I went on a two day trip nearly 13 years ago with four buddies from church (this was a few years after graduation). We were completely inept and clueless on how to correctly pack a canoe with gear and we were downright miserable with fatigue at the end of the first day, but it was absolutely one of the coolest excursions I've ever been on. The river is spring fed and the water is as clear as any you will see...it's like floating over an aquarium! We camped at Devil's River SNA and one of the largest waterfalls in Texas (Dolan Falls) is just downstream. Good smallmouth bass fishing there. Limited access and very remote with landowners none too happy with people floating down the river...adds up to a real sense of adventure. I really want to make that trip again sometime.

For those that don't know, the Devils River is north of Del Rio and feeds into Lake Amistad.

It is my next river trip. Thanks for your post.

Now post more details for the uninformed, such as myself.

Its been about that long since Ive made that camping trip too, but it was great! Good fishing, and its beautiful. I need to make another one myself.

That is a trip I've been wanting to make for years...

The landowners are kind of foolish. They could be generating income off of it instead of being so hostile. It is not like they can stop you from travelling the water. As long as the streambed between the upper (flood) and lower (normal) bank averages over 30 feet width from the mouth (amistad reservoir), it is navigable by statute, and you have right to the water for travel, and to the lower banks for portages and travel, and islands for camping. I believe it would fit that bill for quite a distance upstream from the lake.

Then again, it pays to be as accomodating to the locals as possible, so they don't make any assinine local ordinances that affect public access.

I'd like to get more info on good put in and takeout points... and the best place to leave your vehicles on either end of the trip. I'm an experienced kayaker, land and water navigator, camper and fisherman, and I don't think I'd need a guide, but the guides DO arrange for you to get back to your vehicles with your stuff, which is nice.

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=70855&highlight=devils+river

Check the pics link in the first post. I've been to the SNA, but never down the river. I'd like to fish and float the river sometime in the future.

As far as I know there are only two points to put in the river...Baker's Crossing and Devil's River SNA. Baker's Crossing is on 163 between Comstock and Juno. The SNA is accessed off 277 between Del Rio and Sonora. BC is private property, but you can pay to camp and put in there, if I remember correctly. You cannot take out at the SNA, only put in. You have to rely on an outfitter or guide to take out. We used a guy that was listed in the Houston Chronicle on an article that came out at that time (which gave us the idea to do it). You can probably Google for this information...not sure if the same guy is in business but I know there are one or two locals who will rent canoes and provide shuttle services.

If you put in at Baker's Crossing you will have a long day of paddling before you get to SNA. The river consists of shallow rapids that feed into long pools. Some areas are shallow enough that you have to get out and pull your canoe, especially at the start but as you go along this will happen less and less. The SNA is the only legal place to camp unless you want to risk camping on a dry spot in the middle of the river (unless you know some landowner along the way). Flash floods are dangerous in this area so that's not recommended. There is a good sized chute with a large rock in the middle not too fat from the SNA....we wiped out and had to scramble to get our food and gear floating down the river (note clueless note in first post). You do have to contact the SNA beforehand for reservations and pay for your permits. Primitive campsites...no water, toilets and you can't build a fire. Essentially setting up tents on a big rock.

Just past the SNA another spring adds water so the paddling on the second day is easier. If you want a one day trip this is where you will go. Dolan Falls is a few minutes downriver and is worth the trip to see. The water in this area is especially clear as the spring water cuts through solid rock....you can see all the way to the bottom of the pools and see all the fish! We had fun stopping along the way and just snorkling in these areas.

The risky part of this trip is that it's so remote. If something happens there is no one there to help out, and you'll have to risk trekking overland to a possible hostile landowner. I wouldn't make the trip with less than two canoes.

I have an aunt and uncle in Del Rio so they took us to Baker's Crossing. We camped out at the end of our trip on the property of the guy who shuttled us back to Del Rio the next morning.

NWAg, how does smallmouth bass sushi taste?

Good, using a propane campstove!