Anyone know if you can run a jet boat on the river? I know it'd be hard to do above 280. I can think of several impassable shoals above 280. I was more curious to see if you could run one around Centerville and below?

We see one frequently north of centerville

Yes

Any idea where they are putting in?



I looked at the map today. It looks like the last true shoals on the river are in Centreville. From there down looks like you're fine. Just wonder where they launch?

The costal plain drops off south of centerville and the river becomes more of a sandy bottom than shoals. Not sure but it always comes from centerville and goes back that way.

Can launch at the ramp just east of marion

is it a yellow one?

Looks like a concrete ramp at Sprott and a dirt ramp at Heiberger. Anyone ever used those before? The one at Sprott is an Alabama Wildlife and Fisheries ramp and looks in good shape.

You can launch any sort of boat at Marion. I have never looked at the dirt ramp at Heiberger, but it's not but 8 miles or so between them.

I had planned to put in at Marion this fall and see how far I could go up river with my prop boat, but we never had a fall. It went from drought and 100 degrees to a cold and muddy river without any transition time. Maybe next year. Good luck if you go.

Do not use the one at heiberger. Our property touches it. Go to sport or wait til spring and we can launch it off one of the sand bars on our place

How's the fishing on that end of the river? I argue all the time that the fishing on the Cahaba around Bham is some of the best in the state.

Never fish the river, too shallow with shoals for any boat I have. Oxbow fishing is decent on our place

Unless the waters up I wouldn’t try to go anywhere near 82 in any boat you can’t drag over rocks. We did catch some nice spots wading right there this summer though.

Dang, Ben, it suddenly occurred to me why you don't have any turkeys on your place. I grew up going to school with the kids that lived in the area where you are. They were fine people and some of them were my best friends, but they carried wildlife outlawism to a whole different level from anywhere else. . A turkey in that place was as likely to get shot in July as April. Sorry for the OT post.

William, have you already bought a jet boat? If so, what did you get?

Not yet. Looking to downsize some stuff. My wife and I really enjoy fishing the Cahaba. We canoe the upper portion frequently during the summer. I think we would both enjoy a smaller jet on little rivers. It makes the fishing much easier. Plus, I just noticed that the Cahaba runs through the National Forest down there. That'd make it even more fun to hunt there.

My Arkansas buddy has me looking at Blazer boats out of Missouri. Arkansas and Missouri is where all those small river jet boat companies are.

I agree that a smaller jet outboard would be great on the Cahaba. Please post pics if you get one. And take me fishing so I can see how it does.

Oh boy the Cahaba! Put in at the slab. Best people watching area in Birmingham.

The "slab" is now a park with hiking and biking trails. There is a park ranger that lives on the property.

Well that’s disappointing. That place was really a unique experience. That was our take out for a number of years. We would do an overnight and really looked forward to seeing the slab festivities while waiting on our pick up.

Y'all that fish the Cahaba, what do you catch most often? What baits and techniques do you typically use? Thank you!