Wanting to Do A Certain Float (Want Input) Ouachita River-

[paddle2fish]

Group,

In about a month I'm wanting to float the Ouachita from 270 Access Area down to the last campsite before the Lake. About how long is that float this time of year?

http://www.arkansas.com/images/maps/wat ... achita.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wanting to fish as well. Any fishing suggestions for this stretch of river?

Thanks in advance.

[AR-Nimrod]

Not sure on time. But you can get distance from link posted below. Pray for rain or you'll be draggin some. I've had success with crawfish colored crankbaits, small spinner baits and beetle spins. I know some who use crawfish type worms. I have floated and fished from Pencil Bluff down to Dragover. Donated a spinning rod/reel on the Dragover section few years back. Did you know that indecision = swimming. Ive used both Two Spirits Canoe and Ouachita River Haven for shuttles. Both very reasonable and convenient. Jim Moose a.k.a. Jim Krueger will probably respond with some more good info.




http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 288894.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Roger]

For fishing advice (hey it's free), might try taking a weighted-hook (1/16 or 1/32 oz.) and using U-tail worms, tubes with frilly skirts (Gitzit style) or some plastics. Fish below the shoal areas or maybe above depending on structures and depth. Work off the banks where you have depth and rocky structure. Work the lure slow and allow it to move with current on its own if possible. Just an idea!

Can't help with the paddling stuff!

[Jim Krueger]

Paddle,

This is a great float/fishing trip and with some of the very best scenery!
Currently it's been a spring rather short on rainfall and everything may be even lower in a month, or it may improve. As your trip draws closer, I'd keep a check on the USGS Mount Ida gauge, my recommendation for the whole section your're interested in would be a level of 2.00 - 3.25ft. Two feet would certainly be the minimum so as not to drag every shoal.
To offer the best suggestions from any of us on how you might divide up your trip it would be best to know what time you would like to spend. The Hwy 270 put-in is at the Rocky Shoals access, this is one of the three last former National Forest campgrounds shown on the map. If I were to make say an all-day fishing trip, I would float from there to Fulton Branch CG on the first day then spend the second day between there and the Dragover CG take-out. It's roughly 6miles each day. From the Dragover take-out there is another road access to the river but no more campgrounds between Dragover and Hwy 27 CG down on Lake Ouachita. (11.50 more miles, 3/4 of it or more with no current...)
Let us know more about what you'd like and we'll go from there with suggestions. I very much concur with Roger on the fishing suggestions! We commonly take two spinning rigs each when fishing, one rigged with a 1/8oz. lead head hook& green/pumpkin seed color tiny brush hog, and the other rigged with a 1/16oz. lead head with a crappie/bream jig. There are many pools to work with the lures but the Small Mouth Bass fishing is best just below the boulders in fast water and on either side of the fast water below the rapids.
Sometimes if the water is too fast to fish from the boat, we have better luck wade-fishing below the rapids.

Good luck.

Best Regards
jim

[AR-Nimrod]

See, I told you.