Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk AL Fishing Talk Cababa River float…

It used to be navigable at least from Okmulgee creek to Sprott, and I'm talking going upstream with a 10 to 25 hp out outboard. The last time I was on the river was nearly 20 years ago and it was not as deep as it used to be.

I kayaked the Ocmulgee several times last year. Waay too many trees down blocking the creek the further downstream you get before it empties into the Cahaba. The last 1/2 mile took me as long to navigate as the first 4 miles, pulling it up the bank or across fallen trees. Wore me out. I got a few more creeks in the area I’m going to try to launch my kayak and fish besides Ocmulgee. Cedar creek, old town creek, little and big Mulberry are on my list along with Bogue Chitto.

That's interesting about the trees blocking it. Back when I fished it in 60s and 70s there was never a tree all the way across the creek. I guess there has been a lot of erosion of the banks since those days. That had happened to the Cahaba too the last time I was on it, and it's sure to be worse since then.

I guess it is nothing new. They used to run riverboats on the Cahaba in the 1800s, but by the early 1900s it had gotten too shallow. I remember an older gentleman when I was a kid who told me that he remembered the last riverboat to ever make the trip. That must have been around 1900 or shortly after.

I enjoy all the comforts of modern life, but we gave up a lot to have them

I don’t know how a Riverboat ever made it up the Cahaba north of Hwy 80. I have to get out of my kayak if I take the wrong channel. Why it would be more shallow now I don’t know. It had to have been a small Riverboat, but large enough to hold cargo and make the trip worthwhile. My ole man said before they damned the Alabama you had to really know the river or you would run a ground in a small boat, or hit the rock bars that were just beneath the surface. The river was MUCH different pre 1960’s.
Sorry to highjack the thread but I think the Op got good information several days ago to make his decision.

There is a book written by a Jax State professor about the history of riverboat travel on the rivers. They did have a smaller model boat for the Cahaba, but they could go to Centreville. We can't imagine what the rivers looked like prior to all the forestland being turned into cotton fields. I think the rivers stabilized somewhat after the marginal farmland went back into woods, but then clear-cutting came along and erosion is back to as bad as ever.

Here's the book if anyone is interested. If you spend any time on the rivers of central and south AL, I think you would enjoy learning about the history of them. There are some fascinating stories about terrible wrecks and daring trips. If you look around you can probably find a cheap copy.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rivers-of-history-harvey-h-jackson-iii/1110974695

I saw an old paper article where some guys caught a giant sturgeon near centerville way back in the day.

Lonster have you ever floated the Lux? Most folks around here have, but it’s a pretty good float too.

I have waded several miles of the upper portion but I’ve never floated any of it down your way. I would like to some time.