Early Fall Float Trip

[Dances With Smallies]

Hey everyone, just looking for a little input.  My wife and I want to take a weekend float sometime in late Sept. or early Oct.  I would like to float either the Eleven Point, Jack's Fork or lower Buffalo.  She doesn't have a preference either way at this point.  I have floated various parts of the Buffalo (it's one of my favorite destinations), but never the EP or JF.  I've heard JF is usually pretty low that time of year, so I'm leaning towards the EP.  I know the status of Ozark rivers can quickly change at any time so I probably won't set anything up until a couple weeks before.  So, with that in mind, I just have a couple questions to help get started. Have any of these rivers been messed up by flooding this year?  What stretch of the EP would you suggest for that time of year (or JF if floatable)?  For this trip, the focus in more on scenery, solitude and quality gravel bars than fishing (we will be doing some fishing though). Since I will be with my wife, I can't go into my full-on fishing trance and lose all concept of time and space .  I'll also check back in the archives.  Thanks in advance, DWS

[Gavin]

The Eleven Point has very predictable flow but small gravel bars. Greer Spring to Riverton is always floatable unless its in flood stage, and you will want to hike down to Greer Spring.  Best scenery on the Jacks is between the Prongs and Rhymers IMO, but plenty of gravel and great scenery along the entire river...Would do the Prongs down if you have over 200cfs on the Mountain view gauge but that is not likely that time of year, Would start at Alley Spring that has enough flow. The Current would be another good option. Its usually pretty low on the upper end in the fall, but there is always plenty of water from Welch Spring on down. Lower Buffalo would be a great float too.

 

 

 

 

 

[Al Agnew]

Even the lower Buffalo can get very low that time of year.  It's not unusual to be flowing well under 100 cfs on the Harriet gauge, and many of the riffles are wide and shallow anyway, so 70-80 cfs will mean dragging some of the riffles, and the pools will be long and very slow.  The scenery is worth the work for me...I love floating it in very low water.  But your wife may not feel that way about it.

Jacks Fork will often be flowing less than 50 cfs at the gauge at Hwy. 17, which means that nearly all riffles you'll either be scraping bottom or getting out and walking.  Keep in mind that in a normal year, late September will be some of the lowest flows of the whole year.  Of course, a big rain or two can change that, and this year hasn't been anywhere close to normal.

As Gavin said, watch the gauges.  You can float most riffles on the Jacks Fork at 100 cfs on the Mountain View gauge.  It might take 150 cfs on the Harriet gauge to float most riffles on the lower Buffalo.

As for fishing, upper Jacks Fork really declines during the month of September, as fish begin moving to wintering areas...they seem to do it early on the JF.  Lower Buffalo might be more likely to furnish good fishing.  Eleven Point would probably be the best bet for fishing that time of year if you know how to fish for trout as well as bass.

[Dances With Smallies]

Great info guys.  Much appreciated.  

16 hours ago, Gavin said:

The Current would be another good option.

I love the Current.  I've floated it many times from Cedar Grove down to Powder Mill.  I will definitely keep it in mind.  When I was a kid my goal was to someday canoe from Baptist clear down to Pocahontas, AR... Now that I'm older and fatter (and hopefully wiser), I think that would be a little too much paddling.

 

13 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

Eleven Point would probably be the best bet for fishing that time of year if you know how to fish for trout as well as bass.

Yeah, trout fishing on the Eleven Point has been on my bucket list for some time now.  It would be awesome to get into some smallmouth and trout.  

 

[steve l]

Thinking of floating the 11P about the 20th or so of October.  How would it be fishing at that time?  Would think the trout like the cooler water, but would the smallies have moved out?

 

[Brian Sloss]

Normally it is good then, but that is a long way out to say 100%.

 

[steve l]

1 hour ago, Brian Sloss said:

Normally it is good then, but that is a long way out to say 100%.

 

Understood & thanks.