Spring River, AR?

[Don Miller]

The wife and I are planning a trip to Spring River with several other couples. I have never been before. We've had a debate going between couples as to whether we should get canoes, 2 man rafts or a larger raft that will seat 6-8. I personally don't want to tip over in a canoe and spill my beer. Any thought on what to get. BTW I'm wieghing in at a slim 270 these days and my wife is barely a buck twenty. Kinda like in Shallow Hal but reversed. A canoe is out of the question.

[iron grip]

Don That's some funny.....

You and Big need to split a canoe. Literally!!

[missed mallards]

large raft. it sat 3 coolers and 8 large guys. Don't take glass of any type. $150 dollar find and the GW don't play.

i was fortunate enough to get the canoe the first day. made it a good ways down the ole river and flipped. cooler, cigs, and my fat booty hit the water. i would elect for a raft any time from know own.

went up there on the 4th and had a blast.

fogot to add don't call someone a jew. I'm not 100% sure what all happened but that word, 2, drunk 300+ pounders, and a swift river made for some excellent entertainment. Sunscreen and lot's of it also. i looked like a lobster on the second day.

[iron grip]

Seriously, yall expect to encounter any rapids?? White water??
If so I would stay out of a canoe for sure, but if its a calm river float and you got a pretty good handle on the wife, you should be fine in a canoe.

I know your thinking about B'water and Mrs. B'water tipping over in the rez, but that boy's shakey he don't shift his booty around he THROWS it around. His stability move is like a tremor to a mere canoe, damn near tips a 1648 duck boat!

[D-2 Olt]

Man I would love to be going on that trip. Take your camera, you never know what might pop out.

[Deltamud77]

The spring river is great. I have fly fished there a few times. There is at least one rapid I can think of on the river that I have seen, but you can bypass it on the right hand side (the rapid is probably only a class 2 or 3 but you would not want to go over it in a canoe, especially after a cold one or two ). Bring a fly rod or light spin tackle and catch a few trout while you are there. A three day fishing license and trout stamps combined is about $25.

[Chris Smith]

We have a place up there and I have floated down that river nearly a hundred times on everything from an inter-tube to a 14x14 floating platform. Those rafts are by far the best thing going and will keep the bumps and bruises off the ol' lady. You guys should have a blast! Take plenty of BEER!

[rebelduckaholic]

Take plenty of beer is the important thing. If you smoke double up ziplock bags for them and put them in a cooler with tarp straps around the cooler. The raft is the best thing to save the bruising to the wife. In a canoe you will paddle the first 200 yards stop get a beer or two. Paddle a little ways to the next sandbar or stopping place and get another beer or two. By the end of the trip you should be knee walking drunk. I wish I was going this summer I usually go once or twice a year

[Super Black Eagle]

float that dude in a raft fo' sho'

We may jsut be late bloomers, and the rest of ya may already have this little piece of knowledge, but...
Instead of taking sammiches in ziplock packages, get you some of those 'Lunchables' like you would send with your young'n to school. Those dudes are perfect!
you can pack'em in your ice chest and forget about them. They stay dry, and they are the perfect size to have a little bite to eat, every 6 beers or so.

Seriously, you should check it out. They make a generic one that is about half the $$, and some of them even come with little candy bars.

[Money]

I personally don't want to tip over in a canoe and spill my beer.

Shall I suggest...STAY HOME ?

[rebelduckaholic]

I personally don't want to tip over in a canoe and spill my beer.

Once you get good and D Runk you won't spill much

[Stano]

don't tellem your gonna fish if you get a raft.... couple of the places wont let ya near the rafts with a hook........ When ya going we have a trip planned for next week leaving Wensday night on the 2nd coming back Sunday Morning.... Plan on fishing.....Im not the "A river Run's thru it" type we use just a small spinning reel with like 4lb test low vis and rainbow power bait....the small salad shrimp from the grocer's freezer do great when they wont hit the Power Bait and trout worms work too hot pink and Flourcent orange.......

But heres the best tip of all LEAVE THE WIFE'S AT HOME that river almost cost me a divorce.........my god how that river can bring out the worst......in them all........

The canoes aren't that bad if you paddle them backwards and set in the floor alot more stable.......only thing I hated about the rafts was the paddling ....... get one raft throw all the women beer etc in it get you a Kayak... the set on top kind.... its comparable too a bass boat vs a crappie crusier!

Gimme a shout we have a pretty good crew going too staying at Spring River Oaks north of Many Islands(if ya gonna party this is the place Many Islands) SRO is more laid back... prettier strech of the river and better fishing IMHO

[DoublePslayer]

[quote="D-2 Olt"]Man I would love to be going on that trip. Take your camera, you never know what might pop out.

I was up there the weekend before the fourth, and there was plenty of things poping out all the way down the river.
P.S. Dont stay at the DJ both to long, else you'll be too drunk to paddle and out of beer. The only place you may get in trouble is about a mile past it. Dont go left unless you are remotely sober and know what you are doing. Otherwise you may get a 10. Anybody that has turned over in that bad turn knows what I mean.

[ChrisinAr]

The rapid or waterfall in this link is about the biggest one If you are in a kayak and weigh over 200 it goes completely under water a canoe will fill about half way with water, the bad ones are the ones in curves that get narrow and shallow, it hurts when you tip over in those. But the waterfall in the bottom pic is close to the BBQ shack when you come into hardy.


http://springriverland.ozarkmerchants.c ... iver02.jpg

[Bully]

I have gotten many cuts and bruises trying to guide that canoe through the S curves!