Colorado river....best spots? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

BrokeLoser · 04-18-2011, 09:15 AM

I've ran searches and I'm not coming with anything real specific.

We want to plan a 2-3 day trip floating down river hookin whatever...looking for a scenic stretch that will be camping friendly. Somewhere from Parker / Havasu dam to just south of Blythe would be ideal. Or, Mojave / Hoover dam down to say Laughlin / Davis dam?

Dumb question:
When or if running into a dam...How difficult would it be to pull yaks out of the water, walk / wheel to the other side and relaunch? I ask because I'm pretty sure that we may run into this issue on on any lengthy stretch of the Colorado.

Flyfisher70 · 04-18-2011, 10:12 AM

Here is a link to a float from Davis Dam to Parker Dam
Davis to Parker

Iceman · 04-18-2011, 10:17 AM

I am looking hard at doing a couple days in October along Topock Gorge.

Topockapalooza!

PAL · 04-18-2011, 11:45 AM

Andy, if Topockapalooza becomes a reality, I want in. I've had my eye on that stretch of river for years.

StinkyMatt · 04-18-2011, 12:08 PM

This is a 14 mile stretch from right under the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. Trout, Stipers and other creatures. Great scenery and protected from hot sun in many parts due to incredibly high cliff walls. There are companies that will run a truck/car shuttle for you and secure the permit to launch from Hoover Dam. Camp on any of the sand beaches along the way.

You can make this a lot longer and go all the way to Cottonwood on Mojave lake.

I am thinking about a trip like this too, share your ideas.

BrokeLoser · 04-18-2011, 12:23 PM

Oh man..I'm so glad I started this thread.
I'm super pumped on this trip.
Stinky...I've taken my boat from cottonwood cove up to hoover dam many times and you're right that stretch of river is KILLER. Do you think it would keep us occupied for 2-3 days though? I've never clocked it but it seems like it would be a fairly short float. We'd like to come up with a 30 mile or so stretch...maybe floating 10 miles per day...never seeing the same thing twice..haha
Ice....As for Topockapalooza, I'm in for certain!

JoeBeck · 04-18-2011, 01:07 PM

You can also float from Blythe to Imperial Damn outside of Yuma. This is on my to do list. Topockapalooza sounds like a good time too, I could be in for that one.

If you go to this link you can download the map with camp-spots
www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/BlythetoImperial/BlythetoImperial.pdf

StinkyMatt · 04-18-2011, 01:19 PM

Hoover to willow is fairly short, but if you think about late wake up, get on shore midafternoon set up camp, drink some beers, campfire etc. You don't need to do a loooong stretch to have fun.

On the other hand if you want to seriously paddle and put some milage on, with the current, you can easily do 30 miles in 3 days.....easy.

Its just what kind of trip you want.

Keep in mind the time of the year. Once you are out of the canyons it can get pretty damn HOT out there. May or October, may be the best months.

Fiskadoro · 04-18-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeBeck

You can also float from Blythe to Imperial Damn outside of Yuma. This is on my to do list.

Yeah I'm with you there. Less boat traffic more comping areas, more backwater and nooks and crannies to fish. Talipia for bait and stripers and huge flatheads to target.

Been looking at that one hard since last fall and was thinking about doing it this year.

Jim

BrokeLoser · 04-18-2011, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StinkyMatt

Hoover to willow is fairly short, but if you think about late wake up, get on shore midafternoon set up camp, drink some beers, campfire etc. You don't need to do a loooong stretch to have fun.

On the other hand if you want to seriously paddle and put some milage on, with the current, you can easily do 30 miles in 3 days.....easy.

Its just what kind of trip you want.

Keep in mind the time of the year. Once you are out of the canyons it can get pretty damn HOT out there. May or October, may be the best months.

Well...maybe 10 miles a day is too Lance Armstrong for me...especially when you stop and fish the coves and fingers etc..oh and beers...Our biggest challenge right now is figuring out how to haul enough for 3 days on the river. I may need to tow a trailer. I actually have one that I tow behind my jet ski..it would probably work perfectly.
We're trying to throw something together for mid May.

jbaker · 04-18-2011, 07:37 PM

keep in mind topock can and will be busy any weekend until the end of October. i did a conoe trip from hoover dam to the top of lake Mojave years ago in boyscout. it was really cool. there's a sauna cave a few miles south of the dam that's worth checking out also a one of the beaches we camped at had a hot spring that had been dammed up to make a nice little pool. was awesome after a few days on the river to relax in. it took us 5 days total but we lagged a bit. we used a zodiac for most of our gear. also got to check out a hatchery along the way. It was a really fun trip and defiantly some thing to remember. also in may the air is warm but the water is still freezing, early to mid October the air cools down but the water stays warm for a bit was always my favorite month to go to havasu.

jbaker · 04-18-2011, 07:46 PM

what if you launched from the edgewater casino in laguhin, and end up at crazy horse camp ground in havasu?

BrokeLoser · 04-18-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbaker

keep in mind topock can and will be busy any weekend until the end of October. i did a conoe trip from hoover dam to the top of lake Mojave years ago in boyscout. it was really cool. there's a sauna cave a few miles south of the dam that's worth checking out also a one of the beaches we camped at had a hot spring that had been dammed up to make a nice little pool. was awesome after a few days on the river to relax in. it took us 5 days total but we lagged a bit. we used a zodiac for most of our gear. also got to check out a hatchery along the way. It was a really fun trip and defiantly some thing to remember. also in may the air is warm but the water is still freezing, early to mid October the air cools down but the water stays warm for a bit was always my favorite month to go to havasu.

Good stuff to know...I'll try and track down those points of interest if we decide on making that trek.
You're right, we boat a lot and go to havasu and October is definitely the best month to do something like this. We are just to anxious to wait...if all goes as planned maybe we'll make another trip in Oct

BrokeLoser · 04-18-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbaker

what if you launched from the edgewater casino in laguhin, and end up at crazy horse camp ground in havasu?

Anyone know how 'scenic' this part of the river is? I've taken my boat on this trip many years ago and don't remember the surroundings very well...I think it's like 60 miles by river

Lets_Fish · 04-18-2011, 08:04 PM

If you fish the area from Hoover dam south the the California border don't forget about an out of state license in either Arizona or Nevada. Here their links to their Fish & Game:
ARIZONAhttp://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml
NEVADAhttp://www.ndow.org/law/regs/fishregs/index.shtm

Topock Gorge is a great place to travel through, just watch the boat traffic (like any other place). You can google images on Topock Gorge to see what it looks like. As for the rest of the areas, not sure as I have never traversed through them except from Blythe to 30 miles or so south of it. That area is flat, shallow and for the most part not very exciting unless you enter the back channels through the groves and such.

jbaker · 04-18-2011, 08:11 PM

laguhin to I 40/ the top of the gorge isnt all that scenic but its fast moving current and water to fish. you could shorten it up by launching at needles or the avi resort just north of needles. i know there's some beaches on either side of the gorge but cant think of any in the middle. i would suggest planning on camping at bottom and paddling to havasu city the next day, its a few miles with no current and can have strong winds

BrokeLoser · 04-18-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbaker

laguhin to I 40/ the top of the gorge isnt all that scenic but its fast moving current and water to fish. you could shorten it up by launching at needles or the avi resort just north of needles. i know there's some beaches on either side of the gorge but cant think of any in the middle. i would suggest planning on camping at bottom and paddling to havasu city the next day, its a few miles with no current and can have strong winds

I was just thinking about this and pulling up satellite images of it..thanks

BrokeLoser · 04-18-2011, 08:29 PM

Just found a little something:
http://www.allaboutrivers.com/rivers...ona-RIV28.html

YakMedic · 04-18-2011, 08:34 PM

This trip is on my list for the year, if you plan it for October I'd love to go for sure. I'm gonna be stuck moving and getting my house ready to rent for the next few months.

cjthomas · 04-19-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbaker

laguhin to I 40/ the top of the gorge isnt all that scenic but its fast moving current and water to fish. you could shorten it up by launching at needles or the avi resort just north of needles. i know there's some beaches on either side of the gorge but cant think of any in the middle. i would suggest planning on camping at bottom and paddling to havasu city the next day, its a few miles with no current and can have strong winds

I agree. Laughlin to Needles is a lot of the same stuff. You don't get very much scenery until you hit Topocks. The scenery through the gorge is awesome but don't make the trip when it is busy. All of the waves end up bouncing off the canyon walls and make it very choppy (not to mention careless drunk boaters)

I'm actually going to be in Lake Havasu from May 23-27 with my kayaks. I plan on finding secluded areas to fish, but I keep toying with the idea of floating through Topocks (if I can figure out a way to leave a vehicle at the end point).

04-18-2011, 09:15 AM	#1
BrokeLoser Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 472	Colorado river....best spots? I've ran searches and I'm not coming with anything real specific. We want to plan a 2-3 day trip floating down river hookin whatever...looking for a scenic stretch that will be camping friendly. Somewhere from Parker / Havasu dam to just south of Blythe would be ideal. Or, Mojave / Hoover dam down to say Laughlin / Davis dam? Dumb question: When or if running into a dam...How difficult would it be to pull yaks out of the water, walk / wheel to the other side and relaunch? I ask because I'm pretty sure that we may run into this issue on on any lengthy stretch of the Colorado.

04-18-2011, 10:17 AM	#3
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	I am looking hard at doing a couple days in October along Topock Gorge. Topockapalooza! __________________ Last edited by Iceman; 04-18-2011 at 12:13 PM.

04-18-2011, 12:08 PM	#5
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,168	Hoover Dam to Willow Beach This is a 14 mile stretch from right under the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. Trout, Stipers and other creatures. Great scenery and protected from hot sun in many parts due to incredibly high cliff walls. There are companies that will run a truck/car shuttle for you and secure the permit to launch from Hoover Dam. Camp on any of the sand beaches along the way. You can make this a lot longer and go all the way to Cottonwood on Mojave lake. I am thinking about a trip like this too, share your ideas.

04-18-2011, 08:04 PM	#15
Lets_Fish Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wildomar, CA. Posts: 294	If you fish the area from Hoover dam south the the California border don't forget about an out of state license in either Arizona or Nevada. Here their links to their Fish & Game: ARIZONAhttp://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml NEVADAhttp://www.ndow.org/law/regs/fishregs/index.shtm Topock Gorge is a great place to travel through, just watch the boat traffic (like any other place). You can google images on Topock Gorge to see what it looks like. As for the rest of the areas, not sure as I have never traversed through them except from Blythe to 30 miles or so south of it. That area is flat, shallow and for the most part not very exciting unless you enter the back channels through the groves and such. Last edited by Lets_Fish; 04-18-2011 at 08:18 PM.

04-18-2011, 10:12 AM	#2
Flyfisher70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 69	Here is a link to a float from Davis Dam to Parker Dam Davis to Parker

04-18-2011, 11:45 AM	#4
PAL Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 754	Andy, if Topockapalooza becomes a reality, I want in. I've had my eye on that stretch of river for years.

04-18-2011, 12:23 PM	#6
BrokeLoser Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 472	Oh man..I'm so glad I started this thread. I'm super pumped on this trip. Stinky...I've taken my boat from cottonwood cove up to hoover dam many times and you're right that stretch of river is KILLER. Do you think it would keep us occupied for 2-3 days though? I've never clocked it but it seems like it would be a fairly short float. We'd like to come up with a 30 mile or so stretch...maybe floating 10 miles per day...never seeing the same thing twice..haha Ice....As for Topockapalooza, I'm in for certain!

04-18-2011, 01:07 PM	#7
JoeBeck Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 370	You can also float from Blythe to Imperial Damn outside of Yuma. This is on my to do list. Topockapalooza sounds like a good time too, I could be in for that one. If you go to this link you can download the map with camp-spots www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/BlythetoImperial/BlythetoImperial.pdf

04-18-2011, 01:19 PM	#8
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,168	Hoover to willow is fairly short, but if you think about late wake up, get on shore midafternoon set up camp, drink some beers, campfire etc. You don't need to do a loooong stretch to have fun. On the other hand if you want to seriously paddle and put some milage on, with the current, you can easily do 30 miles in 3 days.....easy. Its just what kind of trip you want. Keep in mind the time of the year. Once you are out of the canyons it can get pretty damn HOT out there. May or October, may be the best months.

04-18-2011, 07:37 PM	#11
jbaker Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Redding Ca Posts: 85	keep in mind topock can and will be busy any weekend until the end of October. i did a conoe trip from hoover dam to the top of lake Mojave years ago in boyscout. it was really cool. there's a sauna cave a few miles south of the dam that's worth checking out also a one of the beaches we camped at had a hot spring that had been dammed up to make a nice little pool. was awesome after a few days on the river to relax in. it took us 5 days total but we lagged a bit. we used a zodiac for most of our gear. also got to check out a hatchery along the way. It was a really fun trip and defiantly some thing to remember. also in may the air is warm but the water is still freezing, early to mid October the air cools down but the water stays warm for a bit was always my favorite month to go to havasu.

04-18-2011, 07:46 PM	#12
jbaker Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Redding Ca Posts: 85	what if you launched from the edgewater casino in laguhin, and end up at crazy horse camp ground in havasu?

04-18-2011, 08:11 PM	#16
jbaker Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Redding Ca Posts: 85	laguhin to I 40/ the top of the gorge isnt all that scenic but its fast moving current and water to fish. you could shorten it up by launching at needles or the avi resort just north of needles. i know there's some beaches on either side of the gorge but cant think of any in the middle. i would suggest planning on camping at bottom and paddling to havasu city the next day, its a few miles with no current and can have strong winds

04-18-2011, 08:29 PM	#18
BrokeLoser Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 472	Just found a little something: http://www.allaboutrivers.com/rivers...ona-RIV28.html

04-18-2011, 08:34 PM	#19
YakMedic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wrightwood Posts: 623	This trip is on my list for the year, if you plan it for October I'd love to go for sure. I'm gonna be stuck moving and getting my house ready to rent for the next few months.