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Buffalo River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

America’s first national river: the Buffalo runs smallmouth and bluffs through the Arkansas Ozarks.

3/5
Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.
Flow
43 cfs
Air / High
99 / 100 F
Wind
SE 7 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 07056000, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Buffalo River sits in the sweet spot of the season: active fish and workable weather. The river is running 43 cfs, dropping and clearing. Today brings clear skies, wind SE around 7 mph, steady pressure near 1013 hPa and a high of 100. Water sits around 73 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

MuskellungeExcellent

Bucktails and rubber over cabbage and rock bars; moon majors matter here more than anywhere.

Smallmouth bassGood

Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

WalleyeGood

Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

Catfish (blue, channel)Good

Drift cut bait across flats near the river channel, or anchor on ledges at dusk.

Tomorrow: Similar at 103 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Buffalo River near St. Joe.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 07056000.

9218327543 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp99 F
High / Low100 / 72 F
WindSE 7-9 mph
Pressure1012.6 hPa, steady
Sky / Rain21% cloud, 2%
Sunrise / Sunset06:45 / 19:34
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~73 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Partly cloudy, 100/72 F, wind 9 mph, rain 2%

Slow. 100 F: be on the water at dawn and off by mid-morning, or fish after dark.

Species guide

The species that matter on Buffalo River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Smallmouth bass illustration

Smallmouth bass

Best: May-Oct

Current and rock. Finds gravel flats, boulders and drop-offs, and fights far above its weight. Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Walleye illustration

Walleye

Best: May-Jun, Oct

The glass-eyed prize of northern lakes. Low light, wind-blown structure and live bait. Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

Muskellunge illustration

Muskellunge

Best: Sep-Nov

The fish of ten thousand casts. Weed edges, rock bars and big-water structure. Bucktails and rubber over cabbage and rock bars; moon majors matter here more than anywhere.

Catfish (blue, channel) illustration

Catfish (blue, channel)

Good year-round

The most reliable bite on most southern waters. Blues run big; channels fill the cooler. Drift cut bait across flats near the river channel, or anchor on ledges at dusk.

When to come: the Buffalo River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Muskellunge
Catfish (blue, channel)
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 73 F (estimated, not a reading).

4050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~73 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Buffalo River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 97 F, wind to 10 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 98 F, wind to 10 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 99 F, wind to 8 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
Only used to send you this water's report each week. No spam, ever.

Before you go

License

Arkansas requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Arkansas license. Smallmouth and other limits per current AGFC regulations; national park rules apply to camping and access.

Access

National Park Service accesses at Ponca, Kyles Landing, Jasper, Gilbert and Buffalo Point; outfitter shuttles.

About this water

A 153-mile undammed river through the Arkansas Ozarks to the White River: America’s first national river.

Fishing Buffalo River: the full guide

The first national river

The Buffalo River flows 153 miles through the Arkansas Ozarks to the White River, designated in 1972 as America’s first national river: undammed, protected and running clear beneath limestone bluffs that rise 500 feet. Smallmouth bass are the primary sport fish, joined by largemouth, rock bass (goggle-eye), catfish and sunfish in a river valued as much for its scenery as its fishing.

Smallmouth on the gravel

The smallmouth fishery is classic Ozark: bluff pools, gravel bars, current seams and wood, worked with tubes, small crankbaits, spinners and topwater. Fish average modest with better ones in the deeper holes. Floating is the standard approach, and the clear water lets anglers see fish and structure, which changes how the river is fished.

Flows and the season

The Buffalo is undammed and entirely rain-fed: the upper river is floatable only after rain in spring, while the lower river holds water through summer. Late summer can leave the upper reaches too low to float, concentrating fish in the remaining pools. Check current levels before planning, as conditions change fast.

National park logistics

National Park Service accesses serve the river throughout, with outfitters at Ponca, Jasper, Gilbert and Buffalo Point providing canoes and shuttles. Camping is available at park sites and gravel bars. The river draws heavy recreational float traffic in summer: fish early, weekdays, or the less popular lower reaches.

Common questions

When can I float the upper river?

Spring and after rain: the upper Buffalo is rain-dependent and often too low by late summer.

What is a goggle-eye?

Rock bass: abundant in the Buffalo and a favorite on light tackle alongside the smallmouth.

Is it crowded?

In summer on the popular reaches, yes: it is a national park unit. Weekdays and the lower river are quieter.

Is fishing good at Buffalo River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Nearby waters

Bull Shoals Lake38 miNorfork Lake38 miGreers Ferry Lake43 miLittle Red River53 miLake Taneycomo55 miLake Dardanelle56 mi
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