Buffalo River Report

[MissouriDave]

Just finished a trip to the Buffalo River and Crooked Creek this week. Went with my son, a brother and a buddy. We fished the first day from North Maumee to the 14 bridge. This was the first trip to the Buffalo for all of us. The river was low and crystal clear. We used the long ozark johns with 9.9 outboards. Almost no floaters the first day. Started out very slow. We threw topwater and plastic. The four of us ended up with 39 bass. The best fish was a 17 inch smallie. We lost two more in my boat that were in the same category. Most of the fish were caught on the Senko (or the Chompers Salty Sinker) rigged wacky style. We also lost about an hour and a half due to a large thunderstorm at lunch. The second day we did the 14 bridge to Rush. The river came up about 3 or 4 tenths of an inch but stayed very clear. Similar day to the first. Had sixty five canoes comes through mid morning but they went through quickly. Not much on topwater and the best bite was again on the Senko and Salty Sinker. The second day both the wacky rig and the texas rig seemed to work. Best fish the second day was a 19 inch smallie. We caught 50 bass between the four of us on the second day. The third day we did a float using canoes on Crooked Creek. We put in at the snow access and took out on a private spot which made for a 5 or 6 mile float. With the three inches of rain the creek had come up a foot and was dropping. It had a slight stain. Size wise the creek reminded me of the Bourbeuse River but had more current and was much clearer, even after a good rain. Again the best bait seemed to be the senko and salty sinker but we did catch a few on the tube. Best fish was a 17 1/2 inch smallie on the tube. The four of us caught 30 bass on Crooked Creek. For the three days we caught 119 bass, 114 of them being smallies, with one kentucky and four largemouth. The Buffalo and Crooked Creek are both beautiful streams and worth the drive from St Louis just for the float, let alone the fishing.

[Al Agnew]

It was nice to run into you guys on Crooked Creek, wish we would have made ourselves known a little more. As you know, I floated your stretch mostly behind you and then on down to Kelly's. I believe I had caught about 40 bass by the time I reached George's Creek where you took out. I would have thought the way you guys were really concentrating as I passed you that you'd have caught a lot more fish.

[MissouriDave]

We really did fish it hard. None of us had fished out of a canoe in a long time. Although I use a canoe on the Bourbeuse (my home river) I have outriggers on it and a trolling motor. We got out and mostly waded Crooked Creek. I think the big mistake we made was we skipped a lot of what I would call skinny water. We concentrated mostly on the deeper holes and as we got closer the the takeout we fished the shallower water with more current and caught a lot more. My brother had only caught one bass when you went through and he caught 8 more between there and the takeout. Next time I will make sure and formally introduce myself. I was the big guy wearing the floppy hat. Hope to see you on the Bourbeuse sometime in the future. Cheers. Dave Beckering.

[gotmuddy]

It was nice to run into you guys on Crooked Creek, wish we would have made ourselves known a little more. As you know, I floated your stretch mostly behind you and then on down to Kelly's. I believe I had caught about 40 bass by the time I reached George's Creek where you took out. I would have thought the way you guys were really concentrating as I passed you that you'd have caught a lot more fish.

were yall wanting to keep the float a secret??