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I cut my teeth on the Buffalo, so it has a special place. I spent some of my childhood in the Boxley Valley. The Buffalo is a very good place to fish. Lots of easy access and plenty of outfitters to help with canoes and shuttles. Here in lies the issue though. It sees a TON of traffic. This can make fishing a little difficult. The upper section is very rain dependent, so you have to kinda plan for it. The middle section can still have alot of walking, but it tends to have more deeper holes. These are where I tend to find the fish in hot conditions. The other nice thing is all of the over hanging trees. Fish are not able to blink, so they tend to lurk in the shade when the sun is high. The lower section is almost always a good bet for a float, but has lots of long, open pools. This means less public traffic, but more paddling. You also have the lower wilderness area which I love to do as an overnighter. There are very few places any more to go where you can hear no sounds of civilization. You can also float to the confluence of the White and the Buffalo and then head back up the White. Watch the generation though because this can be a deal breaker.

As far as specfic stretches, pick your poison.

Ponca to Steel Creek or Kyles is an awesome stretch. Lots of rapids and shady banks. Good terrestrial fishing in the summer. Seems more goggle eye and rock bass in this section since there is fewer deeper holes.

Kyles to Erbie is good for smallies, but the Kyles road can be very rough. You also have some great hiking when you get to Erbie.

Floating into Pruitt or out of Pruitt is alright, but it sees alot of traffic. It tends to have a good bikini hatch though. ;)

Mt. Hershey to Woolum or Woolum on down is very good for smallie. A few more wide open spots and lots of gravel bars. Richland Creek comes in near Woolum and there is some great fishing up there. Harder to access, but worth the effort.

Either of the Maumee accesses to Dillards Ferry is one of my favorites. It has a few more rapids than most of the middle section. It also has Spring creek dump into it a few miles before Dillards, and this makes for very good fishing. Loks of big rocks in the water.

Rush into Buffalo City really needs to be a few days, and can be a getting back to nature float. Very little boat traffic and outside influence. It is also much harder to get rescued if something goes wrong. I would recommend making this trip with a few people.

Ken Smith has a book out called "The Buffalo River Handbook". It is the Bible when it comes to the Buffalo. I hae a boat copy and one at home. One of the more comprehensive books out there for the paddler and the historian. Also pick up "Fly Fisher's Guide to Arkansas and Missouri". This is a great break down of all the waters around us with info more toward the fly fisherman. Great for access points and fly suggestions.

Speaking of flies......

I am a firm believer in the clouser minnow on warm water. Check out what color the baitfish are and match(who says match the hatch is just for trout). Cray fish are always good patterns either weighted and bounced along the bottom or dead drfited under an indicator. Large stonefly patterns are good under an indicator or tightlined as well. Terrestrials of every shape and size are a main stay. Find a tree or grass lined ank and let em fly. I am very partial to a yellow parahopper. Black or dark red wollie boogers tend to mimic tadpoles, leeches, sculpins, etc. Don't be afraid to experiment. Just because it is labeled a "trout, saltwater, etc" fly, doesnt mean teh colors cant be changed to work for warm water.

Hope my novelette helps a tad. There is no shortage of warm water to fish here. Basically if it holds water for most of the summer.....it will hold fish. I sneak out from time to time and hike some of the local creeks fishing for panfish with dries and my 3wt. I absolutely have a blast with those little buggers.


Edit: There are a few guys on here that have been fishing the Buff longer than I have been alive. They are really the ones to talk with. Hopefully Ken, or Chuck, or Dan will post some info.