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Kings River offers anglers isolated
beauty and plenty of smallmouths
beauty and plenty of smallmouths
TOP: Butch Berry shows off a smallmouth bass he pulled from the
Kings River near Eureka Springs, Ark. The river can produce
smallmouth bass exceeding 6 pounds. BOTTOM: Daniel Felsher
and Butch Berry float the Kings River as they cast for smallmouths,
Ozark bass, rock bass and assorted panfish.
Kings River near Eureka Springs, Ark. The river can produce
smallmouth bass exceeding 6 pounds. BOTTOM: Daniel Felsher
and Butch Berry float the Kings River as they cast for smallmouths,
Ozark bass, rock bass and assorted panfish.
Often overshadowed by the nearby Buffalo River, the Kings River
offers its own isolated beauty as it cuts a path through the Ozark Mountains
of northwestern Arkansas.
Near its origin, the Kings River cascades over a waterfall in the Kings
River Falls Natural Area of the Boston Mountains and flows northward
about 90 miles to Table Rock Lake on the Arkansas-Missouri line. Along
the way, the stream winds through rocky bluffs and narrow gorges slicing
through steep, forested mountains covered in hardwoods, magnolias,
willows, ferns and wild azaleas.
“The upper part of the Kings River is very similar to the Buffalo River
with the scenery and the bluffs,” said Robert “Butch” Berry, an architect and
avid canoeist from Eureka Springs, Ark. “Most people know about the
Buffalo River, but the Kings River is not as well known. Not many people
float it. If I see two or three canoes on the river, that’s pretty busy.”
Indeed, on an 8-hour float from U.S. 62 about five miles east of Eureka
Springs to the Grandview Bridge about six miles downstream, we saw no
one. We did see marvelous bluffs, scenic forests, gravel bars and several
long, deep pools full of smallmouth bass, Ozark bass, rock bass and
various panfish.
“The portion from the U.S. 62 bridge to Grandview Bridge is a good,
one-day float trip,” Berry said. “If someone wanted to float the entire river,
it would take about five or six days to reach Table Rock Lake. I also like to
put in at Marble off Highway 412, but that’s really a two-day float.”
Butch and my son, Daniel, partnered for the first half of our adventure.
Steven, my other son, joined me in the second canoe. After enjoying lunch
on a sandbar halfway down our section of river, we switched partners for
the remainder of the trip.
Armed with fly rods and ultralight spinning tackle, we drifted the river on
a cool, rainy day. Catching nothing huge, we boated enough smallmouth
bass, to make the day interesting as we enjoyed the spectacular scenery.
The river can produce smallies in the 4- to 6-pound range, but most
brownies average about 1 pound. We also caught assorted rock bass and
other diminutive species on small Rebel Crickhoppers, crawfish crankbaits,
tiny pumpkinseed soft plastic jigs or floating and suspending Rapalas.
“We usually catch quite a few smallmouths on the river,” Berry said.
“Most are small, but on a good day, people can usually catch two or three
good fish, maybe up to 4 pounds. Even a 1-pound smallmouth on ultralight
tackle can put up a lot of fight.”
Contrary to my instincts for catching largemouth bass, I preferred to
fish the placid pools. However, smallmouths like current, Berry explained.
Occasionally, rocks and shoals restrict the river, increasing the current
through that stretch. Instead of avoiding those places, Berry suggested
fishing them since smallies wait in the current for food to wash toward them.
“Smallmouths hang in the current facing upstream,” Berry said. “Rocky
riffles restrict the river and make the current go faster. These shallow riffles
are usually a good place to catch smallmouths. As we go down through the
riffles, pull off into the eddies and fish back up the current. Throw the baits
upstream and drift them downstream.”
On any canoe trip, pack light, but tie everything down. If a canoe turns
sideways or rides over a rock, it can easily capsize even the most
experienced paddlers. Keep precious objects, such as cameras, wallets,
keys, etc., in watertight bags secured to the boat. Simple zip-locking plastic
bags work great to keep objects dry.
People might also consider bringing an extra fishing rod or two.
Anglers can easily lose or break a rod if they overturn. Also, when gliding
down swift water, rods can sometimes catch on rocks or overhanging
branches and break. Always keep spare rods completely inside the canoe
so they won’t snag branches or get pinched between the boat and rocks.
“The river is pretty easy to float,” Berry said. “It’s not a white-water
river, but it has some rocks, fallen trees, riffles and a few dangerous
bends. A novice canoeist can float anywhere on the river and have a good
time. If they do dump over, the water is usually warm in the summer and
not too uncomfortable.”
For area information or assistance with planning a trip, call the Eureka
Springs Eureka Springs Advertising and Promotions Commission at (866) 1-
866-566-9387 or (866) WISH EUREKA. On line, see eurekasprings.org.
offers its own isolated beauty as it cuts a path through the Ozark Mountains
of northwestern Arkansas.
Near its origin, the Kings River cascades over a waterfall in the Kings
River Falls Natural Area of the Boston Mountains and flows northward
about 90 miles to Table Rock Lake on the Arkansas-Missouri line. Along
the way, the stream winds through rocky bluffs and narrow gorges slicing
through steep, forested mountains covered in hardwoods, magnolias,
willows, ferns and wild azaleas.
“The upper part of the Kings River is very similar to the Buffalo River
with the scenery and the bluffs,” said Robert “Butch” Berry, an architect and
avid canoeist from Eureka Springs, Ark. “Most people know about the
Buffalo River, but the Kings River is not as well known. Not many people
float it. If I see two or three canoes on the river, that’s pretty busy.”
Indeed, on an 8-hour float from U.S. 62 about five miles east of Eureka
Springs to the Grandview Bridge about six miles downstream, we saw no
one. We did see marvelous bluffs, scenic forests, gravel bars and several
long, deep pools full of smallmouth bass, Ozark bass, rock bass and
various panfish.
“The portion from the U.S. 62 bridge to Grandview Bridge is a good,
one-day float trip,” Berry said. “If someone wanted to float the entire river,
it would take about five or six days to reach Table Rock Lake. I also like to
put in at Marble off Highway 412, but that’s really a two-day float.”
Butch and my son, Daniel, partnered for the first half of our adventure.
Steven, my other son, joined me in the second canoe. After enjoying lunch
on a sandbar halfway down our section of river, we switched partners for
the remainder of the trip.
Armed with fly rods and ultralight spinning tackle, we drifted the river on
a cool, rainy day. Catching nothing huge, we boated enough smallmouth
bass, to make the day interesting as we enjoyed the spectacular scenery.
The river can produce smallies in the 4- to 6-pound range, but most
brownies average about 1 pound. We also caught assorted rock bass and
other diminutive species on small Rebel Crickhoppers, crawfish crankbaits,
tiny pumpkinseed soft plastic jigs or floating and suspending Rapalas.
“We usually catch quite a few smallmouths on the river,” Berry said.
“Most are small, but on a good day, people can usually catch two or three
good fish, maybe up to 4 pounds. Even a 1-pound smallmouth on ultralight
tackle can put up a lot of fight.”
Contrary to my instincts for catching largemouth bass, I preferred to
fish the placid pools. However, smallmouths like current, Berry explained.
Occasionally, rocks and shoals restrict the river, increasing the current
through that stretch. Instead of avoiding those places, Berry suggested
fishing them since smallies wait in the current for food to wash toward them.
“Smallmouths hang in the current facing upstream,” Berry said. “Rocky
riffles restrict the river and make the current go faster. These shallow riffles
are usually a good place to catch smallmouths. As we go down through the
riffles, pull off into the eddies and fish back up the current. Throw the baits
upstream and drift them downstream.”
On any canoe trip, pack light, but tie everything down. If a canoe turns
sideways or rides over a rock, it can easily capsize even the most
experienced paddlers. Keep precious objects, such as cameras, wallets,
keys, etc., in watertight bags secured to the boat. Simple zip-locking plastic
bags work great to keep objects dry.
People might also consider bringing an extra fishing rod or two.
Anglers can easily lose or break a rod if they overturn. Also, when gliding
down swift water, rods can sometimes catch on rocks or overhanging
branches and break. Always keep spare rods completely inside the canoe
so they won’t snag branches or get pinched between the boat and rocks.
“The river is pretty easy to float,” Berry said. “It’s not a white-water
river, but it has some rocks, fallen trees, riffles and a few dangerous
bends. A novice canoeist can float anywhere on the river and have a good
time. If they do dump over, the water is usually warm in the summer and
not too uncomfortable.”
For area information or assistance with planning a trip, call the Eureka
Springs Eureka Springs Advertising and Promotions Commission at (866) 1-
866-566-9387 or (866) WISH EUREKA. On line, see eurekasprings.org.
