Has anyone ever made a 3 day Norfork/White river float??

[TheRustyHook]

Okay, so its usually after a few cold beverages, but some friends and I always end up drooling over the thought of a 2 or 3 day fishing/float. Ideally beginning on the Norfork and floating into the White with a combination of Jon boats, canoes, and a maybe a kayak. I think it would be a blast, but I don't know what the ideal stopping points are for this river system. Its not as cut and dry as the buffalo.

So where do you stop? what time should you leave? what time should you end up? Any other tips for manning a 2-3 day fishing trip?

how can you succeed whilst understanding

* unpredictable water levels

* navigating the white and little red

* you may have to pull through a shoal or 2

* proper boating and safety techniques

[Clay Goforth]

Rusty,

Honestly man, you would have a difficult time making the Norfork last three days. The river is not very long. You can motor up or down the entire thing with 1 unit of water running in a matter of 20-30 minutes since the river is only 4 miles long. With no water, there are areas, like "Jaws", that are nearly impassable. With 2 units, the entire thing is a bit treacherous, because of the amount of water, even for experienced boaters. If you really want a great "3 day trout float," I would do something like Cotter to Shipps Ferry or Norfork on the White. Shipps Ferry isn't too far from Buffalo City, but if you wanted to pull off after about a half day on the third day, this would be a good spot. You could float Cotter to Rim Shoals and fish the stretch really hard, and then camp at Rim Shoals cabins and campground. From there, I would float the next day from Rim to Buffalo City and camp at the White Buffalo Campground. This float is going to have the only real "Tough" navigation through Buffalo Shoals if there is no water. YOU WILL HIT ROCKS. With 1 unit (more than minimum flow), you can make it down. The third day would then be your choice of Buffalo City to Shipps or Norfork. If you wanted to go a full, long day on the third day, the Norfork would be the option, and then pull off the water there at the ramp. Shipps would make for a good half day and give you plenty of drive time to get home that evening.

The Norfork is a great single day float and you can motor up and down it, but it isn't really a multi day float with camping spots. The White is much better equipped for a multi-day trip.

Hope that helps you out and let me know if you have any more questions!

[Kcdangler]

North fork hard to camp on the White water rises fast .

[TheRustyHook]

Ive been caught lolly gagging before and not checking a rock or a bag that i put on the edge of the water and in 45 minutes I've seen it come up as much as 6 feet

[TheRustyHook]

Thats why I would never want to to attempt a multi day trip without knowing some safe campgrounds or areas to be able to pull up to. Im even wary of the buffalo if there is a slight chance of rainy weather.

[Gavin]

Hard to do with generation. Try the Buffalo our some of the bigger streams in the Missouri Ozarks.

[Clay Goforth]

Just stick to the designated campgrounds on the white and you are fine. You can't camp on an island or on the bank just anywhere because of the generation but the designated campgrounds I listed are perfectly safe regardless of generation.