14' raft on the White River: report

[Tim Eubanks]

I know some of you have done the White in your rafts. What is the minimum flow that works? Say below Cotter. We were up at Allison/Sylamore last week and the trout were pretty much absent. Smallmouth seemed happy, though. ??

[Cowper]

Since nobody else has commented yet, I'll share what little I know....

I haven't had a raft on the White, but have been up that way several times now doing things like checking out the mouth of Crooked Creek and the Lower Buffalo, and running a safety sweep boat for the annual White River Canoe race a couple of times.

I don't think you'd have any trouble getting down the shoals even at the lowest flows you're likely to encounter. The only potential concern would be that as flows drop, there will be more rowing and just drifting may not get you downstream at the same rate you would otherwise enjoy.

[Deuce]

I've never had my raft on the White either, but I've been fishing it from a john boat for over thirty years and I agree with Cowper. Yesterday the Calico Rock gauge was around 3.5, which is plenty for a raft. The main concern, which is not really a concern but a nuisance, is the wind. It'll eat your lunch in a raft. If you could rig up a mount for a little outboard or trolling motor I'd strongly encourage you to do so, otherwise you'd find yourself being blown upstream frequently. What kind of expedition are you thinking of mounting?

[Deuce]

Tim, I forgot to mention that I'd be glad to lend you your choice of a trolling motor or 2.5 Merc if'n you so desired. You'd have to southern engineer the mount though.

[Cowper]

I'd suggest the trolling motor over the merc; gasoline doesn't mix well with other paddling gear so I try to keep motorized stuff separate from paddling stuff...

I never feel "guilty" when I use a trolling motor; its far more enviro-friendly than the gas we burn just getting to the put-ins and I'm just not ready yet to be a stay-at-home vegan...

For a multi-day expedition, you'll need more than one battery; send me a PM if we need to fix you up

[Lupe]

I'm not 100% positive, but I think that once you put a trolling motor on a boat, be it a canoe or a raft, that you then need to have registered your boat (which you don't have to do as long as it's powered under your own power). A friend had helped me put a trolling motor on my canoe a few times when my right arm was still too weak to paddle so I could join on flatwater trips, and I believe at some point I was told I was technically (as in really) breaking the law and I could have gotten ticketed.

Just something you might want to check on in advance so you can make an informed decision!

[tomOzarkVideo]

Motors also bring a "BWI" potential to the party if you like to

[Deuce]

Good point Heather, and you are 100% correct. Any powered vessel, including one powered by a trolling motor, must be registered. The good new is it's a simple and cheap process, but it must be done, especially for a boat on a river as popular and accessible to enforcement as the Whitey. Cowper, in principle I agree with what you're saying. It is a stinky two stroke, but a little outboard like my 2.5 (whose location I'm not even sure of at the moment; think my BIL has it ) is completely self contained (no external tank or fuel line) and doesn't leak at all, so I don't think it really poses that much of a threat to the environment or raft/rigging components. If left hanging off the back the whole time and only fired up to fight headwinds it would be a nonissue in my opinion, which is worth what one pays for it.

[Tim Eubanks]

I'm thinking right now about a day trip with another couple, somewhere around Calico Rock. No motor for this raft: too much trouble.I don't mind rowing and will have backup people on board. 3.5 on Calico rock gauge is good to know.

Looking down the road to a multi-day trip, like from Cotter down to Mtn View/Sylamore. Can't depend on gravel bars, so stops would have to coincide with access points, cabins, etc.

[Deuce]

1.59 now, which I wouldn't think would be enough. Here's a link to a nice water level map.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[swimswithotters]

This is off-subject, but I'm new so please forgive me. Is the lower Ouachita from Remmel dam floatable today?
Gail Adams (swimswithotters)

[Clif]

South winds can end up right in the face on that section... kinda normal for this time of year. Once again hampering the downstream drift.

[Tim Eubanks]

Surely my raft will go where a drift boat will. ?. If so, here's what i found out. Cotter to Rim Shoals, 6 miles, about 4 hours. Rim Shoals to Buffalo city, 12 miles, 6-8 hours, at current flow levels.

[Tim Eubanks]

14' raft, oar frame etc, 4 adults. Had plenty of water from Cotter down to Rim Shoals, guessing about 3' to 4' on Calico Rock gauge. We were told that there was one unit on. Took 2 1/2 to 3 hrs, but we had a downriver tail wind most of the time or no wind. Any kind of head wind would make for a longer day. Did not drag at all. If you wanted to try yours up there, make sure at least one unit is on. Dead low would be a drag fest.

Water was cold but most people were wet-wading up to their waist.

Had fly fisherman on front and one on the back. Worked really well. Definitely a do-over.