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Message
Need general info on Red river
Posted on 2/20/15 at 6:14 pm
Posted on 2/20/15 at 6:14 pm
Can anyone tell me general info on the Red river from Bossier south?
Barge traffic? If so, is it rare or pretty constant?
Average speed of current in late September? It may not vary due to all the dams and locks.
Is there an average width of the river or does it vary a lot? Are there a lot of access points or is it very limited?
Do you have to worry about debri or stumps / trees if out of the main channel of the river and paddling at night? I know some will happen, but is it mostly clear just off the banks.
Will be kayaking the area and want to get an idea of what it is like. I've paddled the Atchafalaya, Mississippi and Missouri rivers before so I'm not worried about it being a " big" river, just not sure what its characteristics are.
Basically, any and all insight is appreciated.
LINK to basic map
Barge traffic? If so, is it rare or pretty constant?
Average speed of current in late September? It may not vary due to all the dams and locks.
Is there an average width of the river or does it vary a lot? Are there a lot of access points or is it very limited?
Do you have to worry about debri or stumps / trees if out of the main channel of the river and paddling at night? I know some will happen, but is it mostly clear just off the banks.
Will be kayaking the area and want to get an idea of what it is like. I've paddled the Atchafalaya, Mississippi and Missouri rivers before so I'm not worried about it being a " big" river, just not sure what its characteristics are.
Basically, any and all insight is appreciated.
LINK to basic map
7
Posted on 2/20/15 at 6:53 pm to tigers win2
Not really any barge traffic, there are a few boats that deliver to the port but not much activity.
The width pretty much stays the same, its not too big.
Not really any stumps to worry about out in the middle, but debris can get heavy after a big rain.
Not many access points or launches.
Clyde Tipton can probably give better info since he is an older gentleman and has navigated the river for a few years.
The width pretty much stays the same, its not too big.
Not really any stumps to worry about out in the middle, but debris can get heavy after a big rain.
Not many access points or launches.
Clyde Tipton can probably give better info since he is an older gentleman and has navigated the river for a few years.
Posted on 2/20/15 at 6:59 pm to tigers win2
If you've done those then Red River is no big deal. Barge traffic is sparse at best. Current is slow. Width varies based on proximity to the locks. Mostly clear these days unless it's rising and really high. That's about the only time there's problems anymore.
Posted on 2/20/15 at 7:00 pm to Polar Pop
Thanks!
About how wide would you estimate it to be?
Ever gone through the locks in your yak? I ask because I've been told there is one portage that would be about 1/2 mile of rocks/stone. Don't want to carry across that.
I would portage the smaller locks
About how wide would you estimate it to be?
Ever gone through the locks in your yak? I ask because I've been told there is one portage that would be about 1/2 mile of rocks/stone. Don't want to carry across that.
I would portage the smaller locks
This post was edited on 2/20/15 at 7:04 pm
Posted on 2/20/15 at 7:06 pm to tigers win2
The main River is roughly 100-200 yards wide. It's like a lake once you get south of Bossier. It usually clears up and has very little current that time of year. Take a spinning rod with you and throw a drop shot on the jetties on the way down, you'll catch plenty of fish. Also plenty of sandbars that will make good camp sites.
This post was edited on 2/20/15 at 7:08 pm
Posted on 2/20/15 at 7:24 pm to tigers win2
quote:
Ever gone through the locks in your yak?
Fuuuuuuck no
Not saying its not possible, I just dont have the stones to attempt an act like that.
I have been on the river in my kayak, but only in a few of the protected oxbows off of it.
You sound well versed in this operation, I dont think you will have any trouble.
Locking through from 5 to 4 (southbound), 4 actually gets a little more narrow (not much) and has a ton of sandbars.
Posted on 2/20/15 at 7:32 pm to Polar Pop
Thanks.
New kayak race from bossier to berwick ( Morgan city ).
I'm familiar with Atchafalaya river south, but never been on RedRiver. Sounds like we can lock through or portage. I'll carry around the smaller locks but figure it would cost to much energy and chance of injury for a 1/2 mile portage over broken rock/stone.
Only contemplating it so far, but enjoyed learning new areas even if I don't give it a try.
New kayak race from bossier to berwick ( Morgan city ).
I'm familiar with Atchafalaya river south, but never been on RedRiver. Sounds like we can lock through or portage. I'll carry around the smaller locks but figure it would cost to much energy and chance of injury for a 1/2 mile portage over broken rock/stone.
Only contemplating it so far, but enjoyed learning new areas even if I don't give it a try.
Posted on 2/20/15 at 8:04 pm to tigers win2
Never seen a barge
River is wide enough as long as you travel buoy to buoy you'll never have a problem.
Definitely some debris after a lot of rain.
River is wide enough as long as you travel buoy to buoy you'll never have a problem.
Definitely some debris after a lot of rain.
Posted on 2/20/15 at 8:16 pm to tigers win2
when I was young, it was pretty damn nasty with lots of current and there were drownings there quite often...named because of the tremendous amount of sediment that it carried...
since about the mid eighties (when they installed the system of locks) it has been a damn nice body of water...nice and smooth with lots of fishing and water skiing on it during the summer time...
If I remember right, they even had a couple of bassmaster events on it recently...
since about the mid eighties (when they installed the system of locks) it has been a damn nice body of water...nice and smooth with lots of fishing and water skiing on it during the summer time...
If I remember right, they even had a couple of bassmaster events on it recently...
Posted on 2/20/15 at 8:53 pm to tigers win2
Posted on 2/20/15 at 11:52 pm to tigers win2
Put in at Red River South
Paddle your happy arse over to Cooleys
Rip heads
????!
Profit
Paddle your happy arse over to Cooleys
Rip heads
????!
Profit
Posted on 2/20/15 at 11:53 pm to bg22
Dont get them laws called on him for fishing in that private sanctuary.
Posted on 2/21/15 at 9:49 am to Polar Pop
Older Gentelmen? 
To the OP. September is a good time to be on the river. As long as you don't have some big rain the week before, it will be slow. The water turns from chocolate milk to a pretty green that time of the year when it gets hot and still.
To the OP. September is a good time to be on the river. As long as you don't have some big rain the week before, it will be slow. The water turns from chocolate milk to a pretty green that time of the year when it gets hot and still.
Posted on 2/21/15 at 10:03 am to tigers win2
quote:That's one reason I don't fish it. I like to set lines for catfish and prefer a current. You never know what you'll get until you get there.
Average speed of current in late September? It may not vary due to all the dams and locks.
I have a friend who does fish it and catches a lot of nice spotted catfish. I've never asked how he went about this, exactly.
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