Tubing

[Gordon Kumpuris]

I have a friend who just bought some big black truck innertubes and wants to tube with his kids this summer. I told him that he might want to go to Rockport and just play around in the waves there. How long would it take to tube from the dam to Rockport. I'm thinking that could be really long day?? Any of you gals or fellas ever done that? Also anyone know about the Caddo River below the Lake Degray spillway? I'm told it is a good tubing stream?? Anyone have any info on this section of water? Is there any kind of release schedule?? Length? Put in, take out??

[Heath]

gordon the best tubeing river around is the LMF, in OK. might be to far of a drive for them but. by far the best ive seen, around this area. always enough water to tube, and the water is always cold.

later Heath

[Jim Krueger]

Gordon,

We have been paddling the Remmel Dam to Ledge float a lot here lately and almost every time there have either been tuber/air mattress floaters putting in when we do or seeing them along the way. While it takes us about 2/12 -3hours goofing around in kayaks and canoes. I'm going to say it takes the tubers about 1-2 hours longer.
As far as the Lower Caddo near Arkadelphia, the trip is 2 miles and while they don't often generate on the weekends, it's varies widely. If they do generate on a weekend day, it's usually 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Regardless of the generation, they do release a minimum flow of about 200cfs constantly which keeps all of the dozen or so riffles along the way running.
It's probably a 2-3 hour float. In addition, the outfitter is Rick Brumley who runs 'Two Rivers Tube&Canoe'. They can provide shuttle if needed for a modest charge. 8-5 Sat. 12:30-5 Sun.

Best Regards
Jim

[GN YAKN]

Only comment I would add for tubing on the Ouchita below Remmel is that the water is cold and even with the warm summer temps, you could get a mild case of hypothermia if you stayed in that cold water for a couple of hours. It would at least be uncomfortable for small children over the course of a couple of hours.

OK, one other comment. It is a long paddle through the pools on that section of river above Rockport. Floating in a tube could take 4 hours or so without a paddle.

My 2 cents worth.

Dave

[Lifejacket]

To add to Jim's comment on the Caddo there is a $5 charge for parking on weekends at the take out.

[Jim Krueger]

Gordon,

You asked about the accesses on that lower Caddo trip, the put-in is at the ramp in the 'Lower Dam Use Area' at the end of Lower Dam Pike. The take-out is just before, or at the U.S. Hwy. 67 bridge in Caddo Valley, Arkansas. The parking fee certainly helps my friend pay his employees to keep the area clean, but since most all of you reading this are conscientious and don't litter, you might consider parking quite further away and save that fee since I know you don't contribute to the problem...

Best Regards
Jim

[pacorollo]

Jim, I've got to go to Hot Springs tomorrow and depending on when I get done, I might join up with you guys if it's ok. I'm guessing you're planning on being at Remmel at 12:30? Paco aka Frank Roland

[Jim Krueger]

That would be just great Frank! I sure enjoyed meeting you on the Cadron earlier! If you can come along, please bank on riding up with us and just floating back to your rig. Looking forward to seeing you again!

Jim

[suckhole]

I used to tube the spring river all the time before I got into kayaking. Actually bought my first boat on that river. The old New Wave Mongoose that willy billiams loves so much.:) It is a great river to learn but if you have kids, avoid the three day weekends. Much too wild. But the trip from the dam to Riverside is about an hour and a half. Riverside to spring river oaks is about 6-8 hours,depending on how much time you kill. If you can arrange your shuttles the trip from the visitor center to dam three is cool. Nobody does it much as no outfitters cover that section. Even on the busy times this would be a Not-so-drunken-naked trip.About 1 hr long and excellent trout fishing. Avoid Many Islands. It is my constitutionally protected opinion that Many Island sucks butt. Riverside Resort is friendly and clean. They push the riff-raff to Many Islands.

[Tmuse]

You can put in above the ledge at the nice big gravel bar at the end of the sidewalk and float to the boat ramp or keep going to the Tanner st. bridge. just a thought.