Floating The Lower - Need A Few Bits Of Info

[hoglaw]

I'm doing the lower weekend after next (10 days from now). My itenerary and questions are as follows:

I'm going to meet my group at Rush on Thursday night and camp there. Is the campground adequate? Is it a fee campground? Can I leave cars there while we float down?

Second, I'll need to leave a vehicle at our takeout in order to shuttle people back upstream to pick up any vehicles left there. Where should I take out? What's the name of the place that's five miles downstream on the white? I think I saw a link in this forum before, so I may check that out.

Third, how far is the shuttle between Rush and the takeout? I've been looking on google earth, and I can't even figure out how to get between the two. I guess I have to go up through Yellville?

Fourth, water levels. Yesterday, the river was at 1400 cfs on the 65 guage. Today, it's fallen to 1200. What would you consider optimal for fishing the lower and still getting a little help through the long pools? I don't want to fish stained water - I'll go somewhere else if it's bad.'

Finally, is this a pretty popular time to float the lower? Will there be lots of other groups on it?

I've done most of the river, but I've saved this one for the right conditions. God willing, it looks like I might have them.

[Yakfly]

I'm doing the lower weekend after next (10 days from now). My itenerary and questions are as follows:

I'm going to meet my group at Rush on Thursday night and camp there. Is the campground adequate? Is it a fee campground? Can I leave cars there while we float down?

Cant answer about the campground except I wouldn't leave my car unattended there.

Second, I'll need to leave a vehicle at our takeout in order to shuttle people back upstream to pick up any vehicles left there. Where should I take out? What's the name of the place that's five miles downstream on the white? I think I saw a link in this forum before, so I may check that out.

Basically have 3 options 1) Shipp's Ferry Public Access on the White - that's the one 5 miles down from the confluence. 2) Buffalo City Public Access on the White - about a 1/2 mile paddle UPSTREAM on the White from the confluence - can be VERY DIFFICULT if the White is running strong. 3) Riley's Station Private access on the White about 1/4 mile across the White - pay a small fee for take out here, could also leave your vehicles safely here. Call Riley's for details. Super good people and can give advise on your float. www.rileysstation.com

Third, how far is the shuttle between Rush and the takeout? I've been looking on google earth, and I can't even figure out how to get between the two. I guess I have to go up through Yellville?

Probably all three takeouts are about an hour car drive from Rush. Google map should help here.

Fourth, water levels. Yesterday, the river was at 1400 cfs on the 65 guage. Today, it's fallen to 1200. What would you consider optimal for fishing the lower and still getting a little help through the long pools? I don't want to fish stained water - I'll go somewhere else if it's bad.'

Looks at Riley's website, he has reccommended float levels based on several Buff River guages. If remember right 2-5 feet on Ponca is good float water.

Finally, is this a pretty popular time to float the lower? Will there be lots of other groups on it?

Starts to get busy at that time, you'll probably see a few other folks. Especially the weekend. But not as busy as Memorial Day to Labor Day will be, plus Rush and below is less traffiked than the upper section.

I've done most of the river, but I've saved this one for the right conditions. God willing, it looks like I might have them.

Looks like you might hit the smallie spawn, maybe just a bit early but good timing I'd say.

[taxidermist]

Rush is the last place to put in or take out on the Buffalo. the take will be Buffalo City.

Buffalo City is accessed from HWY 62/412 between Gassville and Mt Home.

As mentioned Rileys would be safe for the vehicle. I also agree on the river stage. I have seen it easy to paddle up stream and if there are more than 3 generators on it will become a bit harder. There is a water pool at B City which backs up the water well. But you still have to get across the mouth of Buffalo and the first 75 yards of the white.

Water temps up river are 48F today at Carver the cookl nights has dropped river temp a bit.

[bobber]

i think your going to run some HIGH water for your trip looking at the weather out look .... first rapid is a class III...AND I WOULD TAKE OUT AT SHIPPS FERRY.. down stream and not try to paddle up stream at all!!.... i don't care what they all say! we have rain in the forecast and the river is coming up now !! wish i had some pic's of the flooded cars that got washed down stream from last spring. ...........GOOD LUCK!

[hoglaw]

Bobber:

Is Riley's upstream? I thought it was directly across? I've been trying to call the people at Rileys but can't get a return call or email.

Water temps are 48 on the upper?! That's a lot colder than I thought it would be. Starting with the long term forecast, it looks like the highs and lows are:

52/38 (some rain) (today)

65/44

56/50 (rain)

65/42 (isolated storms)

69/44

72/51

67/50 (rain the day we arrive to camp at Rush)

69/48 (first float day)

69/50 (second float day) (rain)

65/44 (take out day)

With days of 65, 69, 72, 67, and 69 leading up to the first day of the float, it looks like that water temp might climb a few degrees. Hopefully that will be enough to get some prespawn action going.

Bobber, are you in the area? Is the river muddy right now? If this is going to be a high muddy float, I'm not going to do it - I'll hit crooked or Oaklawn for the weekend. I just can't help but think that conditions for small mouth fishing are either going to be dead perfect or dead. I don't think I've ever logged on to USGS and the weather channel so many times in a week.

[GloryDaze]

Don't sweat the forecast too much- I mean hell, these guys get it wrong 70% of the time 2 days before, especially in the spring so 7-10 days is darn near impossible. I don't use the weather channel- I have had more luck with the NOAA website.

When you read the USGS gauge, look at the little yellow triangles on the graph- that gives you a general idea of what the average flow is during that time- I may be wrong, but I would think much above that average would cause the water to turn brown and be fast.

As for the class III to start- what a great beginning to a trip (fully loaded boat, just settling in and bammmmm, here she comes!!!) Man what an adrenalin rush you could get early on!!!!!!

YEEEHHAAAAAAAAA...............

PS- I floated from Pruitt to Mt. Hershey in early March and caught a few smallies (4-5) all around the 12-14" range.

[hoglaw]

I know what you mean about the long term forecasts, but I have to look at something. See, I don't mind camping in hurricane conditions. For this very reason, I seem to lose a floating partner about once every year or so...missed takeouts, unplanned overnights, etc. The guys I'm taking this time will probably be a little more hardy, but I really don't want the fishing to get blown out on the first day. Then again, I've caught muddy water fish on the buffalo before, so I'm sure I'll manage.

Bobber, have you gotten into any consistent catfish down that way? Might need to catch a few tags to supplement the cost on this trip. Are you supposed to remove the tags, or just record the information?

[Yakfly]

Bobber:

Is Riley's upstream? I thought it was directly across?

Get a google map search for Buffalo City and you see the layout of the confluence area.

The Buffalo dead ends at the White at the top of a large island (Smith Island). When you get there you be in the backed up part of the Buffalo, with the White running left to right in front of you.

To takeout at Riley's: Turn LEFT going UPSTREAM into the White around the top of Smith Island, for about 100 yards. Then you'll be at the "tip" of the island with the White going downstream. Ride the White downstream and veer left, Rileys take out is couple hundred yards downstream on the left. You'll se his boat dock and canoe take out.

This all gets harder the more units running on the White. In fact if 0 units, you'll have to drag canoe on White for a ways. 8 units very dangerous operation, but I've personally seen it done more than a few times.

If you want to float down to Shipps, just keep RIGHT when you hit the island - this keeps you flowing immeadeatly going downstream on the White. You'll float down the backside of Smith Island. Both channels of the White converge at the bottom of the island, and its a smooth float down to Shipps.

[bobber]

i'm going in a few hours ...last weekend the water was milky green,they are calling for heavy rains starting sunday. fishing has been slow, i think the water is still too cold .....(and the dogwoods are still a yellowy white!!! this being my key factor!) but on a side note we have been picking good morels! hey.. fish on that section need to be 18 inches ...new law last year!... you guys, just make a float plan, so if and when you guys don't show - up somebody knows!! a simple note on your windshield at the take out ,and put in ,or a note on the kitchen table...cell phones don't work!! until the end of the trip....

[bobber]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/uv/?site..._cd=00065,00060 ~~~> here 's your sign! ....if it peaks over 4.5 your trips already over!.... without any more rain, i'm not telling you it can't be done. but i will say, it will only take about 7 hours to make that 3 day section of the river. watch the flow as it goes down stream and as each section goes up ... you can judge for yourself ....i have floated the hwy 14 to rush @ 11 ft to 15 ft. before many times. you can hear the gravel rolling across the river bottom!! but hey!! you still have 9 days and counting... ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! but...you might want to switch ends of the river?