By: Phillip Scearce  aka “Pip”

On very RARE occasions I get a weekday off where my wife and kids have work and school.  This was the case one day in November 2008.  I had the day to myself!  What to do?  Take advantage of the beautiful Florida weather and go fishing, of course!  So I called up my fishing buddy, Daniel Bass (great name) loaded the canoe and we headed up to High Springs Florida, in Alachua County, to fish for Florida’s “Bronzeback” Bass, the Suwannee bass, on the upper Santa Fe River.  Continue Reading

By: Jeff Scoggin (AKA Deepstep)

About the river: Stevens Creek, a tributary of the Savannah River, winds its way slowly through the counties of Edgefield and McCormick, SC. The landscape of the river changes vastly over its length from deep gorge like settings to rocky shoals and even lined by cypress trees in some areas. The floatable sections of the creek really begin below the confluence of Steven’s and Turkey creek, and end in a vast stumpfield as the waters combine with the Savannah River as it continues its course into North Augusta. Continue Reading

When you can actually get on flowing sections of this river, that are true river and not lake, they can be pretty productive. The problem is the river system creates so many lakes that it has more lake shoreline than river on its way to the ocean. If man had not disturbed much of the true river by creating lakes, this may have been one of the most scenic rivers in the country coming out of the mountains and into the piedmont. Even though it is a big river, it is one of the most used water systems in the country and therefore runs lower than ever these days. You may find yourself scraping the bottom in many shoal areas, especially during the summer. However, the good news is that there are still bass living in the river! Continue Reading

About The River:

The Broad River begins way up in western North Carolina and tumbles its way all the way down to the capital city of Columbia, SC, where it joins with the Saluda to form the Congaree. Along its route to Columbia, it is dammed up several times, although never into a big impoundment. These small dams are there more to produce power than to make recreational lake opportunities. At times I despise dams on rivers, but the truth is that if they were not there much of the Broad could be completely silted in and we may not have the fishery we do today. Finding access to the Broad can be difficult, and the numerous shoals make it a challenge for motor boats. This is a good thing if you are a kayak or canoe fisherman. Continue Reading

The Flint River literally begins in aqueducts beneath Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Finally around the town of Woolsey it becomes floatable to kayak and canoe fisherman (unless we are in a major drought!). It is home to Georgia’s unofficial state fish – the shoal bass.  Shoal bass were once even called, by some, Flint River Bass. Aside from the shoal bass the river is unique in many other ways. It is also home to the rare and endangered spider lilly and numerous rare species of turtles and mussels. Continue Reading

The Ocmulgee River might as well be called “anything wet flowing out of Atlanta” because that is literally what it is. However, despite being formed by three rivers (Yellow, South, Alcovy) that drain Atlanta and its suburbs, it is generally a cleaner and more nutrient rich river than you would think. I still wouldn’t be eating fish from the river five days a week or anything, but you know what I mean. It is not quite as scenic as the Flint River, but it is still a unique river experience in its own way. Continue Reading

Since I moved to Greenwood, SC., I have begun the fun and exhausting task of exploring all of my new home waters. Sometimes I run into a stretch of river that seems lifeless, but other times I find a great piece of water where life abounds. The Saluda river, both above and below Lake Greenwood, seems to be a can’t miss for bass no matter what section you are on.

Above the lake, you will encounter two types of black bass – largemouth and redeye bass. The largemouth will generally hang out in the slower sections, while the redeyes inhabit the swift and rocky shoals. Continue Reading