Trip Next Week

[Allen R.]

My wife and I will be making a trip to Eureka Springs next weekend. Prior to that we were wanting to camp for about 3 days. We were thinking about going to Kyles Landing. I've never been to the Buffalo, is it even floatable right now/this time of the year? We'd like to do some hiking, smallmouth fly fishing (if there is good water), and do a small float if possible. Any information about good fly fishing sections and floatable water would be very helpful. What is the water like on the river, we are not very experienced floaters (floated the Kings once, that's it), but are wanting to learn. Thanks.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Best bet for floating is probably from Tyler Bend down. It's not floatable this time of year in the Kyle's Landing area. I've never drove down into Kyle's, but my wife and I were down there a month ago and wade fished the Steele Creek area. Beautiful campground. Have fun!

KC

[hoglaw]

River will likely be unfloatable. Wading is feasible on the upper, and most of the hiking is up there until you get into the leatherwood area, but a float on anything above Tyler is probably not a good idea unless you like carrying canoes. Bobber should weigh in on this.

[Zack Hoyt]

The others are right on low water right now. I posted this on another board for a fellow fly fisherman asking about fishing the Buffalo......forgive the length.

I cut my teeth on the Buffalo, so it has a special place. I spent some of my childhood in the Boxley Valley. The Buffalo is a very good place to fish. Lots of easy access and plenty of outfitters to help with canoes and shuttles. Here in lies the issue though. It sees a TON of traffic. This can make fishing a little difficult. The upper section is very rain dependent, so you have to kinda plan for it. The middle section can still have alot of walking, but it tends to have more deeper holes. These are where I tend to find the fish in hot conditions. The other nice thing is all of the over hanging trees. Fish are not able to blink, so they tend to lurk in the shade when the sun is high. The lower section is almost always a good bet for a float, but has lots of long, open pools. This means less public traffic, but more paddling. You also have the lower wilderness area which I love to do as an overnighter. There are very few places any more to go where you can hear no sounds of civilization. You can also float to the confluence of the White and the Buffalo and then head back up the White. Watch the generation though because this can be a deal breaker.

As far as specfic stretches, pick your poison.

Ponca to Steel Creek or Kyles is an awesome stretch. Lots of rapids and shady banks. Good terrestrial fishing in the summer. Seems more goggle eye and rock bass in this section since there is fewer deeper holes.

Kyles to Erbie is good for smallies, but the Kyles road can be very rough. You also have some great hiking when you get to Erbie.

Floating into Pruitt or out of Pruitt is alright, but it sees alot of traffic. It tends to have a good bikini hatch though.

Mt. Hershey to Woolum or Woolum on down is very good for smallie. A few more wide open spots and lots of gravel bars. Richland Creek comes in near Woolum and there is some great fishing up there. Harder to access, but worth the effort.

Either of the Maumee accesses to Dillards Ferry is one of my favorites. It has a few more rapids than most of the middle section. It also has Spring creek dump into it a few miles before Dillards, and this makes for very good fishing. Loks of big rocks in the water.

Rush into Buffalo City really needs to be a few days, and can be a getting back to nature float. Very little boat traffic and outside influence. It is also much harder to get rescued if something goes wrong. I would recommend making this trip with a few people.

Ken Smith has a book out called "The Buffalo River Handbook". It is the Bible when it comes to the Buffalo. I hae a boat copy and one at home. One of the more comprehensive books out there for the paddler and the historian. Also pick up "Fly Fisher's Guide to Arkansas and Missouri". This is a great break down of all the waters around us with info more toward the fly fisherman. Great for access points and fly suggestions.

Speaking of flies......

I am a firm believer in the clouser minnow on warm water. Check out what color the baitfish are and match(who says match the hatch is just for trout). Cray fish are always good patterns either weighted and bounced along the bottom or dead drfited under an indicator. Large stonefly patterns are good under an indicator or tightlined as well. Terrestrials of every shape and size are a main stay. Find a tree or grass lined ank and let em fly. I am very partial to a yellow parahopper. Black or dark red wollie boogers tend to mimic tadpoles, leeches, sculpins, etc. Don't be afraid to experiment. Just because it is labeled a "trout, saltwater, etc" fly, doesnt mean teh colors cant be changed to work for warm water.

Hope my novelette helps a tad. There is no shortage of warm water to fish here. Basically if it holds water for most of the summer.....it will hold fish. I sneak out from time to time and hike some of the local creeks fishing for panfish with dries and my 3wt. I absolutely have a blast with those little buggers.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Nice Zach... it would be great to fish with you someday.

KC

[bobber]

no water!!! ... no fish..... just tons of seed ticks, and chiggers if you want to float you need to head to the lower section tyler bend or below . and forget the kings it's in the same shape! ....... think TROUT!

[Allen R.]

Thank you all for the responses, I appreciate it. So, are we crazy for camping out there this time of the year? I don't exactly want to put myself in a tic infestation. What's the water like below Tyler bend? Meaning, is it class I type water (like I said, we're newbs). And so it sounds like I might be better served fly fishing for trout vs. smallies (anything on a flyrod is fun). Any recommendations on an outfitter for the checking on the Tyler bend area? Thanks again for your help.

[Doc Tom]

no water!!! ... no fish..... just tons of seed ticks, and chiggers if you want to float you need to head to the lower section tyler bend or below . and forget the kings it's in the same shape! ....... think TROUT!

Kings is in the same shape but don't forget it.

I wade fished from Stoney Point downstream Saturday and it was fun.

[bobber]

we are getting some rain ..... don't know if it will do anything to the river here is a link to the water levels..http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=flow watch to see if we get a spike. the levels are at a low but floatable level now. ST.joe is just above tyler bend .......... as for the ticks ..STAY AWAY FROM THE TALL GREEN STUFF AT ALL COST AND BRING THE DEET!!.. as for outfitters you have two just past tyler at silverhills .and if you head farther down use WILD BILLS .... tyler and buffalo point both have showers

[rps]

over an inch of rain here at Eureka. Kings will definitely come up. I would expect the water that fell in the Buffalo watershed to reach Tyler Bend by the weekend.

Good luck.