My brother in-law and I will be making a trip to the Buffalo River in Ponca, AR next weekend.
We are planning a 3 day 2 night float down the river doing as much fishing as possible!
We are hoping the weather holds off but wanted to know if anyone had any advice for that river. I have never really fished a river or for small mouth. Any particular areas of river to target? slow moving water? shade? I will be bringing senkos, tubes, jigs, crankbaits, lipless cranks, jerkbait, top water poppers and spinner baits... Any additional recommendations for targeting small mouth in a river are much appreciated!

Last time I floated/fished it I caught small mouth all day on a small green pumpkin tube with the jig head inside the tube on 8lb line. I fished a lot of other stuff and caught a few on top waters like yellow magic but the tube was better than anything else for me. Water is very clear so small line, I used 8lb. fluorocarbon on a spinning rod and 10lb. on a bait caster. We floated the upper part of the river where the current is faster. Fish were where river fish are, behind the current breaks like rocks and trees, before and after rapids or riffles, and in the eddies. It is a beautiful place to go and the fishing is great! Good Luck!!

I have floated the river for years and caught tons of fish. Small plastics in the deeper pools and minnow lures in black and silver and gold and black in the faster water. Also try top waters at night in the slower pools. It is a great place to go.

Lots of lures will catch smallies on the Buffalo. Smaller jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, tiny torpedos(clear)....but one lure will catch em like nothing else. A curly tailed grub on a jig head. Any color...as long as its chartreuse! If they aren't biting this they aren't biting! Concentrate on the pools just below faster water. The Buffalo is great!

I agree with curly tail grub. Bring a bunch of them. Good Luck JD

Thank you for all of the advice. We are really hoping to avoid thunderstorms!

A couple years ago we floated right after a big storm and it was a hoot! Actual rapids on the upper end.

I floated it with a fly rod. It's a beautiful memory.

The last time I hit the Buffalo I killed the smallies on a Bomber 5A in red craw. It's a 1/5 oz. shallow / med. crankbait.
I would have a couple with me if I went back.

Fish them in any eddies you find as you drift downstream. Light line - 10 lb. or less.

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I floated it a for a few years, we always used curly tail grubs on small jig head.

Look for places like a island or fallen tree where the water kinda slows down, we used to catch tons of them, not very big but a lot of fun

We crushed the smallies with a small t rigged green pumpkin crawfish. Never needed to try anything else

Wow have had this place on my radar for years. So what is a good place on the river to put in for a novice with wife and 2 girls 11&13, not a long long trip by any means. Place to Stay?

***Sorry Tournament Anglers I usually don't mess with Unders***