Looking to take my son on a little overnight camping trip. I plan on putting in at the hwy 16 bridge and paddling down a little ways and camping, then heading back up the next morning.

Is there a spot close enough to the bride to paddle down to with a 6 year old and camp? Possibly even catch a fish or two? I am not looking for anyone's ssl just a decent camping spot and to catch a few fish.

I plan on heading down Saturday after his football game. Probably put in around 1:30 or so. Anyone interested is more than welcome to join!

I was just there friday. I saw several clearings along the bank where there were old campsites. And yes, there are several pools within the first 4 or 5 miles where you will catch fish. In one spot in particular there was more than once I had a bass on my casting rod and a catfish on my other rod.
It is knee-deep in lots of places along the way. I had to pull the kayak lots of times, but it was one of the most beautiful trips I have ever taken.

Be careful about where you camp. I have fished this river for 35 years and I assure you the landowner can have you arrested for trespassing. It has happened to me personally twice. The game warden explained that sand bars are the only legal place to camp. It is rare that this happens but be aware the landowner has rights to the water and the law varies from county to county. There are several good sandbars in the first few miles. Also be aware the flow can be low so getting back upriver can be time consuming as you may have to get out and drag through shoals. Be safe and good luck. The fishing is usually good, bait or artificials both work. There are bass, sand bass, catfish, and big stripers there.

looking at google maps, I think we might try camping around the first bend in the river from 16, or possibly push on a little further to flint bend.

Its not a long paddle and with a 6 year old in the kayak with me im not sure I want to go to far.

Thanks for the advise on the landowners. I have camped on the river several times just not in this section.

It is rare to have any problems with landowners . Just keep it clean and quiet. Low water will be the only problem. There are about 2 or 3 shallows depending on how far you go. Juat allow more me to go back up to bridge. It is very pretty there and the fishing can be excellent! Fish the deeper water with rocks and structure.

I've seen people camp on the left side at the first bend where that creek flows in, probably a decent place to take your kid and its not far from your truck where if something happened it wouldn't take more than an hour to get back. And you wouldn't have to battle much wind... Might want to grab some real tent stakes too, the heavy gauge wire ones that come with tents won't stay in a gravel sand bar. Also, you might want to bring a bag of charcoal as the only wood I've ever seen along the river is nasty salt cedars. I would say camping with your kid, a landowner is going to be pretty reasonable as long as your not camping somewhere with "NO TRESPASSING" signs plastered everywhere.

I camped here earlier this year, and paddled back up, it was a decent spot, but might be kind of far with kid, maybe.

I bet you want the camp out a canoe experience, but
there are also camp sites at Rochelles,
a bit down stream from PK,
stillthere is lots of good water...

and up and backs or down and backs open up the
chances for for better fishing

I was there yesterday and I have never seen the river so low. I figured that it would be up with the recent rain but it is very low. Lots of walking/portaging but I did manage to catch a few small bass and some sunfish.

I always thought "waters of the State" extended to the vegetation line as measured and projected from the cut bank side of the river. Many times the cut bank vegetation line is considerably higher than that on the slope bank. I suppose that line gets even more gray during persistent low water levels. Not that you would want to go to the river to get in a peeing match with a land owner, just curious as it relates to trespassing on any river in TX.

by definition, the discussion of "trespassing on any river in TX" is a peeing match

go on, have it, just learn the 'p*ssing in the wind' thing before you start

Other options. Go upstream from HWY 16. There is a large island below the dam. See it on Google maps. You will have to drag to get up to the island. May want to bring a small piece of carpet to get over the pipe if the water is low.
And there is actually a small primitive campground that you can drive to, up near the dam with a restroom off of Red Bluff Drive.

Thanks guys. We have camped at the small campground up by the dam, its not bad at the restrooms are usually surprisingly clean. I would like my son to experience why I love camping on the river, and maybe do a little night fishing.

I have no plans to go very far so we will probably stop at the first decent looking hole with a camp sight.

Has anyone had luck with perch, or cut perch as bait in this area? I'm not the greatest at throwing a cast net for shad, so i figure the kid and I can have fun on the way down and catch some perch for bait.

Sounds like you are gonna have a great time. You should have no problem at all catching bait. Great time of the year to be on the river. Enjoy.

Freeline live perch or minnows into the big hole on river left at Flint Bend. If you net some shad, even better. Keep an eye on your rods if fishing from the bank. There's big fish in that stretch of the river.

well my wife and kids just got home from the last football practice of the year and told me that there is a big football party Saturday night for his team. I told him that it was his choice and after a long thought he told me that he wants to go to the party.
sooooo it looks like this will be a solo trip (unless he changes his mind between now and then). Anyone interested in joining?

I will probably venture farther than planned if he does not go.