Camping / fishing this weekend

[Jordan Craig]

Going to head down 123 hwy, we went to blue hole last year, it was real nice but the bathrooms hadn't been kept up better if they weren't there if you smelled it you would agree.

Any fishing advice? Are there any catfish in the river around there? Goggleye? Want to catch some for dinner

Any advice on what the smallmouth biting on?

[Guest]

http://www.buffaloriverchamber.com/ponca_river_gauge.html

Anything above 4.9ft on the Ponca gauge is asking for trouble.

Keep an eye on the river as rain is forecast this weekend.

[Ham]

I'd pick something else to do or somewhere else to do it, but that's just me.

[Bdavis32]

I was also thinking of hiking a section of the Buffalo River Trail and doing some fishing along it. I am in KC so not sure what conditions are like down there. So would you advise against this trip? It sounds like there has been a fair amount of rain and the river is up. I'm guessing the fishing would be non-existent and maybe dangerous? Does this sound about right?

Thanks!

[Ham]

Bdavis,

I thought I would hike the trail and fish, but you can't do it. The trail is sometimes hundreds of feet above the river and often no easy access down. I suspect that fishing will be off due to off colored water, but I am not near the river. I know I would not try to fish the Buffalo this weekend.

Ham

[Bdavis32]

Ham,

Thanks! Yeah I get what you're saying. We did this route last year and where we park at Steel Creek, I read there was good fishing near there. Then where we camp, there is a great bluff for cliffdiving (near Horseshoe Bend and Sneeds Creek) and around the bend is some nice water that looked good to fish. You know where I'm talking about? But anyways, looks like fishing is out this weekend anyways. Thanks for the report!!

Barrett

[Ham]

I love to fish the Buffalo and when it is clearish and not raging, I think it would be fantastic to walk from Ponca to Steele Creek and fish along the way. So Im not poo pooing the idea, but you can see the river, but its a loooooong cast down to the water.

[grizwilson]

I have floated and fished everything from Boxley to Buffalo City, much of it numerous times. I would not do any of it this weekend, too much water, too many people.

g

[Ham]

You've got to look at all the gauges and look for a bulge of water. The water falls out much more quickly at Ponca than the lower River. I like the river lower and clearer. At times though, a little stain makes the fish more aggressive and less spooky. Eh, your trip so your call.

[Jordan Craig]

Thanks ham