On the lower river, below Dalton, are near-vertical banks of sand and gravel rising more than 10 feet high. These banks are often undercut and cave in, taking trees and undergrowth that clog the stream with brush, logs, stumps and roots. In some place the channel is completely blocked to floaters, but the in-washed cover provides a haven for outsized brownies.

In addition to trees and brush, five old stone dams require special consideration by the floater. Because of these obstructions, only experienced and careful canoeists should attempt the part of the river below Dalton, and then only at low to medium stages. Above Dalton, the river is comparatively safe for novices at low to medium levels. When the river is near bank-full, it shouldn't be tackled by anyone.

There are plenty of smallmouths in the Eleven Point, and while an occasional 3- or 4-pounder is caught, most will weigh 1 to 2 pounds. Even so, the number of brownies is exceptional, and it's not unheard of to haul in a pair of smallmouths on a single crankbait.

When the water is clear, shallow-diving slim-minnow plugs on 6-pound-test line are recommended. On those rare occasions when rains give the water some turbidity, large spinners and crankbaits also are good producers.

Access to the Eleven Point is available at five bridge sites. The first float, from Missouri Highway 142 to the state Highway 193 bridge at Dalton, covers 15.4 miles. It's nine miles from Dalton to the Highway 90 access, and 11 miles farther to the U.S. Highway 62 takeout area. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission maintains a public landing on the Black River just below the junction with the Spring River, and four and a half miles below the end of the Eleven Point at Spring River. This last ramp is 14 miles below the U.S. 62 access.

CADDO RIVER
Caddo River smallmouths are fat and spunky. They average a pound or so in weight, but on a good trip you may catch and release dozens, including, perhaps, some 3- to 5-pounders.

The Caddo flows near or through the Ouachita Mountain communities of Black Springs, Norman, Caddo Gap, Glenwood and Amity. The stream is floatable above Norman, but only after extended rainfall. The eight-mile float from Norman to Caddo Gap rarely holds enough water for a summer float, but winter rains usually keep levels high enough for a January smallmouth trip.

The most popular Caddo River float is the six-mile journey from Caddo Gap to Glenwood. This stretch has small rapids, long gravel bars and plenty of good bass fishing in boulder beds and treetops. The float from Glenwood to Amity features long pools and less intense rapids, but it, too, provides outstanding smallmouth fishing. Traditional put-in and take-out points along the river include: the bridge immediately west of Norman; the launching area beside state Highway 8 at Glenwood; the old low-water bridge on state Highway 182 north of Amity; and the state Highway 84 bridge, northeast of Amity.

Bait choices run the gamut from live crayfish to willow-leaf spinnerbaits. Try to be on the river at daybreak, as peak smallmouth activity is usually during the day's first couple of hours. And as you're fishing, remember that winter smallmouths rarely hit with a jarring strike; instead, they tend to grab the lure and run with it. You may not even know one's on until you see your line moving, so you must really pay attention to what's happening.