Any Place With Water?

[Jeff_L]

I am headed down over Memorial Day with young kids and older grandparents. Not planning to float, but would like to get them out on the river to swim/play. We are staying near Ponca, how far down do we need to go to find any water to even swim (and ideally, where my dad and I can sneak away to fish a bit)? Is there any water at Pruitt, Carver or Hasty? I don't really want to drag everyone any farther than that. I know the outfitters aren't even putting in at Pruitt any longer, they referred me all the way to Gilbert. Yikes.

Thanks for any info.

[TroutRinger]

I floated Pruitt to Hasty two weeks ago. Dragged about 8-10 times. I remember while driving over the Pruitt bridge seeing kids cliff diving so I'd assume there is still enough water there. Hasty looked good as well (although if you read my report you'd know the only thing I cared about at that time was being off the water)

[Jeff_L]

Thanks, gives me some hope we can swim at Pruitt or Hasty, at least. Yeah, saw your report. Brutal. That is everyone's nightmare. We do a 2 day trip every year and have had a couple people struggling with stomach ailments.

[lollygagger1]

The Ozark access has a small swimming hole at the base of the bluff. Should still have enough water to get all the way wet. The road into Steel Creek is now paved all the way down the hill, then the old gravel roads on the valley floor. Access there not good for swimming, but gravel bar upstream might have a deep pool. When you get to the bottom of the Steel Creek hill, turn left and follow the gravel road all the way to the far end of the campground. Walk through last campsite to path through woods down onto big gravel bar opposite upstream end of Roark Bluff. Beautiful spot, probably will be crowded, but so will any place with enough water to swim. Might also be some fish in that hole, or along the base of the bluff that runs a long way downstream. The Hasty gravel bar is big, and there might be enough water there to lie down in. Might not be as crowded, since not at a campground and no floaters.

[gotmuddy]

if your camping camp at rush, there is always water there

[Jeff_L]

thanks, Steel Creek would be ideal if there are swimming holes. Anything at Kyle's or Hasty?

[tjulianc]

.

[Jeff_L]

Great advice. River is seriously low and dry, hopefully they get some rain. Good swimming hole just as advertised at far upstream end of Steel Creek. Great swimming hole and a little fishing at the Ozark access. Caught a few small smallies at Ozark both upstream and downstream of the swimmers, coming off the (very small) riffles at the top of the pools. Saw lots of good sized cruisers, but hot, clear and stagnant didn't seem to be inciting much action. Still, great trip. Thank you for the advice, my 7 and 5 year olds had a blast.