The Buffalo flows through more than 150 miles of scenic mountain territory from near Boxley in Newton County to its junction with the White River near Buffalo City in Baxter County. Some of the many float stretches to check out are the Ponca to Highway 7 float (25 miles, with access points and campgrounds at Steel Creek, Kyles Landing, Erbie and Ozark); the stretch between state highways 7 and 123 (10 miles, with accesses and campsites at Carver and Hasty); the float from Arkansas Highway 123 to U.S. Highway 65 (32 miles, with access/camping areas at Mount Hershey and Woolum); the U.S. 65 to Buffalo Point float (27 miles, with access points at Gilbert, Maumee North, Maumee South and state Highway 14); and the final stretch from Buffalo Point to Buffalo City (30 miles, with a single takeout point at Rush).

MULBERRY RIVER
Though often overlooked by Arkansas' smallmouth fans, the Mulberry River is one of the finest Ozark Mountain smallmouth streams. The river gets a bit wild during high-water periods, with waters rated from medium to difficult, but the Mulberry receives high marks from the fishing public. Winter smallmouth fishing is good, and anglers will also find largemouth and spotted bass to keep the action hot.

The Mulberry flows in a west-southwesterly course from state Highway 21 just north of Ozone to below Interstate 40 near Mulberry. Along the way it passes near the towns of Catalupa, Oark and Cass.

The first major put-in is where state Highway 103 crosses the river two miles southwest of Oark. You can take out where Forest Road 1504 crosses (11 1/2 miles downstream) or at the U.S. Forest Service's Wolf Pen Recreation Area, two and a half miles below the 103 bridge. The second float starts at the 1504 access and ends six or seven miles downstream, at the state Highway 24 crossing at Turner's Bend. The Forest Service's Redding Campground is midway through this trip. The third major float originates at the Highway 23 bridge and continues eight and a half miles to Milton's Ford on Forest Road 1501, west of state Highway 23. The last float, from Milton's Ford to state Highway 215 north of Mulberry, is an 18-20 mile trip through remote, virtually inaccessible country.

Two top baits favored by local anglers are live night crawlers and small grub-type jigs. Since smallmouth bass are sight feeders, proper bait presentation is a key element in taking fish. Remember that brownies don't hunt for their dinner -- they rest behind a rock or other current break and ambush prey floating past them. You'll take more bass if you cast upstream and allow your bait to float past such areas in as natural a manner as possible.

The best float conditions are at river levels of 2.0 to 4.0. Readings at the scale's lower end are best for fishing. These levels are available by calling the Corps of Engineers' recording at (501) 324-5150; anything beyond 4.5 is dangerous. Visitors should watch weather forecasts closely, because heavy rain can quickly transform the Mulberry into a rampaging torrent.

Much of the Mulberry flows through the Ozark National Forest, but portions pass through private property. Thus, visitors should take care not to trespass. Supplies and overnight accommodations are available in Ozark, 15 miles south of the Highway 23 crossing.

ELEVEN POINT RIVER
The Eleven Point River enters northeast Arkansas from Missouri near the town of Elm Store and courses southward to merge with the Spring River near Old Davidsonville State Park, a distance of about 40 miles. Its name is derived from its 11 principal tributaries.

The upper section in Missouri flows through national forest land and features rock bluffs typical of Ozark float streams. In Arkansas, the land around the stream changes gradually from gentle hills to Mississippi River delta country. The lower Eleven Point's strong points are its cold, clear water, gravel bottom, abundant logs, and loads of smallmouth bass.