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Devils River #11033462 08/10/15 09:37 PM
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Dale Griffin Offline OP
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Trying to plan a trip down the Devils and wanted to know from someone that has recently done it how low is it exactly? Planning on going from Bakers Crossing to Del Norte and taking out there. I understand it will be a hike and I am prepared for it



Re: Devils River [Re: Dale Griffin] #11033533 08/10/15 10:09 PM
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YakFishField Offline
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This was two years ago but if you want to get a good idea of what to expect, here's a 40-minute film I did from my 5-day trip down it:



Robert Field

www.yakfish.tv

Subscribe to my YouTube: www.youtube.com/YakFishField
Re: Devils River [Re: Dale Griffin] #11033738 08/10/15 11:29 PM
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Dale Griffin Offline OP
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Thanks Aggie. Ya I've watched your video atleast twice all the way through lol. But your trip started where I'm planning on ending mine I do believe.



Re: Devils River [Re: Dale Griffin] #11033818 08/11/15 12:07 AM
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vagrunt64 Offline
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5 of us did it last April and the plans are already in the works for a repeat next year. We did Bakers Crossing to Big Satan in 4 days. It was LOW! I think it was 150cfm. I had a Jackson Big Rig and I think I was out of it more than in during the first 15 miles.
A couple of quick tips...
- PACK LIGHT. I have some military experience and thought I knew how to pack. I was very wrong. I probably had more than 20 lbs that was useless. You only need somewhere to sleep, something to heat water, something to eat and something to fish with. All those extra knives, camp chairs, coolers, fishing rods, and tackle boxes are dead weight. Next time ill have one, MAYBE two rods, with one plano box. When you pack, look at all that stuff you think will be nice to have and think about dragging it down a river for a couple of miles.
- TIE DOWNS. The Big Rig is a very stable kayak. I still flipped out of it. I think everyone on my trip lost something. Just little stuff, like a water bottle, but if you lose it early it can impact your trip. And rod tip protectors. We saw a group that had PVC pipe stuck on the front of their Kayak. When they got to the reed jungles, the PVC will save your rods. I plan on shamelessly stealing the idea for the next trip.
- TAKE THE RIGHT KAYAK. I mentioned that I took a Big Rig. It was way to much boat for that river. I stuck between rocks, had to fight more reeds, and had to drag more weight than all my companions. You need a craft that is made for that kind of river. I will be renting, begging, stealing something more suited next year. A couple of guys had Jackson Coosa's and they did great. The WS 135 did well also.
- START PLANING EARLY. If you use one of the approved outfitters or take out at a state park, you are required to have permits. They go fast and early. If you don't use any state stuff, you can just get on the river. A group had an in with a resident and didn't have permits.
- ITS A BEATING. I did the planning and thought 7 or 8 miles a day would be fairly easy. We had done that distance on some other trips and still got plenty of fishing during the day. Not on this river. With the water level, we made the distance, but only got 1 or maybe 2 hours of fishing. We are aiming at 5 miles a day next time.

I could go on for a long time, but this is already turning into a novel.
The bottom line is DO IT!!!!! Its a trip you will talk about for years and well worth any discomfort.

Re: Devils River [Re: vagrunt64] #11033991 08/11/15 01:22 AM
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YakFishField Offline
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Originally Posted By: vagrunt64

- ITS A BEATING. I did the planning and thought 7 or 8 miles a day would be fairly easy. We had done that distance on some other trips and still got plenty of fishing during the day. Not on this river. With the water level, we made the distance, but only got 1 or maybe 2 hours of fishing. We are aiming at 5 miles a day next time.


I'll second this. We cut out the part you're doing because the water levels were real low when we went and our outfitter told us it'd be a lot of dragging. We did 24 miles in 5 days and I still felt rushed at times. If your focus is the fishing, don't plan for more than that or you'll be paddling by some killer areas like we had to.


Robert Field

www.yakfish.tv

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Re: Devils River [Re: Dale Griffin] #11034487 08/11/15 11:50 AM
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B_Rod Offline
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My son Dan went at the end of June (Click here: Devils River Trip ). They put in at Del Norte and took out at Big Satan avoiding that stretch between Baker's Crossing and Del Norte. Everyone who has paddled that first stretch recently has said it was a low water beat down.

Re: Devils River [Re: Dale Griffin] #11035570 08/11/15 07:57 PM
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Pecros Offline
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I would definitely do Del Norte to Big Satan.

Save Bakers for when the water is higher in the future (if that ever happens)

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