Caddo Lake Swamp Tour (Texas Country Reporter)

Take a tour of Caddo Lake during the deep of winter. A rarely publicized time of one of Texas' most mysterious places.

Ron Gibbs
756 Pine Island Rd
Karnack, TX 75661
Phone: (903) 679-3020
Website: https://captronswamptours.com/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TCRbob

Texas Country Reporter
#1693
2-8-20

Video Script:: 

[Applause] still looks like the dead of winter as we ride along on Captain Ron swamp tours in East Texas in another month or so these trees will all be covered in green but any time of year is a great time to take in the majesty of Caddo Lake once you get back into this water forest it's prehistoric-looking its mysterious looking it's enchanted its primeval is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful as the sun's morning rays speak through Spanish moss hanging from an endless sea of Cypress captain Ron Gibbs and his co-pilot panda glide through the swamps without a worry in the world with these two at the helm there's no fear of going adrift after decades of boating on this mystical water it seems Ron knows every inch of this lake Molly might not lose this direction it is easy for him to get lost in the peacefulness of it all the cabins in a continuous state of flux is removed from one season to the next it changes characters are almost on a daily basis you never get bored coming out I know I remember when I started doing this 10 years ago the first week I said Oh Ron this is like driving a dump truck you're gonna get so bored folks it's 10 years later that hadn't happened yet I'm as fascinated with this water forest today as I was the first day I saw it it never gets old most beautiful lake in the world in my opinion I've been all over the world [Music] now if you look to your left you'll see what a water pours looks like there it is while Ron skills of navigating through the bio or impressive its his knowledge about the lakes history that truly make this a first-class tool from his tales of the Caddo Indians who settled here to the steamboats that used to travel through these narrow channels it seems katas storied past is deeper than its waters [Music] the lake is so rich in history I mean a lot of people don't realize the original technology for offshore drilling was developed on Caddo Lake really they discovered all in around 1914 this is the first place in the entire world they ever drove all over water and it wasn't until they perfected it here that they did get drilling in the shallow waters of Gulf of Mexico and the rest is history first we'll ever drilled up to that day drillers own the tools they drilled with from that day forward to this day they lease them that practice will store - right here on Caddo Lake by that postmaster whose name was it's an open forum y'all can jump in now Howard he is Wow right here once a havens for outlaws looking to hide behind the curtains of Spanish moss and century-old swamps it's easy to see why fugitives chose this place we can assure you Ron Gibbs isn't running from the law but his reasons for being here aren't all that different the water called to him is a place to hide out and get away from the hustle and bustle of life you said that you've discovered early that you weren't gonna be happy unless you're on the water I don't know how the sea gets into your blood but it does I can't explain it all I know is once I was on a vessel in a saltwater environment I knew that's where I wanted to be and from that point on I wasn't happy unless I was on a boat somewhere but now you're here on Caddo Lake I'm still a boat and how long will you do this this may be my last year I think it's 70 years old it's time to slow down take a break and fish every day my only hope is that I can find somebody that wants to take up where I leave off and continue doing this understandably Ron Gibbs is a little hesitant when contemplating leaving Caddo behind hauntingly beautiful this mysterious treasure has captivated a part of his heart that will be difficult to let go but until that day comes you'll be sure to see captain Ron and panda in this primordial maze of unspoiled world what's it do for your soul it enlightens that that's for sure I feel a an inner peace that I've never felt anywhere else and it has to do with Caddo Lake it's not just the fact that I love what I do it's it's cattle Lake itself it gives you peace of mind woody asked you that you automatically started glowing I get a little emotional about it sometimes are you gonna miss it oh I'm sure I'm sure how could you not if the fish aren't biting I'll miss it a lot you