When To Float/fish

[darbwa]

Last year my buddy and I did a 2-day float from Margaret White to Grinder's Ferry during the week before Labor Day weekend. We fished heavily and caught (and released) a slew of small smallies. Water was clear and low but we had a great time.

This year we are planning a 3-day trip but we are looking to get out earlier in the summer (as early as the last week in May). We are hoping to maximize the chance at catching some larger smallies and we hope to float a stretch of the river a little farther upstream. From what I have gathered on this forum, it sounds as though the fishing is generally better in the middle and/or lower sections of the river. Is this true? And if so, is it true even in the late spring (late May)? I would like to see more of the river but catching fish is a priority. How far upstream should we consider for late May? What about early July (we are not fond of being cold)?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[eric1978]

I can't give you advice on which stretches to float, but I can tell you if you want a sure-thing float, don't pick spring. It's the most unpredictable time for river levels, and if you're talking May, you could hit a spawning period that will screw with your productivity. You could hit a jackpot, or you could get skunked, or the river could be blown out and altogether unfloatable. We always have a Plan-B backpacking trip in our back pocket in case the rivers are screwed. Good luck to us all.

[bobber]

your chances of "bigger fish" will be in the wilderness section( the last 35 miles) less traffic and almost no fishing pressures. makes for a great 3 day trip

[darbwa]

Bobber, if we were to do the wilderness section, would you recommend a late May or early July trip?

[bobber]

you might have to drag a few spots but you would have to anyway on anything in the upper sections if there's low water. not as many people float that section so a shot at some good fish are better.another section would be carver to woolum or bakers ford because of the shuttle. not to many use this section . you have to remember that is summer, millions of floaters use the lower river Tyler bend to rush as all the upper stuff shuts down. everything shifts down stream to those outfitters.... i would take out at ships ferry on the white river it's down stream from the mouth of the buffalo river about 5 miles . an easy paddle down stream instead of trying to fight your way up stream against the current, during periods of generation from bull shoals dam. you can hit me back up as you get closer to the trip and we can up-date conditions for you at that time!!