Cadron too low to float right now?

[stealthycat]

I've never been on it - is it too low to float right now?

[Jim Krueger]

Yes, the Cadron is too low to float, and has been since probably early June sometime. The Hwy 65 access is where we take out from trips upstream, I haven't been by there in quite a while but I imagine it currently looks like a gravel road with a few pools here and there.
When the rains refill the river once again, I do think you'll really enjoy this stream, just find a group going and they can
show you some of the put-ins and the various fun features along the way! I personally like a level of 3-3.5ft. but many like a level on up to the 5foot range. The USGS gauge to look at online is the one that says Cadron Creek near Guy, Ar. Currently that gauge indicates a level of 0.12ft.

Best Regards
Jim

[Clif]

you be right, Mr Jim! Dry with a big ole D

[Faulkner]

Cadron is finally back up to floating levels intermittenly. Took the short float from Pinnicle Springs to Hwy 65 today, with the guage at Guy showing 3 feet. Until recently, the last time it was floatable, it seems, was back in early April.

[Jim Krueger]

Thanks for the report Faulkner! My own beloved Caddo River was just the pits last year from need of rainfall. I think we only were able to make one decent trip, also in April or March sometime. It looks like the Cadron, and Caddo have been up some this Winter and I will look forward to a better year.

Best Regards
jim

[Clint Rickett]

The Caddo indeed has rebounded nicely.
5.8 on the gauge on Saturday, so a buddy from Memphis and I took off around 1:00 pm from the Narrows to Glenwood. We shared the river with a deer, a couple of mature bald eagles, and even a few nice bass. I didn't realize how much I had missed it.

Clint

[fzburk]

I floated the Cadron today (2/9/13) with a group. We put in at the Highway 65 Bridge and went about ten miles. We took out at a second bridge, although I don't know the name.

It was an easy 1 - 1.5 run, about eight or nine little ripple places. I think I scraped a rock or two along the way in a solo canoe.

[fzburk]

I floated the Cadron today (2/9/13) with a group. We put in at the Highway 65 Bridge and went about ten miles. We took out at a second bridge, although I don't know the name.

It was an easy 1 - 1.5 run, about eight or nine little ripple places. I think I scraped a rock or two along the way in a solo canoe.

[Jim Krueger]

Mark,

Over the years of floating the Cadron, I think I've floated about 27 miles of it length, in various sections. This 10 mile section you went on is just my favorite, it's sometimes a bit long for me but I think it has the most beautiful, and tallest of the bluffs along the way. I floated it once @ about 2.40 ft. and thought another few inches would be good, then the next trip was @ about 3.00 ft. From those experiences, I think I like 2.75 ft. the best for myself.
B.T.W. the bridge that you floated down to is the Hwy 285 bridge. Thanks for the report!

Best Regards
Jim

[Faulkner]

B.T.W. the bridge that you floated down to is the Hwy 285 bridge.

Back when there was a steel bridge there the locals called it the "Boogaloosa" bridge. Some still call it that even after the Highway Department built the new bridge a few years ago.

[Jim Krueger]

I think that's probably the case for a great many bridges and accesses. Here in the Benton area, I float some on the North Fork of the Saline from an access famiously known as 'The Steel Bridge' even though it's been gone for years, replaced with a less-charming concrete one I also float other parts of the Saline
some from various 'old river ford type accesses' that go by more than one name...

Best Regards
Jim

[Faulkner]

We floated the Cadron Sunday Feb 24th when it was at reported 3.7 ft at Guy. We did Pinnicle Springs to Hwy 65 . . . water was great.

Although there are some bald eagles that hang out at a lake behind nearby Guy city hall, we got our first bald eagle sighting on the Cadron on this float. Beautiful sight, it flew right down the creek towards us at treetop height and went right over us.

[stealthycat]

coming back to this ... wife and kids might float this in the morning

[Cadron Boy]

Creek was a blast all last week with creek at optimal surf conditions -- the wave below CCO being a particular fine playhole. For future reference:

Below 1.4 feet -- nah, look elsewhere.

1.4 to 1.7 feet -- you'll get by and have a good time but you're going to hit a few rocks and you're not going to be doing much surfing.

1.8 to 2.2 feet -- respectable, nothing to write home to mom about but you can find a few nice waves to play and have a thoroughly enjoyable time

2.2 to 3.0 feet -- now we're talking, most of the shoals will offer an assortment of eddies and waves to play, generally considered by most to be "just right"...and you'll know it too because Sarah's wave will start looking glassy smooth and the Ledge -- well you might stay there awhile.

3.0 to 4.0 feet -- now I'm excited, this is putting Cadron Creek near its prime for the intermediate paddler who is looking to surf -- Sarah's wave gets a little mean, but there are now so many other offerings....

4.0 to 6.5 feet -- I'm taking off work

Above 6.5 feet -- an acquired taste -- 'tis a river in flood but it offers a lot of thrills especially the pourover at Cathedral Rock.

[conwayfloater68]

I floated the Cadron for the first time yesterday in a canoe. Went from Hwy 65 to Hwy285. Water level was 2.3 which is probably a tad low. Turned out to be a lot more work than I was expecting, lol. I am used to floating the Buffalo.

I wanted to report that there is a flat bottom boat pinned against a very large boulder about 1/3 of the way into the trip. It makes it almost impossible to safely get past in a canoe, we took on water but did not flip. The boat only has 4 inches above the water line but extends 3 or 4 feet to the right of the boulder thus making it very difficult for a canoe. Does anyone know if AGFC or someone would go take care of this if I report it to them?