Fly fishing.

[Flyhog85]

So anyone have any suggestions for hitting the Buffalo up for smallmouth in September? We are looking to go two weeks after Labor Day and have three days to kill. Also any suggestions or know anyone that would shuttle our truck for us?

[budman]

What section of the river do you plan to float?

[Flyhog85]

That's a good question. We've never floated with the intent of fishing. But we're thinking about floating rush to Ships ferry

[Al Agnew]

That's the closest thing to a wilderness river you'll find in the Ozarks, and the fishing can be pretty decent.  But any stretch downstream from Woolum is beautiful and good fishing.  In September the river will probably be very low and clear, and any stretch from Gilbert down will have a lot of shallow riffles you might have to drag, but that doesn't hurt the fishing.  Above Gilbert will probably be too low to float.  Gilbert to Buffalo Point is a nice, easy three day trip for September, can be done in two days, but with shortened daylight hours and cool nights, a little shorter distance to cover each day is nice.  I've floated that lower end in three days in late October, and had to paddle too hard in the daylight hours available to fish it well.

[Flyhog85]

Thanks for the info I haven't floated the lowest stretches in years but we used to go quite a bit. This will be the first float I've done on the Buffalo with the intent of fishing. I've been watching the river levels and it seems like stretches that usually aren't floatable have gotten more water this year and Rush looks to be about where I remember it when we floated just to float. 

If the flows are decent is Rush to long to try to float and fish? We were looking at covering a ton of water the first day and then actually fishing the second and third. Would we skip too much good fishing water if we did that? 

[budman]

I like the Section from Rush to the White, have floated it a couple times in the fall. We used Buffalo River Float Service, they are at the turn off for Rush. We floated three days and camped two nights. If you fish a lot it could easily be a for day float.  There are plenty of great camping spots along that section of the river.  We used larger streamers and craw patterns. Pistol Pete,  it looks like a bugger with a propeller on the nose, # 6-10 Oliver buggers and Autumn Splendor. Used small craws, grubs and Ned rigs on spinning gear. Took out at Riley's Station one year during low water. You can paddle across to the island at the mouth of the White and walk up stream to the first cut and then paddle down to Riley's dock. During high flow on the White we took out at Shipps Ferry, about 5 mile down stream from where the Buffalo joins the White River. We did not fish that section and it only took us about an hour to go the five miles. Check the gage at Harriet for water flows. I think we had about 85 - 90 CFS flowing when we went and there was plenty of water and only had to drag through a few spots. We are thinking of doing that section the second week of Oct so if you go give us a report.

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, I'm always a little leary of taking out at Riley's Station or Buffalo City.  Did it once when the White was up some but not running anywhere close to all generators, and it was really hard work to paddle even a short distance upstream on the White.  Shipp's Ferry is better for taking no chances.

You should be able to do Rush to the White in three days, if you get a decently early start the first day and plan on floating a full day the third day--and still fish pretty hard all three days.  Of course, a lot depends upon how you like to fish.  If you like to stop and wade every likely looking spot, it'll take you a lot longer.

I've floated that lower end at 70 cfs, and while we never had to get out and walk, we scraped bottom in a lot of the riffles--if you really care about protecting your boat bottom, you would want to walk some of them.  I've also floated Gilbert to Buffalo City at 70 cfs and it was actually easier floating than the lower end, because it was basically flowing about the same amount of water as the lower end, but the riffles tend to be a little narrower upstream.  At 100 cfs, though, everything is easy.  Anywhere in between...it varies.

[Flyhog85]

Haha yeah guess well have to see what Harvey gives us in way of water. Lol thanks so much for the float and I'll def give a report. We should be filming it so may link to the video too. 

[Flyhog85]

If we were to push through are there any key shoals/holed we should take note and fish?