New to Northeast Arkansas

[fzburk]

Hi,

I just moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas.

I'm looking for people or groups to paddle with. I've got two sea kayaks right now, but will be purchasing a moderate whitewater canoe along with some whitewater kayaks.

Any suggestions on places to paddle, groups to meet, or festivities going on would be appreciated.

I'm ACA Level 5 certified sea kayak instructor.

If anyone has access to a pool and wants to learn to roll a kayak, let me know.

Thanks.

Mark

[Cowper]

The next "event" would be either joining the Poke Bayou clean up next Saturday over in Batesville, and/or the Sunday float on Maddox Bay. You'll see more details on that one posted in about a day or two.

Poke Bayou is an urban stream so that may not be your cup of tea, but it is a good cause and you could probably meet at least a couple of the folks you might want to be paddling with later. It's about an hour and a half from Jonesboro.

[Deuce]

Welcome Mark. Jonesboogie, Rockansaw, huh? I spent the bulk of my childhood there. Nice town, but it sure looks different now than it did in 1980-something. I second Cowper's suggestion that you join us on Saturday (deets are in the thread directly above this one), but as to your question, the Spring River is always floatable and is a hop skip and jump from Jtown. It's a fun float and the fishing is great (trout, smallmouth, walleye, et al). Between June and August it's clogged with river dorks (that situation can be entertaining), but the rest of the year it's primo, and there's plenty of lodging and access. There's also the South Fork, which is actually part of the Spring but is characteristically different. If you want still deep water for your long yak Lakes Norfork and Greers Ferry are close and gorgeous. There's also the Little Red River, which is a class I (mostly) trout fishing river that's easily accessed in several places. There's plenty of lodging there too, and many people make a weekend of that trip. There are other spectacular places to paddle in the Natural State, but the aforementioned are all an hour and a half or so from you. Come to Poke Bayou on Saturday and I'll tell you more.

[AR-Nimrod]

Welcome Mark,

You've found the right place to hook up with other paddlers in AR.

Duece,

I can't believe you left off mentioning the Buffalo RIver. A good bit of the lower/mid sections could be paddled in sea yaks. And the scenery is spectacular.

[Deuce]

There are other spectacular places to paddle in the Natural State, but the aforementioned are all an hour and a half or so from you. Come to Poke Bayou on Saturday and I'll tell you more.

[Wildwood]

I'm still hanging out on Spring River at Hardy, will be here til Dec. 1st. Nearly all outfitters are closed for the season but floating is still fair. There's a 14 mile float that ends near my place. I have a riverbank lot for camping, near Hardy. You'll find lots of paddling friends on this site. Welcome to the club!

[flow]

Welcome Mark,

There are also three very nice class 1 rivers in and around Eminence Missouri an hour and a half north of the Spring. Eleven Point, Current, and Jacks Fork. Don't overlook the Mississippi River if you like big water. I floated a 19 mile section with a group from Shreveport this past summer and had a blast on it! The Barge traffic is not a problem as you have a half mile and up to GET OUT OF OUR WAY!!! They have some REALLY loud horns on those things!

Phil

[seark]

I'm in LIttle Rock now but hale from Northeast Arkansas and mostly paddle rec and touring kayaks. I like paddling the wildlife refuges - Wappanocca, Big Lake, St. Francis Sunkenlands. Craighead Forest Lake and Lake Frierson are good for quick workouts. Bayou DeView off Hwy 49, north of I-40 is an awesome wildlife watching experience. There are a a fair number of racing/distance paddlers in the Memphis area paddling the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers. The Mississippi River is an awesome experience. The Quapaw Canoe Company out of Clarksdale, MS and Helena, AR promote paddling from the mouth of the St. Francis to Helena Harbor. I've enjoyed several sections of the Mississippi, Arkansas and the lower White Rivers which are all much more fun in a sea kayak than a short boat, although a rec or crossover boat is really great for navigating timbered lakes and bayous. The closest thing to a coastal paddling type experience in this landlocked state is Lake Ouachita. Its a 3.5 hour drive from Jonesboro but worth the drive for a sea kayaker. You can primitive camp on the islands in this 40,000 acre lake and make a multi-day trip of it. The wind often kicks up white caps and I've even experienced about 2 foot waves. The geology and wildlife are fascinating. There are other large, beautiful Corps of Engineer lakes closer to Jonesboro, but they don't have the islands that Ouachita has.