Anyone Catch Any Big Smallmouths From Rush Landing To White River Confluence?

[Riff-Raft]

That's an awesome double hook-up right there! I've never caught anything big on the Buffalo, just go there for the scenery.

Thanks, it's the first double hook-up that I've ever had. They both tied getting to the lure and it was a sight to see when they went airborne.

[Riff-Raft]

any body ever fish around steel creek or the ponca access?

I've never fished that far up river but would like to someday.

[Riff-Raft]

I'm certain that > 18 inch smallmouth live in the last 24 miles. As always in our part of the world, those are special fish. I hope to fish that section of the Buffalo this year. I'll post a photo if I get a BIG fish.

I've seen some large smallmouth in that stretch, just couldn't get them on the end of my line. Good luck on your expedition.

[sfiser]

I love fishing the ponca/steel creek section. Good numbers of fish, although I have never caught one over 16" out of that area. The scenery more than makes up for it and its a grea place for a summertime wade trip.

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

I always go hiking in that area, it is one of my favorite spots PERIOD. glad to hear it has some fishing holes.

[Yakfly]

My best smallmouth always come from the deep hole right where the Buff meets the White. Caught several 18+ over the years. I mean where you can cast into the Buff or the White from the same spot. And I've seen some largemouth in that section that are scary big, but never caught any. I think they only eat 12" trout.

[Riff-Raft]

My best smallmouth always come from the deep hole right where the Buff meets the White. Caught several 18+ over the years. I mean where you can cast into the Buff or the White from the same spot. And I've seen some largemouth in that section that are scary big, but never caught any. I think they only eat 12" trout.

I would imagine that there are some big smallmouth and largemouth bass in that section of the Buffalo. I like how the river widens out on the lower end of the Buffalo. On that note I have seen some nice schools of big fish in the deep/long holes but they looked like river Red Horses. I managed to catch a nice sized largemouth on my 2013 trip in the extreme lower section of the Buffalo, the fish hit my lure as soon as it hit the water.

It would be nice to float and camp the lower 24 miles of the Buffalo for a solid week which would give me a bit more time to see what lies at the bottom of those deep holes.

[Riff-Raft]

Will be looking for some in a couple weeks

Good luck. You sure had a lot of nice pictures in your blog and I really liked the picture of the first smallmouth you have posted in your blog.

[Crooked Creek Angler]

Me and a buddy of mine have floated this section almost every year since the mid 90's, (sometimes twice a year). We float from Rush to the White camping two nights. I distinctly remember our second trip when we caught 8 fish over 18". Even though there was no 18" length limit back then, that was still the mark of a big smallmouth for us. I think 3 of those were largemouth though. On most years we catch one or two smallies over 18", although I'm sure there's a few years in there we didn't catch any over 18". Have caught two over 20" on that float. One tip would be to camp at a good deep hole and try some night fishing with a jitterbug. I have heard some reliable reports of smallmouth over 5 lbs. being caught out of the lower end in the spring when the water is up an a little stained and the big fish are less spooky.

I can say that we haven't noticed any appreciable difference in average fish size since they've implemented the 18" length limit. If anything, it's probably been a little tougher to catch an 18" fish the past five years or so. Also, happy to say that every fish we've caught has been returned immediately back to the river to be caught again another day.