Big Piney Creek, Ark.

[zthomas]

Did my first float on Big Piney Creek on Sunday. It was a short trip, from the confluence with Hurricane Creek down to a few miles below the Hwy 123 bridge. Beautiful stream, a little "sportier" than most, and floated very well in that section with 2 feet on the gauge. Fished a bit along the way, but mainly just enjoyed the float with my dad, who was out for the week from Nevada, seeing a new (to me) part of the Ozarks, and not encountering another human being all day. It looked pretty fishy, though, and I'll definitely be back for a longer trip.

Anybody else have any experience on Big Piney? Sounds like the lower sections might be even more scenic but also more heavily used. Any wisdom on the fishing?

[hoglaw]

The fish are a little lacking in size. I've seen some pictures of very nice large mouth caught out of it that were OLD creek fish, but that's a rare deal. My last trip down there was a good fishing day, and I think I probably had 2 that went 14" (smallmouth that is).

I'm not familiar with anything above 123 though. That's a long way upstream and I can only imagine it's not quite as good as the water a little farther down. I have a friend with a cabin, really the only cabin, on river right across from Helton's Farm. I've floated from the access upstream down to the cabin before, and from Helton's to Longpool (or maybe Longpool to Moore's, I can't remember which). That access is between 123 and Helton's Farm, and it's public but it's a bear and a half to get to. Can't do it without a sturdy 4x4.

[Guest]

The fish are a little lacking in size. I've seen some pictures of very nice large mouth caught out of it that were OLD creek fish, but that's a rare deal. My last trip down there was a good fishing day, and I think I probably had 2 that went 14" (smallmouth that is).

I'm not familiar with anything above 123 though. That's a long way upstream and I can only imagine it's not quite as good as the water a little farther down. I have a friend with a cabin, really the only cabin, on river right across from Helton's Farm. I've floated from the access upstream down to the cabin before, and from Helton's to Longpool (or maybe Longpool to Moore's, I can't remember which). That access is between 123 and Helton's Farm, and it's public but it's a bear and a half to get to. Can't do it without a sturdy 4x4.

Yep,

floted from Helton to Long Pool.

The "Mother Hole" kicked my butt.

Thats the only time that I've been ejected from a canoe seat.

Wound up doing underwater cartwheels down the rapids.

There are some very large bass further downstream from Longpool.

they would never think of eating a smoke grub.