FROG BAYOU

[birdypop]

Some questions
anyone floated bayou?
could a newbie do it?
got a legit website to check river levels?
gracias :)

[prophet]

it gets floated all the time. Cl II at normal levels.

http://www.ozarkpages.com/cgi-bin/stages.pl?ST=level

[birdypop]

"it gets floated all the time" .... appreciate it
I meant for someone to give details about their experience running it.

Thanks for the other info.

[prophet]

if you click on the creek name, it gives a good description of the run(s).

its more narrow than the mulberry but about the same difficulty if that helps

[birdypop]

Awesome that does help. thanks!

[Cowper]

I typed this out before Prophet answered, but the message board was unavailable for a short time this morning so I just saved it. So there is some overlap; skip those parts

1) Yes, many who post on this board have. I don't get up that way very often, so if you have more detailed questions I leave that to others with more current information.
2) Short answer, no, not really the best place for a newbie, but it depends on the newbie, the water level, the equipment, and especially, the company. It was the first river I did that was harder than the Buffalo, so I really was a newbie. But I was a newbie who had been floating the Buffalo for years, taken some Red Cross canoeing courses so I knew some strokes like J stroke, pry, cross-bow draw, draw, sweeps. Was still in college (read: young) and in good shape at the time. And had been reading all about how to handle boats in whitewater in a now ancient American Whitewater pamphlet. We had a blast, but also immediately wanted to know where the "next harder" thing was to try.
3) http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ---> River info ----> Ozark Creek Summary -----> Ozark Creek Information Summary

[panicman]

I was a newbie in my kayak on it. Learned to roll in my pool by myself looking at pictures. Thought I had it down and did a practice roll right above the 1st long rapid. Failed on my roll attempts. Tucked my spray skirt strap under my deck. Almost drowned getting my skirt off. Swam along way. Great way to initiate someone on the force of moving water.

[GN YAKN]

Frogger is great.

Found a video on youtubes that has a great helmet cam perspective of the creek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNoziBPfqck

Disclaimer: "WEAR A PFD!!!"

Great 1st person rope swing footage at the end. Also, last shot of a rapid is of one of the 'scary' spots on the river. Videographer just about rammed a large bolder pile that it is possible to get stuck in!

This is another good perspective: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0cuyXVz56I

Beautiful stream and close by for the Crawford Counth region!

Dave

[birdypop]

Sweet, that video just made my decision for me. I'm down
If in a week my bravery follows through on a bayou run, I'll post a video!

Thanks everyone for the info.

[okieboater]

For what it is worth, the Frog has been one of my favorite easy to get to AR training runs. Back in my squirt boating days, it was a favorite with plenty of excellent play spots. A bunch of good training rapids as well plus a ton of spots to practice eddy turns and ferry moves.

Most of the rapids are pretty straight forward for the average class 2 WW boater and can be easily scouted for first timers (which I recommend). Hopefully, you will have a bud along for backup and hopefully that bud has been down the Frog before your trip. The Frog does have some private holdings to be avoided but is a semi wilderness run in spots so having a couple of river buds along is highly recommended.

The rapid that I think gives most first timers a bit of a problem is towards the end of the run where the creek runs into a pretty high bluff river right and makes a sharp left turn. Depending on river level that move can get big time pushy. There is a big gravel bar on river left (looks like the video was filmed from it) that is a good scouting option. Highly recommended scout for first timers.

On weekend when the Frog is runnable, there is a good chance to hook up with others at the take out bridge. So, get there early if you want to take a chance on that.

Be careful on parking at the put in bridge. The land owner has not wanted boaters to park in the flat area in front of the gate. This might have changed been a while since I ran the Frog. We parked off the pavement under the bridge. That land owner on the east side of the bridge also did not want folks blocking his drive way entry either. Many of us park just up the hill at a wide spot and walk down. In any event, this is a fun run. Be sure and post your run here.

[Owl]

The only problem with Frog Bayou is that it doesn't come up all that often nor stay floatable for many days after it comes up. Enjoy it when you can.

[prophet]

Sweet, that video just made my decision for me. I'm down
If in a week my bravery follows through on a bayou run, I'll post a video!

Thanks everyone for the info.

I hope you know something!

[adamm]

Sweet, that video just made my decision for me. I'm down
If in a week my bravery follows through on a bayou run, I'll post a video!

Thanks everyone for the info.

I hope you know something!

Hope you know something the rest of us dont know. As was stated earlier it is a very rain dependent creek and the level is too low to float right now.

[Moniker]

Watching the vids made me homesick(and a little horny for some that action).

[OzarkTom]

FYI- the large rock that Dave referred to that requires a sharp left turn to avoid is deeply undercut and has a seive under it. If you were to wind up in it you might have a pretty bad day. If you aren't feeling 100% about your boat control/roll you might really want to consider grinding the left side around the corner..

Aside from that you can't go wrong! It is a really nice run and access couldn't be easier.