Camping below PK Dam

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.

He's right! I hear stories of that Wal mart gal shooting at members of The Bass family ( yes the Bass hall family). Best to stay in the river and off that private land.

I've heard stories of the same gal chatting it up with paddlers camping on the river bank bordering her property and her leaving them with nothing but good wishes.

Maybe the Bass family are big air boaters?

Just stay below the vegetation line be respectful and clean up your trash, I've never ran into any trouble with the places I've camped along that stretch.

Yes, that's it. If it's the one I'm thinking of It's right where the river makes the first sharp bend to the left. Once you make the turn, there's a big cove to the left. Nice level sandbar, hopefully not covered in high grass at this time. Deep hole, lot's of big fish.

hitting the river at around 10 in the morning. I will be in a yellow OK drifter. feel free to say hi if anyone is fishing down that way tomorrow.

yep. it was an air boat. almost got run over by one on the river. Better get outta the way when you here them coming.

let us know how ya'll did.

well My son backed out to go to his football party, so it turned into a solo overnigh'er. Unfortunately I didnt find any monsters but I did find plenty of fish. Almost all were dinks but there must have bben a couple dozen of them. Biggest one went 19" and the average was around 11". at one point I was free lining a perch behind the kayak, looked back and it looked like I was draging it on bottom. I started to reel it in only to find a bass bearly big enough to get the perch in it mouth. Threw the bait back out and not five mins later had something big on. This thing ripped lots of drag, I finally had it close to surface and it shook and was gone. I dont know what it was but I spent a couple hours in the area hoping for a second chance with no luck.

Took a couple pics because most of the fish were tiny.

Thought id add that almost every fish was caught on light tackle, 6lb test with small shade spinners. I only caught two fish on my regular bass tackle and they were the two smallest.

Sweet

Good deal, even dinks are fun on light tackle! Thanks for sharing

Where did you leave your vehicle while on the river? I've seen trucks parked at SH16 launch and remember there being ample space to get off the road. Just wondering if that is an accepted practice for overnight parking.

I think most are comfortable leaving a vehicle at the bridge overnight. I have never had any problems.