caddo outback backwater tours

Although I have reviewed this business before, I feel the need to update it as my husband Allan Kimball featured John Winn in a recent article in the Texas Hill Country Magazine (www.texashillcountrymagazine.com) John provided us with the best adventure we could imagine on Caddo Lake. Growing up on the lake, he is very knowledgeable and knows every nook and cranny and took us deep into the swamp, to places we would never have known existed.I've always wanted to visit Caddo Lake. My husband had a book signing in Carthage so we drove out to Caddo Lake. Stayed at one of the cute, cozy cabins in the park and decided we wanted to do a lake tour. John Winn came highly recommended and we now know why. We had the best time, a great tour and an excellent tour guide who was born and raised on the Lake and knows every nook and cranny. Taking the tour on a mud boat (go devil) was the best. These boats can go anywhere and we definitely saw the swampiest of swamps. It was beautiful and we learned so much from John. We also highly recommend this tour and will be back for another one.

John Winn grew up on this lake and it's apparent in his love and knowledge of the lake and its swamps. We had a 2 hour personal tour and as soon as it was over we were ready for more! John took us into areas that very few boats can or would even attempt - the trees were so beautiful it was like a cathedral of Cypress trees. We saw Blue Heron and a family of raccoons and the majesty that is the swamp. Great time, I absolutely recommend John - just hope he's not so booked next time that we can't get a tour!! Took hundreds of photos .. unfortunately not able to upload right now not sure why - just trust me GO and enjoy! Book early his tours fill up fast, we actually drove out to his place to book our tour phone service is iffy in his area, so if you don't hear from him I wouldn't give up on him - go in person book the tour! He has EARNED every one of these EXCELLENT reviews!!

We booked this tour and our guide John Winn took us on the tour and it was beautiful with all the Cypress trees and getting up close in the swamp. He was very informative and a very good tour guide. Don't miss this one!

John was knowledgeable and entertaining as he drove us through areas we thought not possible. The personal experience of being in the backwaters was a highlight of our Caddo Lake visit.

John is so amazing! We love the fact that it was a personal tour n not a big group of strangers. John taught us alot about caddo and answered all our questions. We even went places a pontoon tour boat cant go. Loved it!!!!

It was a relaxing and enjoyable experience with one of my best friends.I will go again and bring my daughter next time because I think she would love it too.

John met us upon arrival at his property and was very personable! The swamp tour was amazing! John was very knowledgeable about Caddo Lake and educated us on the trees and the lake habitat. He took us back into the thick swamp which we thoroughly enjoyed. We can't wait to do a night tour with him next year!!!

One of the main reasons for taking our recent trip to Caddo Lake was to tour the lake. We preferred a small, more private experience, and was referred to John by the local State Park employees. With his smaller boat, you can get around into places the other boat tours can't. It was perfection. John's knowledge of the lake, combined with his personality, made our 1-1/2 hour tour much more than we expected. Only one thing we'd change: next time we'll go longer! Probably the most magical and calming experiences I've ever had. There's simply no other way to experience the lake. Thanks, John.

John is friendly and very knowledgable. My wife, our three-year old, and I had a fun time experiencing the fantastic scenery around Caddo Lake and learning about its history.

This is our second tour with John Winn and I do not know if a trip to Caddo Lake would be complete without 11/2 hours with John. It was winter and the cypress were dormant and gray but the beauty of the Spanish Moss and colorful salvania made it a special day for a post Valentines float. The elegant duck blinds and mysteries of Caddo Lake can be discovered here. He is the" real deal" and everyone in the area knows John and speaks highly of him. Great value for the money.

We reviewed our options before planning this trip and it payed off !!! John Winn is a super guide and his knowledge of Caddo Lake makes the trip even more interesting. We went on a cool, misty morning that made it even more mysterious. With the go-devil boat, John can take you back into the really "backwaters" of Caddo. We really enjoyed our time on Caddo and will recommend it to our friends.

Took my family on a tour with John Winn through the Lake. The Lake has such fantastic character, very much unlike any body of water I've visited since the Okeefenokee swamp as a boy. The floating salvania, the bald cypress trees and the Spanish moss hanging from them create a unique must-experience atmosphere.We took an hour and a half tour and had two small girls with us (ages 7 and 2). They both got a little restless, especially whenever the boat stopped, but enjoyed the scenery and liked the experience of being on a boat. John is not only very personable, but a veritable fountain of knowledge of the lake and the area, having lived there his whole life. This isn't just a boat ride, but a learning expedition about the local flora and fauna.If you come anywhere within 50 miles of Caddo Lake, this is a must-do.

The owner and operator, John Winn, is the real deal. He grew up in the area and has decades of experience on the lake. He's kinda like a "Caddo Dundee" - personable and friendly, and knowledgeable about the history, flora, and fauna of the swamp.We arrived a few minutes early, and everything was ready to go, so we were on the river in short order. We opted for the 1.5-hour tour, which took us a short distance down the river and deep into Pine Island Pond, and then back up the river and down a canal to Carter Lake. You are not going to get to these places without the kind of boat and motor that John has. And what places these are! Tall cypress trees with their broad trunks in the water, Spanish moss dripping from every branch, spatterdock floating on the water (along with the invasive salvinia and hyacinth) - it is an alien world. Several times we stopped to take in the tranquility, and John discussed the plants and trees, the fish and birds, the history of the lake, and the human population.The tour gave us a good overview of the swamp, and it whetted our appetite for more. Next time, we are going to try a night tour.John provided a rare experience at a very reasonable rate. We highly recommend his tours.

My best friend was visiting from Seattle, so we decided to do a road trip to the Jefferson/Lake Caddo area. A highlight of our visit was our time with John on two Caddo Lake Outback tours. We initially went out for 2 1/2 hours in the morning and liked that so much, we came back for an hour after dark. The sights are just beautiful and John certainly knows everything there is about Caddo Lake. The night tour is neat - - kind of spooky, but still beautiful. If you are in the area, highly recommend you take advantage of the opportunity to see the one truly natural lake in Texas. With a guide like John, you can't go wrong. Prices are very reasonable as well. Be sure to have a camera handy and if you're out in the daytime, some sun screen couldn't hurt. Might want to make a pit stop b4 you go, unless you are comfortable 'communing with nature'. We didn't have mosquito problems in the morning. Did have a few bugs on the return trip in the evening, but nothing to keep you from enjoying the outing.Linda-Coppell TX

Mr. Winn is very well eduacated about Caddo Lake. He participated in my fiancé and I's engagement. I was definitely surprised when Mr. Winn snuck in my fiancé's proposal during the tour. It was a memorable moment that I will never forget! If you are planning on visiting Caddo Lake, I strongly suggest taking a tour with Mr. Winn!