Advice Request

[Mark]

A friend and I are planning our first trip to the Buffalo this summer in mid July. I have researched and read about the entire length of the river. I realize the upper reaches gets low in the summer and has dangerous rapids for a couple old men. Of course, all the literature online paints a rosy picture for the entire length. My question;

What part of the river would you suggest for the following conditions;

We are experienced canoeists, but not interested in dangerous rapids, as we will be carrying camping gear. Class II is as thrilling as we care to get, and really don't care for that too much. But we like a little more than flat water. We would like to catch fish, enjoy the fantastic scenery we have heard about, and not be surrounded by lots of other canoes. We would like a 8-12 mile stretch, convenient shuttle service, with our vehicle at the takeout when we are ready. I would really be great if someone could suggest a gravelbar where we could camp for a day or two and wade fish a good section of good fishing water.

Thanks in advance

Mark

[ColdWaterFshr]

I'm only familiar with the upper end from Boxley to Pruitt. But you won't be able to even float up there in the summer because it gets too low anyway, so no worry about dangerous rapids. And they really aren't that bad anyway unless there have been some recent rains.

Below Kyles my book shows it being all class I, so unless there has been a lot of rain, you'll be fine. I've heard the lower sections aren't nearly as crowded as the upper, but I've seen hundreds of canoes on the water there in April and May, so "crowded" may be a relative term.

By mid-July, its hot enough that the party may be over on the lower sections. Upper end doesn't fish that well at all, and I've heard the lower section is only a little better. Call some outfitters and ask their advice. Have fun!

[KCRIVERRAT]

Like CWF said, call some outfitters. Bobber or someone else should see this thread too. Try PM'ing Bobber for some advice. Have fun!

[Zack Hoyt]

Stay in contact with the local outfitters or here. The Buffalo's Upper section IMO is the most scenic. If we get a good rain or our spring is wet, it could be floatable. The further you get downstream, the less gradient you get into. Also run into some long pools.

[bobber]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=flow.....this is the gauge page! the guide of water flow.also it has the outfitters just click on a logo! (i do canoe instruction for buffaloriver canoes @floatthebuffalo.com)shameless plug!!if you watch the gauges, you'll see we just had a good bump of water. and you can see it move down stream thru the gauges. a level of lets say 3.5 is big water on the upper end (ponca) and at st, joe. it should read about 5.0 and thats a low for that section. the buffalo is very rain dependent. because it can go from too low to float, to flood .in about 3 hours, and have a 6 to 9 ft. rise in that same time frame.with out any warnning. ....but july is a long way off! ....so, if you post again just before your trip and i'll up date you about the fishing, and river conditions then! and try to put you on a section at that time that will float, and fish well for you!....

[Mark]

Thanks, I will check with you in July.

[bobber]

mid to late summer sections would be below tyler bend. you always can float that. and thats were all the floaters end up during low water ....up river. sometimes you can come up stream, to say like woolum .and add a few miles with out seeing anyone. the biggest thing about lower water levels are, you end up dragging your canoe through so many dried up rapids, and the rock gardens.you just take the fun out of it..but on the other hand that's always better fishing..

[Al Agnew]

That time of year, to avoid the crowds you have to be willing to go higher than the crowds do, which means low water and dragging. But if you go during the week, the crowds aren't too bad. In a typical late July scenario, the Woolum to Tyler Bend stretch that Bobber mentioned can be nice, but can also be too low to float if the river is really low. It probably needs to be over 150 cfs on the gauge to make floating from Woolum down practical.

To get the very best of the summertime Buffalo experience, you need to take three days and go from Rush to the White. Other than the Ponca to Kyles stretch on the upper river, which will almost certainly be too low to even think about floating in July, the lower end is the most scenic and seemingly remote stretch, and can be pretty decent fishing. The stretch from Buffalo Point to Rush is beautiful but crowded. The stretches from Tyler Bend and Gilbert to Maumee and Maumee to Buffalo Point are almost as pretty and sometimes better fishing, but also can be crowded.

[Mark]

Thanks Al, I think for the purposes of our trip, the scenic and remote aspects are the most appealing. Catching fish is always a bonus but secondary to our enjoyment, especially being our first time on the Buffalo. I look forward to seeing it, I have heard and read so much about the beauty of the area.

[taxidermist]

Al said it right. Gilbert to Maumee is about a easy day float with fishing and in the summer July as you mentioned not a lot of floaters on Gilbert to Maumee run. Trust me you dont want to drag a a boat of any kind!! Been there done that way to many times. You could possibley float from Pruitt down depending on water but if its even a bit low yo will drag abunch.