New member seeking information on recreational floats.

[MikkiW]

I am a new member to ACC and am very interested in joining in on floats in the Monroe, Prairie and Arkansas Co. areas. I have my own kayak and would like to know what floats you might be planning for the upcoming months. Has anyone floated East Lake Bayou from Clarendon to East Lake or Bayou Meto out of Humphrey or Stuttgart. These are two really pretty areas. Please contact me at jwhite015@centurytel.net

[DeBo]

We have done numerous trips in the areas you mentioned and others. Last Fall I posted a list of trips in several Big Woods areas including Wattensaw and Bayou DeView.

I will be putting together an agenda of trips for this Spring. East Lake will be on the list and I would also like to add a trip to Bayou Meto in the area that you mentioned. I will also have at least one overnight trip.

Keep an eye on this forum for the Spring list plus any impromtu trips we may post before then. All are welcome.

Debbie Doss

[MikkiW]

Debbie,
Thank you for your response. I look forward to meeting all of you soon and I will be watching for postings on upcoming trips. Mikki

[Cowper]

Has anyone floated East Lake Bayou from Clarendon to East Lake or Bayou Meto out of Humphrey or Stuttgart.

Bayou Meto - not yet, but high on our "to do" list. I have some duck hunter friends who speak highly of the area; but I'll at least wait until past duck season (maybe another week or two?) before I head over there to explore.

East Lake Bayou from Clarendon to East Lake - Yes. Probably most interesting if you have high water, like what they have right now. Some moving water experience is advised; we had to paddle fast current through the trees in a couple of places, had to deal with places where the current went under log jams, and got in after sunset. The GPS also got a real workout that day; with multiple channel-choices you would have some potential for not being on the channel that goes past the take-out. So it could be "too much" adventure if you're not pretty comfortable with boat handling on moving water, and it may be slightly dangerous in places (don't go alone). Don't get me wrong - it was a GREAT paddle through some beautiful "big woods" territory, cypress-lined lakes, lots of wildlife, etc! ON THE OTHER HAND, if you go at lower water, you will most likely have a completely different paddling experience, where finding a route that doesn't dead-end in shallow water or dry ground will be the issue. All that said, there is a put in on East Lake where you can have several different great "in and out" day paddles, any time of year.

Let me know if you need put-in info and don't want to wait for the "official" trip schedule. Or if you get to Meto before we do, share!

[MikkiW]

Cowper,
Absolutely agree with your assessment of East Lake Bayou with the water flow as high as it is now. My husband and I commercial fished for many years in a lot of the areas you have paddled. East lake area was always one of my favorites for the number and kinds of wildlife to be seen. We also coon hunted all over the north unit of the White River refuge and the Cache river refuge between Roe and Clarendon.
Have been doing a lot of back water paddling in the flooded woods close to my house and really enjoying it. Don't have a GPS unit yet, just a Silva compass which gets me around pretty good. Would really like to learn how to use a GPS
Will be leaving for Florida on Friday for a 2 week trip. Hope to do quite a bit of paddling in many areas and snorkel with the manatees while there.

Jim passed away 4 years ago and I had to sell our houseboat at Preston Ferry as I was not able to manage it alone. Also sold the big boat we commercial fished from. It took me several years to get over the hurt of missing him and get back out in the woods and on the water. I purchased the inflatable kayak I use now as it is so easy to transport when I go on road trips. It can also be tossed on the back of my 4 wheeler and easily taken into the off river lakes when the water is lower.(Love to fly fish for bream in the summer)
I turned 60 this year and, as a single woman, it is very hard to find anyone my age that likes the outdoors, camping and kayaking like I do so I am really excited to find others who enjoy these activities so much and look forward to sharing trips with you all.

[Clif]

You also sound like a candidate for the Buffalo runs that Richard organizes as much as possible..weather and river levels permitting. Let's just say you wouldn't see lots of a generation gap.

[Cowper]

Interesting...

We've seen the houseboats at Preston Ferry and wondered who owned them; two weeks ago I made a short motorboat trip and got permission from the landowner to explore in Boggy Lake after the morning duck hunt was over.

DeBo and I look forward to swapping notes and learning more about this area from someone who has seen it from a whole different perspective.

[Richard]

I turned 60 this year and, as a single woman, it is very hard to find anyone my age that likes the outdoors, camping and kayaking like I do so I am really excited to find others who enjoy these activities so much and look forward to sharing trips with you all.

I think you will be very please with your decision to join the ACC. I would also recommend the Ozark Society. They do a lot of hiking as well as paddling. They have two outstanding events each year. The multiday Buffalo River trip is scheduled for Tue Jun 1 - Sat Jun 5. The Colorado trip is Sun Jul 11 - Sat Jul 17.

[MikkiW]

Have many topo maps I obtained thru the years with notations I made of new roads we found and access areas at different water levels of the Cache and White River refuges. Would love to share. Another trip I would like to suggest when the water drops some is a trip from Brassfield to Clarendon on the Cache. We fished nets all thru here and in the old lake areas off the channeled area of the river. Know several really pretty places to camp as it would be a multiday day trip. Have really been wanting to make this trip but didn't want to go alone. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome.

[Eztouche]

At 64 yrs, I am always glad to see you young folks get involved, Mikki.
People in this group have paddled and camped literally all over the world.
They have lots of experience to share as do you.
I remember one member who went to Siberia for a raft race some years ago.

[Jim Krueger]

Mikki,

Although my picture was made when I was about 8 years old, I am somewhere around 57 now. :) I just wanted to mention that we invite you to come float some of the' more rocky mountain streams 'in Western Arkansas'. The Caddo River is a great one to begin with. It's a pretty good distance from where you live, but we'll be posting some trips when it warms more ,and I would be most pleased to have you join us also.




Best Regards
Jim

[Richard]

Hmmmmmmm When was it that I became older than everyone else.

[Eric Esche]

I'm sure Bobby Stout will be glad to hear that he is younger than you.

You are only as old as you act and think. But please stay away from ticks and use DEET this year Richard. We do not need any more scares like you gave us last year.

Eric, who fully admits to having been rode hard and put up wet on occasion and being all of 58. My horse Ralph (14 hand bay Morgan gelding) is glad to be in retirement after 15,000 miles of endurance and trail riding.