Caddo River Trip on Saturday(trip B)

[Jim Krueger]

I'm calling this trip B because both Louis and I are leading Caddo trips tomorrow.
With a pretty decent level, I plan to paddle from the Game&Fish Access Ramp at Glenwood down to the Game&Fish Access Ramp off Hwy 182 at Amity. With the hot day forecast, there will be lots of swimming opportunities and quite a few shady areas. Interested parties welcome, bring lunch and plenty of cold drinks. I would like to meet at the Glenwood G&F ramp about 10 am to unload equipment then run shuttle vehicles down to Amity.


Best Regards
Jim

[Louiscov]

Jim:

This sounds like a nice alternative to my plan. I'd like to join you at the Game & Fish ramp at 10:00.

I had hoped y'all would be paddling the Caddo or Dragover a Saturday in June and had kept those dates free from any bicycling or swimming events just so I could go. Been too long since I got to paddle with y'all, so see you Saturday at 10:00, just me so far.

Louis c

[Wildwood]

Where is the G&F put-in? I hope to be there.
Jan

[Jim Krueger]

This sounds just great Louis, I'm sorry we can't make it any earlier than 10 due to the heat, but I know we'll have a nice day, and in relative solitude compared to the upper section. Ron did advise me earlier in the week that there is the potential of an area or two with strainers but I feel confident we shouldn't have any problems, with just a little scouting as we paddle.

Jan, since I think you will be coming into Glenwood on Hwy 70 from Hot Springs, here are the directions; As you near Glenwood, you'll pass a nice rest area on the right about half a mile from town, then as you get into Glenwood, you'll pass a small shopping center on the left, then the Fish Nest restaurant, then you'll see the brown G&F sign directing you to turn left down a short road through the cemetery to the access. If you cross the railroad track, or make it all the way to the river on Hwy 70, you've gone too far, turn around. Hope this helps.

We'll look forward to seeing you all there!
I sometimes have pretty spotty cell coverage in Western Ark. with my AT&T service but my number is 501and8608323


Best Regards
Jim

[Wildwood]

Thanks, Jim. That sounds easy enough to find. See y'all there.
Jan
5oh 12 one5 3four 3six is my cell.

[WM]

Jim,
I might just dust off the vagabond and join you, been awhile since i've been on the Caddo
anyone want to carpool from Conway?

Wayne
five o one seven 4 9 three six 24

[Karla]

Gary and I may be coming. Will check with him tonight. Usual 0830 for breakfast? Looks like the level has stayed up nicely this week. What do you think it will be in the am and going downstream below Glenwood shouldn't that be more water with the level it is now?

Karla

[Jim Krueger]

Wayne, We'd be real pleased to see you tomorrow! Gary and Karla too! Marlo and I will do our best to arrive at the Glenwood access at 10 am. I'm looking forward to seeing you all, and I just know it will be a nice day. Perhaps the last weekend for the Caddo this year.


Best Regards
Jim

[Minna Ulmer]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Got to work though . Yall have a great trip. Minna

[Karla]

Jim, Gary and I will see you at 0830 at your house if that is correct time or if you need us sooner, then off to breakfast I assume.

Karla

[Minna Ulmer]

How was that part of the Caddo? Havent done it yet. Did you choose it cause upper was low? Looking forward to next weekend.Will be at Riverside Thurs. pm. Minna

[Jim Krueger]

The Caddo trip was just a lot of fun! What a hot day, but the numerous swim stops the eight of us made kept us all in good spirits. I sure like this trip for it's scenic beauty, I also choose it because the river is getting a bit low for the Caddo Gap and above runs, and because I figured there would many people on the upper run. For almost the entire nine mile trip yesterday, we didn't see another person... until about a mile or so before the end when we passed a man and lady in a canoe fishing. Sorry I'm not savvy enough to post picture here, I took about 80 yesterday, got some pretty humorous ones at that.
Yesterdays level to start was about 6.18 ft. which was fine, it's doable down to about 5.50 ft. but that will probably be exceeded shorthy due to no rain and hot weather in the forecast. Until the outfitters have a chance to address it, there is quite a log jam 200 yards below the put-in but I'm pleased to say that was it for the rest of the trip was fine. You can certainly see the flood damage but maybe not quite as noticeable on this section as the flood plain widens. Yesterday would have been just a fine day to be fishing this section but it's too long and hot to fish it all.
One of the more enjoyable sights yesterday was seeing all the girls in our party sitting in some spring-fed pools beside the river :)


Best Regards
Jim Moose

[Karla]

Was a great day to be able to paddle late in June. So enjoyed it. The cool springs just off the main channel were nice that was found. Would never have thought to find something like that. Hope for more rain for the rest of the summer (I can wish can't I?).

Karla

[Louiscov]

Minna:

I enjoyed this part of the Caddo (Glenwood - Amity) on this first trip down it A LOT!!

My impression at this level is it had a nice consistent flow and shorter pools. There are not as many rapids (rocky chutes, ledges, rock gardens) but there seemed to be narrower chutes and acute angle turns with trees and strainers to avoid, and an abundance of eddies to work on. Upper run probably has bigger, longer wave trains, Glenwood - Amity more remote (no railroads, industrial sights and sounds, very few houses and camps). To me this lower section at this level required more boat control and river reading in particular. For that reason I'd be much more apprehensive leading my annual Sunday School 7 - 8 graders paddling trip on this section than Narrows to Glenwood. I'd prefer this section for myself, though. The overall nature and appearance of the river valley strikes me as wider, maybe more like the mid-Buffalo, but this part of the Caddo did have its shaded portions overhung with trees, too.

We all experience and prefer rivers and rivers features in our own way so get other opinions. Narrows - Glenwood might be more "sporty", Glenwood - Amity more skill. I will be choosing this section a lot in the future and am grateful to Jim and the others for introducing it to me. My paddling world has been enhanced and expanded!!!

For what it's worth, Louis

[Minna Ulmer]

Thank you Jim and Louis for the nice detailed report.Now I am really looking forward to doing this section! Minna