes, I have seen really large Gar in the Buffalo Poing pool. I have been tempted to take a bow and bow fish, but I never have. Also really huge Suckers swimming around in there.

Hope this helps for your next trip.

Terry

[24KGold]

Nice pictures Zhoyt. The Buffalo is a great river and anyone who has not floated it and enjoyed its beauty is really missing out on a spectacular river. We are fortunate to live so close to a National treasure, but please, when you float the Buffalo, leave the motors at home. Thanks.

Terry

[Zack Hoyt]

I agree about the no motors. It is great enjoying the serene landscape and sounds of nature, until some fires up a litle motor.

I lived in the Boxley Valley for 5 years. I am now an hour and a half away and cant make it over thre often enough. Better just schedule a trip or two in this winter.