Little Red River Info needed

[JTarver]

I've got some research to do from the Dam put-in to Cals? Shoals. I'm taking my son up there Friday (tomorrow) to go camping for part or all of the weekend, and could use some info on the length of the run, camping areas, shuttle potential, that sort of thing. I have only been there to visit the hatchery, so I know nothing else about the river aside from that.
Any help is appreciated. We are also going to fish for some Rainbow, or whatever will bite..so any thoughts on a good spot inbetween the dam put in and the shoals I mentioned would be great too.

Thanks,

Joe

[Randy Dodson]

Joe, let me be the first to recommend Roger and Kim for a shuttle. They're close. If they can't do it let me know cause my wife and I can shuttle your rig for you tommorow, we're close enough. I don't remember how many miles it is from JFK campground (the dam) to COW Shoals but it was a day trip for us a few years ago. Don't remember if it was a long day or a short day. The fishin is good all along there. When you get down to Cow Shoals it is a catch and release / artificial lures only area. The best camping around there is at JFK Campground ( the put-in ) but may require advanced reservations this time of year. IF they don't have anything available, call Dam Site campground.

I'm fixin to go to bed so I can work tonight but call my wife on her cell today if you wanna make shuttle arrangements for friday. five 0 one, two 8 one, 3 nine one 6.

[Roger]

Joe, would be glad to help you out in anyway and might even paddle with you if you don't mind. Will be free all weekend.

Home phone is (five oh 1) seven 2 8-thirty-two 13.

Can help you out with camping arrangements if lake and river campgrounds are full.

[Jim Krueger]

After that drive&float up there, don't forget, "Supper at Klasier's Cafe" on the Little Red R. Be sure to order the 'Stuffed Tenderloin'!

Jim Moose

[Roger]

Jim, surely JoeT would prefer a turkeyburger of Kim's rather than a stuffed
!
(photo is not true replica)

[Jim Krueger]

Naw... Joe will be hooked after one Klasier's special And good luck with the Rainbows! Ya Know, whenever I go fishing, and keep some to eat, I really look forward to Steak :) that evening, then the fish at a later date.
Call me different

Ya'll have a nice day!

Jim Moose

[KimL]

Well, Joe, Roger is cooking tonight, but I asked to do dessert. I'm planning on Georgia-style peach cobbler. Let us know your plans and what we can do to help!

[JTarver]

Randy, Roger, Kim, etc. You guys and gals ROCK! Thanks so much for the support this weekend. We are leaving today around 3-4 pm. With all the other stuff I had to do today that's the earliest I can get. I've got all your numbers in my phone, and will give you guys a call when we head out. If for soem reason we don't get to float tonight, we plan on going for sure saturday mornign sometime. We still have alot of packing to do, so I'm gonna get off here and get busy.

Hope to see you guys this weekend,
Joe

[Roger]

Joe, you guys are welcome to have supper with us. Call and if you don't get a human to talk to, leave a message. You going to try and paddle tonight? We'll help in any way we can.

According to news releases and conversations with the CofE, releases start at 8:00 a.m. (4000 CFS) and continue till midnight. Looks like an early start would let you get some low water paddling then ride the surge down.

Here's a link to the gauge at Dewey.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=07076517" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[KimL]

Joe, look here:
http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/canoei ... +Red+River" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See the road that cuts off 110, avoiding Wilburn? It is near where Big Creek is closest to 110/ That's our road. See PM for more details.

We're looking forward to seeing you!

[RandyJ]

Sounds like some good quality time with your son, Joe. I spent the summer of 1980 in Searcy...hottest on record, I think...what, 60-some-odd days over 100? Went up with my coach and we canoed from the dam down to I-don't-know-where. I just remember that the cold water created an awesome blanket of cool air on top of the water that day. It was heavenly. Got into a rowdy thunderstorm and pulled over at Lobo Landing for a bit to let the lightning pass. Not sure we were any safer on a mostly-metal dock, but got to see the BIG pet trout fishies there - amazing. Good memory.

Enjoy!

[RandyJ]

Joe, look here:
http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/canoei ... +Red+River" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See the road that cuts off 110, avoiding Wilburn? It is near where Big Creek is closest to 110/ That's our road. See PM for more details.

We're looking forward to seeing you!

Ha - the "Wilburn Bypass." You must live close to Hiram Bluff. Cool spot. Have always wanted to float that section of creek down to the iron bridge (prolly not an iron bridge anymore, I'm guessing). Tried once but went to the wrong put-in. Turned into an adventure. :shock: Is it worth the effort?

[Roger]

Randy, been living here for almost four years now and have never done it. Been up but circumstances never allowed it. Not much in the way of whitewater though you can see and hear stuff from atop the bluff when it runs. People say its the scenery that makes it nice.

Word is lots of cottonmouths during the right times. Probably need to be a real late fall or winter trip. Think the iron bridge is gone with a new county one in its place.

[Randy Dodson]

Randy, been living here for almost four years now and have never done it. Been up but circumstances never allowed it. Not much in the way of whitewater though you can see and hear stuff from atop the bluff when it runs. People say its the scenery that makes it nice.

Word is lots of cottonmouths during the right times. Probably need to be a real late fall or winter trip. Think the iron bridge is gone with a new county one in its place.

All true.

I did it in March one time. A little whitewater (class I and easy easy II) but mostly just awesome scenery, gorgeous bluffs, set in an area with very little human presence. But it's a long run. And yes the old Iron bridge was replaced well over a decade ago.

[MStrobel]

How can you find out when they will be releasing from the dam? Can you paddle it all the way even if they are not releasing?