Rush To Buff City Advice

[Capt]

1) Planning a river camping trip from Rush to Buffalo City. I've seen mentioned elsewhere here the take out is actually Shipps Ferry. Is this the ideal take out? With a canoe full of gear, paddling upstream on the White to the Buff City take out does not look ideal.

2) Does anyone know an outfitter who will shuttle a vehicle from Rush down to Shipps or another take out?

3) Rush to Buff City is listed at 24.4 miles. From my maps, it looks as if Shipps Ferry adds several additional miles to the trip. Does anyone have an accurate mileage so I can gauge how many days we should plan? Trying to decide if we will need to put in some float time on a Thursday or if Fri/Sat/Sun is ample time. We want to fish, so we might need to do a 4 day/3 night.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Dottie]

Hi.. 8 generators are running day and night on the White River. The water is moving fast. You will not have to paddle.. only steer if you go down to Shipps Ferry. The extra miles will be a fun ride for you with no effort.
An outfitter that will shuttle you is called Wild Bill's. It is in the Yellville Ark. phone directory . YOu might check the water level on the Buffalo. We have not had rain for awhile.

[Capt]

I used Wild Bill's back in May to private shuttle a canoe and it worked out great. I called them this afternoon and they will shuttle from Rush to Shipp's Ferry for $66.

This is my first year on the Buff, but this will be my 4th trip. It's become almost a daily habit to pull up the river levels. The Hwy 14 level is currently at the bottom of the Ample Water For Floating, so I am assuming Rush on down would be the same or a tad bit better.

If all 8 generators are running, I bet that water is moving very fast. I would hate to dump with a full load of gear into that cold water and chase everything down. Haven't dumped yet this year, so hopefully the streak stays alive on the White.

[kayak4life]

We had Dirst rentals or (Durst) how ever its spelled, they took our truck to Shipps take out at around 10:00 am the day after we put on the lower Buffalo wilderness section, we arrived about 9:00 and they showed up right about on time.

[Capt]

We had Dirst rentals or (Durst) how ever its spelled, they took our truck to Shipps take out at around 10:00 am the day after we put on the lower Buffalo wilderness section, we arrived about 9:00 and they showed up right about on time.

If I may ask, how much did they charge you?

[Richard]

When are you going?
When do you plan to take out?
Would you care to have others along and self shuttle?
Do you have time to continue the journey to Alison and begin at Hwy 14. That shuttle is 35 miles and the trip is 80.

[Cowper]

Rush to Buff City is listed at 24.4 miles. From my maps, it looks as if Shipps Ferry adds several additional miles to the trip. Does anyone have an accurate mileage so I can gauge how many days we should plan?
....
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Mouth of Buffalo to Shipps Ferry measures out as 5.8 miles. As others have said, there is good current on the White right now; I think this would take under 2 hours if you never took a stroke, other than what is needed to keep your canoe out in the main current, and could be done in 1 hour if you tried a little bit. Going on down to Allison (mouth of Sylamore creek) adds another 41 miles.

Other advice? It is not uncommon for folks who have negotiated the "rapids" of the lower Buffalo without incident, to turn over when they get to the place where the slow current of the Buffalo joins the faster water of the White. If you're a whitewater paddler, it is not that big of a deal, but don't underestimate it. Also, when you get to the White, you'll be on a much bigger river, with cold, fast water. If you're not already wearing your life jackets, put them on before you get out on the White.

[Danimal]

If you do capsize forget your gear and get out of the river. Dan-o

[gfitzge7]

I have not done this stretch this late in the year. I imagine the fishing is fantastic. I took 4days the one April to do hwy 14 to buf city. I say 4 days, we put in late thur took out sunday afternoon so maybe 3 1/2 days. We stopped plenty to hike to a few bluffs and check out the coolest flood plain I have ever seen at the beg. of the leather wood wilderness area. There was supposed to be an old school somewhere nearby. I would def. go down river to shipps ferry, with generation that will be your only hope. The fishing on the white is awesome right now. Use rapala countdowns, pink worms, and black or olive jiggs. Never been disapointed on fishing on either river. On the buffalo I got hammered by smallmouth using topwater bates and smithwick rogues. Take your time on this float it is def. worth it. And you will prob be alone which is always nice.

[troutman]

Hey Capt, I am not trying to take business away from local outfitters, but I live on the White River across from Cotter, about half way between Rush and Shipps Ferry, am semi-retired and looking for things to do to make ends meet. I am known to do chores such as this for a case of beer and a modest tip. Seriously, my wife and I can do shuttles much of the time and could even leave your vehicle at our house a day or two so it would not be sitting at a public take out or put in. Let me know if you are interested and we can get together to see if my schedule fits yours. Troutman