Hello all! New to this forum and look forward to ya'lls input. My buddies and I are planning a kayak trip down the Devil's River in March. It will be a 3 day trip from Del Norte to Big Satan. We've secured a shuttle and the required permits but I'm looking for advice for kayaking and packing for overnight trips. I've got dry bags and I've found some lists online, but I'd like to hear your "Wish we had brought...." or "Wish we had thought about..." stories. Please, share your greatest successes and failures for overnight kayak trips. Thank you in advance for your input!

I did this same section in an old aluminum canoe with my brother a few years back. You'll have it a lot easier in a kayak, but be prepared for the rapids and don't underestimate them. It's a great trip, great scenary, fishing and fun. Make you you bring a water filter vs trying to carry water. We caught mostly smallmouth. Wacky worms and other lures in very natural colors worked best. Water is very, very clear and I'd suggest light fluorocarbon line.

Well, it just so happens I completed a "movie" recently of our trip back in 2015 (during the weekend of the big flood in Austin area). The combination of the weather and the river made it a trip I will never forget. The film is a time commitment, but it might give you an idea of what's to come. We did the whole 30 mile paddle, so what you see from Day 3 will be your starting point. The river was very very low that year, but it is higher now and the rapids were really kicking on our trip last year.

Devils River 2015

I know you said you have your permits already but...we did a 3 day trip our first time and it seemed like we were rushed. Last year we did an extra day (4 nights 5 days) and it was just about perfect.

If you are camping at the State Natural Area just upriver from Dolan, make sure you have extra measures to secure you food. Even with food in dry bags secured in the kayaks, those little freaking raccoons somehow find a way in.

Extra tie downs for things in the boat. Last year, a pair of swim goggles came in handy for some of us that rode down a rapid upside down.

Ditto on the water filter. I have a Katydyn and love it.

We started carrying Yeti soft side coolers last year. We had cold drinks all week. If you use a Yeti, I would suggest keeping it covered with wet burlap during the day.

Camp shoes and wet shoes. It's nice to throw on a dry pair at the end of the day.

I use a large Thermarest compressible pillow. It doesn't take up that much more space and it's better than putting your head on a rolled up dry bag.

Make sure someone has a GPS. The river looks a lot different on Google Earth than it does when you are actually looking for your camp spots.

Have fun. This will be our 3rd trip this coming April. We love it. Just take care of the river.

Looking forward to seeing some other suggestions.

To the Texas Fishing Forum!

Thank you all. We've got coordinates for camping locations along that stretch so we will be using a GPS for that. What did you find to be the best types of foods to take for that duration? Due to work and other restraints we'll be cramming it into 3 days. Half of us will be using fly rods and the other half spinning reels. We've done several day trips and have had such a great time we decided to extend it. I was wondering how fast we'd need to move to get down the river, sounds like you can't go too slow or it will take too long.

If you want to fish a lot, you will likely have to paddle pretty hard on that last day. We took freeze dried foods until last year when we started carrying a little cooking oil and some potatoes for a fish fry. If you bring coolers and pack them wisely and don't open them too much, I guess you could bring anything to cook. As long as you have the room on your boats. Freeze dried is certainly easier though.

The best advice for what to bring is only what is necessary to survive on the river. This isn't a pleasure cruise and you will likely use 1/3 of what you bring. It's just extra weight. I brought 3 dry meals for dinner, 3 bags of beef jerkey, ziplock mixed bag of almonds and peanut m&ms for day snacks. Don't waste valuable fishing time worrying about eating (haha). You need a drag rope of 10-12 feet in length that is pleasing to the hands.

Dolan Falls (set aside 1 - 1.5 hours for this area) portaging and enjoying the falls is a must.

There are 3 main rapids - allow about 30-40 minutes of scouting and running.

The last 4 - 5 miles (After Dry Devils Rapids) is smooth paddling with very little open stretches so you're not battling the winds as much and the water is quick. It almost seems as though you're paddling down a hill. Save this stretch for the last day and time it for your pick up time.

The first day you'll want to get through Three Tiers. I believe there's a good island around Mi19.

The second day you'll hit the other 2 rapids and this should be your longest paddle day, but it won't seem like it because of all the quick water and rapids. There is a couple of open stretches that will test your patience if it's windy. These occur after Dandridge Falls Rapids.

The two times I have been, we've gone the whole 30 miles in 4 days. You'll be fine. You can could even locate your camping spot during the day and paddle back up in some stretches to fish.

Great information! I agree, less time preparing food is more time fishing. Has anyone ran the river in March? I'm a little concerned about getting cold in the mornings and evenings if I can't keep myself dry. I've been told to just plan on everything getting wet. I'll be keeping my sleeping gear in a dry bag and a few other things.

We went in Early April last year and it got down into the 30's one night. Just keep an eye on the weather patterns. It's always a little cooler on the river anyway.

Yes, plan on being wet and cold the whole time. It won't matter once your line goes tight!

Cold enough to wear neoprene waders? I've got them.

Great video, I have done it twice and it was back before the gopro's and all so I can appreciate other people's trips. Thanks for sharing.

Great picture!

I don't own any waders but my hunch is after the first dump you take in the river, they become pointless.