Trip Report - Rush to Shipps

[Forsythian]

Solo trip, and my first on this section.  Put in 9/27 and took out 10/1.  The Harriet gauge was 150 cfs (3 ft).  Only had to get out and drag a handful of times, but I wouldn't float it any lower.  

I heeded advice regarding the wind, it can really blow through the canyons!  I rode a NW wind the first 10 miles and stayed put near big creek for a day until it turned back around from the South.

Caught smallmouth just about non-stop.  Crawdad crankbait worked the best.  Nothing over 16" though.  Lots of eagles and deer and solitude.  The scenery is hard to put into words...  It's really an amazing place!

[Ham]

That’s Awesome! 
please post more pics if you have them.

I need to do that trip.

[Forsythian]

Here's a couple more pictures.  I'd definitely recommend a compass and a good map to track your pace and progress.  Know that the last mile or two ahead of the White is completely flat water.  On the White itself, they were running some pretty good water so that 5 miles to Shipps was a cake walk.

[budman]

Leaving Monday to do Dillards to Shipps for 4 days. Hope to have the same conditions as you had. Looking forward to getting away with a couple friends and fish and relax. Will get a report out when we get home. We have done it a couple of time and have a good idea where we need to stop each night to make the trip and still be able to fish a lot. I agree about the last couple of miles on the Buffalo being slow, more so when the White is flowing a lot of water and backing up the Buffalo.

[gotmuddy]

Thanks for the report.  That stretch is the most beautiful country I have seen(yet).  There are some monsters lurking in there too, just got to get them to eat.

[Ham]

There are some uncommon and endemic little guys in there too. Also can be a struggle to get them to eat. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

@Forsythian, did you see any other people?   Looks awesome!   I haven’t done anything like that in 30 years probably.  Thx. 

[curtisce]

Have wanted to float that section,going hard to get a group together. Shuttling  doesn't look easy unless you have someone willing to drop you off and pick up.  

 

[budman]

We are using Buffalo River Float Service. I think $80 to shuttle truck to Shipps on the last day of our trip. A lot cheaper than driving two trucks from Tulsa and a lot less time spent doing a self shuttle. 

[Forsythian]

I used Buffalo River Float Service, they keep the vehicle there on their lot until your take out day.  80 seemed a little steep, but Eleven Point is up to 60 this year so I guess it's proportionate.  Peace of mind on take out day has value.

Snagged, there were two pair of kayakers who passed me on day 1, after that I saw only 1 other person on horseback in 2 days.  All in all more people than I was hoping for 😐