Camping Below Riverton

[Mark]

I have asked Mike Jones from Hufstedler's this question but I can't remember exactly what he said. Is there still public ground on which to camp from Riverton to the Narrows? I believe there is some private land in that stretch but there is public gravel bars on which to camp. Then I believe once you get below the Narrows, it is almost exclusively private land to the Arkansas state line. I have never floated the stretch from Riverton to the Narrows and would like to do so and also camp along the way. Is that possible without getting shot!!?? I would think that this stretch doesn't get as much use and would be good smallmouth fishing. Where does the 25 HP limit end? Also I have heard the area at the Narrows with 3 springs is worth the trip. Is there any other features on the lower stretch that would make it worth spending a couple of days?

Can anyone clear up the camping possibilities from Riverton south?

Thanks, Mark

[Brian Sloss]

You can camp at the Morgan spring float camp right before the 142 bridge. This is the area with the springs you mentioned. Most of that land is private, though there are some easements through there. You will be fine on a gravel bar down there. Have not ever had land owner problems on that stretch.

[steve l]

I find that stretch of river to be very uninteresting outside of the springs mentioned. While there are a few spots, there is much less scenary than further up river. Seems Boze mill is about the dividing line for scenery. That said it is also a stretch where you will see far fewer people. Have found the smallie fishing to be pretty good, although there are stretches where the fishing opportunities are not as high. There is not too much gravel down there, although there is a nice large gravel bar roughly 1/2 way between 160 & 142. On our trips in late July I just don't remember seeing many signs of use on it. Used to be a huge gravel bar just above 142 that we had used since the 80s, but it is in the process of being totally grown over by willows & other trees. Overall not too bad of a stretch to get away from people & get some smallie fishing in. Oh, and we have never had an issue with landowners down there (not sure we have ever even seen any), but then where we usually camp we wouldn't. Seems there are a couple of spots where there could be an issue, but they also seem rather obvious. Hope that helps some.

[jdmidwest]

There was a nice bar 2 summers ago a few holes down from Riverton where we spent the night. If you are running a jet, you should have no problems finding it from Riverton. Of course, why not just camp at Riverton? Mike only charges a few bucks and supplies slab wood and a shower. As far as Smallies, I would run up to Halls Bay and fish down from there. I pick up alot of smallies in the stretch.

I have only been thru from Riverton to the Narrows one time many years ago. That stretch of the river is better to run the jet on. The access at 142 is a bad place to leave a shuttle car with anything in it. I think the HP limit is from the State line up, as is the Smallmouth management area.

[Coldspring]

There was a nice bar 2 summers ago a few holes down from Riverton where we spent the night. If you are running a jet, you should have no problems finding it from Riverton. Of course, why not just camp at Riverton? Mike only charges a few bucks and supplies slab wood and a shower. As far as Smallies, I would run up to Halls Bay and fish down from there. I pick up alot of smallies in the stretch.

I have only been thru from Riverton to the Narrows one time many years ago. That stretch of the river is better to run the jet on. The access at 142 is a bad place to leave a shuttle car with anything in it. I think the HP limit is from the State line up, as is the Smallmouth management area.

I haven't been on that stretch for a couple of years, there are some gravel bars as JD mentions just down from Riverton. The river butts up against a bottom field and makes a sharp bend to the left, this is about 1 1/2 mile from Riverton. On the aerial map, I see a big football size gravel bar a little over 5 miles down from Riverton. Have no idea what it's actually like. Then there are some gravel bars in the Narrows area. There's surely more, but can't recall any.

[Mark]

Thanks for the info. I'm sure we will try this section this summer and I'll give a report.

[steve l]

I haven't been on that stretch for a couple of years, there are some gravel bars as JD mentions just down from Riverton. The river butts up against a bottom field and makes a sharp bend to the left, this is about 1 1/2 mile from Riverton. On the aerial map, I see a big football size gravel bar a little over 5 miles down from Riverton. Have no idea what it's actually like. Then there are some gravel bars in the Narrows area. There's surely more, but can't recall any.

That spot Coldspring mentions I would love to be able to really spend time & fish at dusk and in the morning. My brothers & I call it the S-turn, as it bends left and then back to the right. One of the real good fishing possibilities on that stretch. Have caught numerous fish out of there, even the occasional trout, but have never gotten anything of size (maybe usually hitting it about noon in July has something to do with that). Trees in the water, good movement, nice depth, it sure seems to have everything to hold nice fish.

[Mark]

Sounds like a place we should camp!!