Little Help - 3-Day Float, Out Of Tulsa, Spring-Fed River?

[Chief Grey Bear]

I think you would really like Big Sugar.

Here are some float milages for info.

Mikes Creek - Cyclone - 7 3/4

Cyclone - Deep Ford - 5 3/4

Deep Ford - Pineville - 4

Both Mikes creek and Cyclone have camp grounds that you could use as a base if you wanted. If not, there are numerous gravel bars to camp on. If you choose to camp on the creek, I can help you with the shuttle if you want.

Are you bringing your own canoes and such?? When are you thinking about taking this trip???

[slayer of lunkers]

Chief -

Can you give a report on the fishing on the Big Sugar? Is it small mouth or large mouth or both? Since it's not spring fed, I assume it's float-ability would depend on the rain...

Thanks

[Chief Grey Bear]

You'll get 98% + brownies. But there are some largemouth in there too. Your biggest scores will be brownies and goggle eye.

One key to working Big Sugar is to get out and do a little wading at the head of long pools if you want to score some big brownies. You will be amazed at the the ones you float over. It is just like floating in an aquarium! But that is not to say if you just go ahead and float on through you won't score one here and there.

[darbwa]

Thanks for all the info. We aren't going on our trip until June 1st but I wanted to have backup plans in place if the water is too low. Our first choice is actually the Kings but it looks like they need some significant rain.

Big Sugar into the Elk sounds like a good option for us.

[Justin Spencer]

The way things are looking, you may need a spring fed river for a backup plan. The Eleven Point is a long way from you but would be good. NFoW is as low as I have seen it this time of year, it looks like it does in July. Below Rainbow Springs is always good floating, but a 3 day float even here would be iffy unless we get some significant rain between now and then. You need to look at regs for the spring fed rivers as well, most have a blue ribbon stretch which won't allow soft plastics or live baits.

Your best bet is to do a rain dance!

[ollie]

I was down on Big Sugar last week and if you float you WILL be dragging as of right now. Good fishing, but a lot of walking will be done if you take a long float. Now if it rains before then you might be ok, but also remember it is one of the first to go down quickly too.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think as mentioned, the James might be you best bet. You'll have to do a lot fishing to stretch 3 days out of it, but its doable. If you really want to do a 3 day, drive farther and do the lower Buffalo, Rush to the White.

[darbwa]

The way things are looking, you may need a spring fed river for a backup plan. The Eleven Point is a long way from you but would be good. NFoW is as low as I have seen it this time of year, it looks like it does in July. Below Rainbow Springs is always good floating, but a 3 day float even here would be iffy unless we get some significant rain between now and then. You need to look at regs for the spring fed rivers as well, most have a blue ribbon stretch which won't allow soft plastics or live baits.

Your best bet is to do a rain dance!

Is the NFoW a good option for smallie fishing? Or is it mostly trout in the navigable areas?

We wouldn't normally hesitate to drive to the Eleven Point but one guy has to catch a plane back home on Sunday.

Praying for rain.

[darbwa]

I think as mentioned, the James might be you best bet. You'll have to do a lot fishing to stretch 3 days out of it, but its doable. If you really want to do a 3 day, drive farther and do the lower Buffalo, Rush to the White.

Actually you are the first to mention the James. What section would you recommend?

I have always wanted to do the lower buffalo. Maybe this is the time to do it. I assume it will be moving slow and my only concern is that we will have to paddle too much to fish enough. Any thoughts?

[budman]

We just came back from the middle buffalo, and it is about 4 hours from Tulsa. We camped at Tyler's Bend and floated from Baker's Ford to Tyler's Bend one day and another day from Tyler's Bend to Gilbert and day three we wade fish Crooked Creek. Both are short floats and only had a couple of places where we drug bottom but nothing bad. Yes the water is low but we caught plenty of fish, using both spinning and fly gear. Nothing to really brag about but every one caught at least one 16 incher and lots of samller ones along with goggle eye, sun fish and perch. The camp is nice and you don't have to driver too far to put in or take out. Weekend is a busy time and camp ground can fill up.