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mghambly	Buffalo River trip-	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (09/06/09 06:43:16) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Hello everyone, Me and a buddy are coming up from Austin this Wednesday to float the Buffalo from Buffalo point to Buffalo City in kayaks. We will be flyfishing for smallmouth(catch and release). We have allowed ourselves 3 days on the water, hopefully that will be enough time. If anyone can offer any advise whatsoever regarding fly-patterns, tactics etc. it would be greatly appreciated. We plan on using all the same tactics and patterns that work well for us here in Texas(wooly-buggers, crawfish patterns, hellgramite patterns etc.). It looks like the flows will be cooperating. Should we be thinking about bears at all? I know there are some black bears but I saw something in an old post about a brown bear sighting. Is Shipps ferry a good take out point and is there a fee for parking there? Or is there a better take-out with parking closer to the mouth of the buffalo?Any and all advise and tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Max
FlyFishAR		#1	[-]
Posts: 8476 (09/06/09 07:49:02) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Max: I doubt that bears would be a consideration at all. However if you're camping it would be wise to take the usual precautions. There are pretty much the same animals as in Texas, except the "rare" occasional black bear. However, besides rattlesnakes there are copper heads and cotton mouths. There are several take outs including one at Buffalo City. Shipps, Cartney, and the Norfork confluence are possibilities as well if you wanted to get in a few miles of trout fishing.
Chuckinra		#2	[-]
Posts: 1396 (09/06/09 08:35:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Welcome aboard Max. That is a beautiful area. Fishing should be great. One thing to consider is the confluence of the White and Buffalo. Your take out at Buffalo City is upstream, and on the opposite side, from the concluence. If there is generation, on the White, you will be paddeling upstream. I don't know the particulars of how to handle that but perhaps one the guides will pick up on this and fill you in. As far as the critters, you can probably count on a coon at least to raid your camp. Have fun. Take a camera. Zac and Ken will be able to give you ideas on the flies. Chuck A secret fly is never more valuable than when you leave it with a stranger.
mghambly		#3	[-]
Posts: 2 (09/06/09 09:29:28) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks alot for your replies Chuck and FlyFishAR- I was thinking for some reason that Shipps was downstream and on the same side. Given what I have heard about the unpredictability of the releases, we were hoping for a takeout on the same side, any suggestions? We are using one of the buffalo point concessions for our shuttle so maybe they will have a suggestion. And yes, we were hoping for a couple of miles of trout fishing at the end of the float. Do ya;ll think we need an extra trout stamp if we plan on releasing all our fish? We are getting the three day out of state license. Thanks! Max
FlyFishAR		#4	[-]
Posts: 8477 (09/06/09 09:47:49) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Trout stamp? Wow that's a good question. I've bought a trout stamp for the last 15 years and haven't kept a single fish. Think I could get my money back?
Scott Branyan		#5	[-]
Posts: 287 (09/06/09 10:26:52) Beaver Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Max, John's outta luck :-). You need a trout permit to fish for trout on the White regardless of whether you keep any. On the Buffalo you must have a trout permit to retain trout. Cartney boat ramp access below the Buffalo is on the national forest side. You have to ford a creek twice going down to it, once over limestone bedrock, and it is often impassible after a heavy rain. High clearance needed. http://www.flyflinger.com/bs_access_cartney.php Shipps is on the far side of the river another 2 miles down from Cartney and would be the logical takeout, if you don't want to or can't paddle upstream to Buffalo City. Have a great trip. Two roads diverged in a wood And I took the one less traveled by... Last Edited By: Scott Branyan 09/06/09 10:35:21. Edited 2 times.
mghambly		#6	[-]
Posts: 3 (09/06/09 13:27:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks Scott. Trout stamp it is. How far is it across the river to shipps ferry from the mouth of the buffalo, (how wide is the white at that point)? I guess I was thinking shipps was in buffalo city but I don't see any reason to paddle upstream on the White after a 3 day float. I really appreciate all of ya'lls great advice!
mghambly		#7	[-]
Posts: 4 (09/06/09 14:21:42) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Also I was wondering if Rileys station would be a good take out? I wonder if it would be worth giving them a call. Looks like its directly across the river on google earth.
Scott Branyan		#8	[-]
Posts: 288 (09/06/09 19:03:40) Beaver Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Max, you can just about see Shipps from Cartney once the river straightens out. If the water is dead low, you'll have to stay to the middle below Cartney past the rock wing dams on the right, then move to the right bank and back to the middle and cross through the deeper rock ridges to get over to the left just above the take out. Clearly visible once you get there and hard to miss. If the water is up, no problems. Miles Riley can give you the latest on river flows and may be able to give you some more hints. It's about a 6 mile float to Shipps once you hit the White. To get over to Rileys you still have to go upstream a bit on the White and around the top of the island. If they just continue running 2 units from Bull, it might be doable, but you'll have to hustle a bit. Once you get upstream a ways, the current usually will help you get around the top of the island. Its 4 miles to Cartney and then another 2 to Shipps. Two roads diverged in a wood And I took the one less traveled by...
mghambly		#9	[-]
Posts: 5 (09/06/09 19:18:15) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks to everyone for all the great tips. Tight Lines!! Max
jjoefish		#10	[-]
Posts: 61 (09/06/09 23:58:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Watch out for the SKUNKS ! IF YOU PUT YOUR FLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FISHES FACE, ONE OF TWO THINGS WILL HAPPEN.........
mghambly		#11	[-]
Posts: 6 (09/07/09 08:30:44) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Do ya'll think we can wet wade or is it getting to be wader weather up there? Thanks Max
Chuckinra		#12	[-]
Posts: 1398 (09/08/09 07:24:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Wet. Chuck A secret fly is never more valuable than when you leave it with a stranger.
Terry Beeson		#13	[-]
Posts: 2925 (09/08/09 18:40:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	FlyFishAR wrote: Trout stamp? Wow that's a good question. I've bought a trout stamp for the last 15 years and haven't kept a single fish. Think I could get my money back? Lemme know how that works out for ya John... Max... just be sure you post LOTS of pics of the trip here... We'll look forward to it... How far down are the elk now? I bet that would be a trip waking up and a big bull elk be standing outside the tent... "I am not against golf, since I cannot but suspect it keeps armies of the unworthy from discovering trout..." - Paul O’Neil Click here to visit my website...
mghambly		#14	[-]
Posts: 7 (09/14/09 11:22:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	We are back and we had an EPIC trip. 3 1/2 days on the buffalo and managed to squeeze 6 miles of the White in at the end. That is truly a special place that ya'll have. We didn't see any Elk or Bears, but we did see Otters, Bald Eagles, Deer , LOTS of Smallmouth Bass and more than a few trout. We caught many nice bass and several that were pushing 3 lbs. on weighted wooly buggers and crawfish patterns. I will post some pics in the next day or two. Thanks a bunch to everyone for the advice. Max
Aggiewayne77		#15	[-]
Posts: 36 (09/15/09 07:42:32) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Glad ya'll had a great trip. And to think they almost dammed the Buffalo...it is one of my favorite places in the world...Was gonna wait for the pics, but thot I would go ahead and ask...what kink of kayaks did ya'll use? Kayak fishing has become as much of an obsession to me as this fly fishing obsession. I have a Tarpon 100 and have been on the Buffalo a couple of times with it and have been thinking of a trip like yours. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, and hey, ain't this a great forum?! Wayne One great thing about fly fishing is that after a while nothing exists of the world but thoughts about fly fishing. -- N. Mclean
mghambly		#16	[-]
Posts: 8 (09/15/09 10:42:03) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I was in my old Scrambler. Which I like alot for many reasons but I'm about to be shopping for a new one, too many floats on the llano river in low flows have put a small hole right on the edge of the scupper so I have been patching makeshift with 3m marine sealant. I love my scrambler because its light, it manouvers well in rivers, its fast, and I like the minimal amount of rigging(less things to get a flyline wrapped around. I hope that my new kayak will have the same functionality but also a little wider for standing up and sight casting to Reds on the Texas coast. I am looking at Malibu Kayaks, Oceans, Native, and WS but haven't decided yet. I will say that my little Scrambler was maxxed out on storage for a 3.5 day trip and thats with ultralight backpacking gear and dehydrated foods. Mike was in a WS The Ride which he loves. He originally bought a Tarpon 120 but found it wasn't as stable for standing in as the ride so he swapped out for The Ride. He didn't have any of the storage issues I had. If you don't already know about texaskayakfisherman.com, you should check it out, its a great site. Pictures coming soon. Max
Scott Branyan		#17	[-]
Posts: 298 (09/15/09 15:28:10) Beaver Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Terry Beeson wrote: How far down are the elk now? I bet that would be a trip waking up and a big bull elk be standing outside the tent... I've driven through Boxley Valley several times since the 1st of August and the elk are hanging out in the pastures around Hwy 21 and 43 at Ponca turn off and down around the beaver ponds where the trumpeter swans are. About two weeks ago, the bulls started mixing it up with the cows after they lost their velvet. I've heard they've started bugling. Rut should be on. Looking forward to your photos, Max. Two roads diverged in a wood And I took the one less traveled by...
Drifter		#18	[-]
Posts: 948 (09/15/09 18:50:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Guys - visit my blog and it tells you of the story of floating the buffalo from Boxley bridge to the White this spring. We also floated the King's from Marble to Romp Hole(Table Rock) Ken "Drifter" Richards "Life's too short not to row a boat." http://justfishinguides.com http://justfishinguides.wordpress.com http://DrifterPhotos.etsy.com
zhoyt		#19	[-]
Posts: 547 (09/15/09 19:03:23) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Terry, they go as far down as Erbie regularly. Normally in Ponca and Steel Creek for the most part though. Also Max, if you want to make a Buffalo trip semi regularly, pick up The Buffalo River Handbook by Ken Smith. It is(imo) the best book on the Buffalo out there. Everything from geology, entomology, history, sites, etc. It is not really fly fishing related, but a good resource to have. Also check out Fly Fishermans Guide to Arkansas and Missouri. Good info on putins and takeouts and also recommended flies. Zack Hoyt www.JustFishinGuides.com My Blog: Flies, Lies, and Other Diversions Last Edited By: zhoyt 09/15/09 19:07:08. Edited 1 times.
Aggiewayne77		#20	[-]
Posts: 37 (09/15/09 20:13:55) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Max, yea, TKF is a great forum. I lurk back and forth between TKF and this forum. I got lots of good info from this forum and TKF before I bought my yak. Zack is right on with the book suggestion for "when" ya'll come back. You could spend a lifetime up on the Buffalo and not see all there is to see. Another good book is A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks by Tom Kennon which covers most of Arkansas from the Ouachitas to S. Missouri. Scott, I saw the Trumpeter Swans in August and got some pics. Neat. Didn't know they were colonizing them here. Wayne One great thing about fly fishing is that after a while nothing exists of the world but thoughts about fly fishing. -- N. Mclean Last Edited By: Aggiewayne77 09/15/09 20:22:41. Edited 1 times.

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