Camping at Caddo State Park and a Friend's Lake House (lots of pics)

[fredfarmer]

I posted this at a kayaking forum, but I figured that some of you folks might appreciate these...

A friend of mine was nice enough to invite some of us to his lake house out in East Texas for some kayak fishing. We had a blast paddling and fishing there as it was a no wake lake and the wind was great. We left on Saturday and went to camp out at Caddo State Park as I have always wanted to go check that place out...

Loaded up the trailer with three of my yaks on Thursday and about to head out...



We brought a Redfish 12, Manta Ray 14 and an old FishmanPro 14...



Pics of the lake and some fish that we caught...















And yours truly pulling a "Mary Poppins" with the umbrella/sail (I'ma go look for a bigger umbrella)

[fredfarmer]

We arrived at Caddo State Park around 1PM on Saturday. Visiting this place is like going back in time...



Views of/from the camp site...







My buddy "Strami" trying to paddle through some thick lily pads. We were able to get a campsite that we could launch the yaks on (Mill Pond), but getting through these took a little effort.



Pics of the paddle out to the main strip where we found a lot of boat traffic on Saturday...

[fredfarmer]

Stopped on a sandy beach for a quick swim to cool off...



Paddled back around the campsite to take some more pics and call it a night...

[fredfarmer]

Pics from my chair at the camp site Sunday morning...







I forgot my camera on Sunday, so I used my iPhone to take these. I also borrowed my buddy's camera to take some pics, but I do not have those yet. I might upload them later.

We followed a slough that took us to Carter Lake (I think) and we only saw two other boats up there. Most boats could not get through here so it was pretty sweet...

[fredfarmer]

On the way back we found a real shallow slough that only kayaks and maybe a canoe could get through. ..





I can only assume that this is a make shift dear blind? It was in the wildlife management area but hard to see on the crappy iPhone pic...



More pics of the shallow slough that we went through...

[fredfarmer]

[fredfarmer]

Getting loaded up back and camp and about to hit the road...







No service on my phone almost all weekend, yay!! (My employer calls me a lot when I'm off as I am the IT Field)



Saw a couple of deer, but only was able to snap a pic of this one on the way out...



Time to make the drive back to the metro mess...



Between my friend's lake house and Caddo State park, I don't think I could have had a better trip. Looking forward to planning the next one, just not sure where to yet.

[silverhatch]

Cool pics looks like fun.

[stevo]

Are you saying Caddo is a no-wake lake or just the area that ya'll were at?

Stevo

[fredfarmer]

Are you saying Caddo is a no-wake lake or just the area that ya'll were at?

Stevo

We stopped at a friends lake house in East Texas on the way to Caddo. The lake that his house was on is a no wake lake. Caddo Lake is fair game on wakes. We never made it to the main lake at Caddo as we had too much to check out in the swamps.

[stevo]

We stopped at a friends lake house in East Texas on the way to Caddo. The lake that his house was on is a no wake lake. Caddo Lake is fair game on wakes. We never made it to the main lake at Caddo as we had too much to check out in the swamps.

Ahh, I gotcha.

Stevo

[Cannon88]

Very cool, thanks for sharing. Dang it, I need a kayak now.

If the area where the "deer blind" is ever gets enough rain to hold water, it may be an old duck blind.

[KBScobravert]

Great pics. Looks like an awesome time.

[motoman]

Cool pics man. I never would have guessed Texas has swampy areas like that.

[Chopped54]

Used to go to Caddo Lake St Pk 3-4 times a year as kids. Lots of good times!