|
TRIP-AT-A-GLANCE: DeGray Lake (The “Swamp”)
|
|
DATE / TIME
|
8/4/2026 / 7:00-10:30 AM
|
|
PUT-IN
|
DeGray Lake – Waterfowl Refuge (aka the “Swamp”)
|
|
TAKE-OUT
|
DeGray Lake – Waterfowl Refuge (aka the “Swamp”)
|
|
GAGE
|
No gage or pool level for this lower lake
|
|
FLOW / DISCHARGE
|
0
|
|
AIR TEMPERATURE
|
89°F
|
|
PRECIPITATION
|
None
|
|
WIND
|
Occasional mild breeze
|
|
PARTICIPANTS
|
Sam Reyna and Kent Walters
|
|
VESSLE TYPES
|
Jackson Tupelo and Perception Carolina
|
|
CLOUDS
|
Sunny
|
|
MILES
|
4.9 (GPS track)
|
Sam picked me up at 7:00 AM and we arrived at the lower lake launch by 7:25. We were on the water at 7:40.
Kent & Sam ready to go
We paddled in the shade for the first part of our trip. It was super peaceful – not a breath of wind. The water was still and reflected everything perfectly.
At the cypress stand a half a mile in we were still in water that seemed like a mirror.
We saw deer and egrets on this first shady segment on the eastern finger (please reference route at end of report).
Sam disturbing the still water
Sam took this photo of me disturbing the peace
Then we came back to get into the western finger and got closer to the egret, but not close enough for a good photo.
After paddling as far into this water as we could go, we reversed direction again and went around the peninsula into the main channel. We saw more deer as we neared the cut.
Look at the size of those jaws on the far right! Yikes!
We entered the cut, which in high water connects to the western finger (with some bushwhacking). While in the cut, we saw a great blue heron take off, and I got a real good look at a pickerel frog that finally jumped in the water and swam under my kayak. Note: that’s the only poisonous frog in Arkansas.
End of the cut today
Sam paddling back out of the cut
We decided to explore the cove that appeared on the opposite side of the main channel from “the cut”
Exploring the “new” cove
Sam in the new cove
A snake suddenly outgrew his skin and left the old skin in our cove
We spent quite a bit of time in this cove. We saw deer again, and another egret, and a cypress tree with a whole city of knees at its base. We will be visiting here again.
City of knees (it looks far more impressive in person)
We decided to call it a day and paddled back to the main channel, where we noticed a lot of birds in a few trees. I took photos and asked Bruce what they were. He said they are purple martins.
Purple martins having a party
A couple of small ducks about 5 minutes from the boat launch
Good times.
Author: Kent Walters
LINK to Photo Album (more photos)