Anything floatable in NW Ark?

[Jaytee]

We just haven't learned the nooks and crannies enough to tell, so all I know is our usual options are too dang low (except lakes, which don't excite me).

Any suggestions within two hours or so of Fayetteville are most welcome, and if anyone is wanting to head out this weekend we'd tag along (Sun or Mon preferred but Saturday is not out of the question).

[fettsway]

I would like to know about some floatable rivers as well. I have floated the Kings and Buffalo, but both are low.

What about the Spring? Is this the river with all party goers? If so, that isn't for me. Hoping to get some ideas, thanks.

- fettsway

[Jim Krueger]

Fett,

The Spring River is very nice, just plan your trip on a Sunday through a Friday and you'll have little or no problem with too many other floaters who may be on the river. :)


Very Best Regards

Jim Moose

[Regud]

My go to place when the water is low would be the lower Elk. If you put in at Noel, you miss the majority of the party crowd. The take out is down by Hwy 43. I maybe there myself saturday and/or sunday.

It is a little over 9 miles and has some good fishing.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8& ... afec5&z=13

[painterbob]

my arm can be twisted into going...saturday works better for me.

[Jaytee]

Painterbob, email me -- jtolleson AT gmail.com or call 479-871-5150

[painterbob]

called, and e-mailed. ..........kind of looks like a plan is forming up

[Jaytee]

I got your phone message and replied but didn't get the email because I apparently screwed up my own email address.

jctolleson AT gmail.com


But as I said in the voice mail we can't swing tomorrow but if something emerges for Sun or Mon, holler away.

[painterbob]

OK, I'm in the holding pattern waiting for the...R ...R....R... I CAN'T SAY THE " R " WORD OUT LOUD!....

[Wildwood]

Thanks, Painterbob for not saying that "R" word! I've even been thinkin' of changing my signature to eliminate that word.

Y'all have a good time, now. I'm headin' that way, but not til the first of the week.
Jan

[gnick4]

Let us know about the float. I am getting all jittery wanting to take the canoe out. I have Tuesday and Wednesday of this next week that I have to find a place to float and that would be close.

[Wildwood]

GNICK4, where is "close" for you? I'm going to Eureka Tuesday, for several days, was thinking about that float on lower Elk from Noel to 43. By myself, so it would be nice to have someone to shuttle with.

Jan

[painterbob]

( lower ELK to hwy 43 at cow skin canoe)....Eric,Susan ,and Mary, want to float too. looks like a great cloudy day today .so it's game on!! let's meet at the wal-mart just over the MO.state line on 71 north. close to 10 am. bring your rain gear, and lunch. this is a 10 mile float from the dam behind Tyson in noel to hwy 43. with mild water. and few rapids along the way. basic boating rules apply. mesh trash bag, pfd, no glass, koozie for the drinks.

[painterbob]

the float was good! we were surprised at how well it was for a low water trip.... we used cowskin to shuttle my car . they are at the take out on hwy43.. the water was cool, and the wind was at our backs. all but one mile of the trip.

[Eric Esche]

Bob was being generous in not mentioning that I got Mary and I swamped at a snag. Technically we never did turn over, but we did have to quick bail afterwards, after I jumped out to prevent a pin or a flip.

WE had a great day. Nice cool breezes and nearly full sun under broken clouds, with a wind that was almost always at our backs. Water was cool as well and at a perfect temperature for swimming on a warm, but pleasant summer day. Spring fed water.

Saw a mature Bald Eagle, American egrets, Great Blue Herons, Green herons, kingfishers, swallows, and many other types of birds and very few people, particularly considering it was July 4th! Only one outfitter on this lower section and he did not rent all of his 80 canoes, and doubt that we saw even half of those. Lots of good sized fish - carp, bass, catfish, suckers, and sunfish. Would have been worth getting an out of state fishing license and taking twice as long. River had good volume and current most of the way. I will definately be willing to go back to this section of the Elk again. Last 100 yards at the take out had folks lining both sides of the river swimming, but they were all friendly as we floated past. We used the Cowskin Outfitter to park and shuttle Bob's car back down from the put-in after we had dropped off our boats and gear on the way down to the takeout. They were very nice and I would use them again, both for a secure parking spot and for the shuttle.

After having chaperoned a couple of church groups on the upper part of the Elk river below Big Sugar Creek's entry, it is almost like these are two different rivers in comparison. While it is still mostly farm land that it passes through, there were a half a dozen nice bluffs, more reminiscent of the Kings or the Buffalo in places. Thanks to Painter Bob for introducing us to this nicer section of the Elk and it's only being an hour away from Rogers.

Eric Esche