1995. April of 1995, Southern Living Magazine did an article on the Lilies found in the Cahaba River Titled "Lily of The Stream". I also still have that article. That is how long I have been wanting to see some Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies .
2005. That's the year I joined GeorgiaRiverfishing.com. Since then my eagerness for a Shoalie has increased because members of that forum are always posting pictures of Shoal Bass they have caught.
So, when would I go?...Work and family duties always kept getting in the way but this winter I said to myself this was going to be the year. I have had several offers in the past to go fish for Shoalies but couldn't work it out. Members of GRF had a get together planned for the month of May so I decided this would be a great time for me to go meet up with a bunch of guys I have known for years through the Internet and get the Shoal Bass off my bucket list. Sam (Creekstalker) the Owner of Georgiariverfishing.com showed up which was nice as he has been up to North Carolina twice to fish with me. I have also met Several other members at tournaments in North Carolina but this was going to be a treat to go down there and fish with them.
Another one- most I caught hit a spinnerbait
I caught a handful that size the evening of the 18th plus a few Redbreast and Bream.
The campsite was awesome and the river was amazing. Thanks to Mike for being a great host.
I went to bed that night very tired after a long hard drive from North Carolina and an evening of paddling and fishing but was a very happy camper as I had caught my Shoalie. The next day I awoke and hit the river this time going downstream and was rewarded with a nice Shoalie, a few small shoalies , a few decent Spotted bass and some more Redbreast and Bream. Here are a few pics of my am float.
The Rocky Shoals Spider Lily
Wow!
Seeing these Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies was almost better than catching a Shoalie. What an awesome site.
These are found from the Catawba River in South Carolina through Georgia and into Alabama. The North Carolina population's of this Lily are gone now due to the dams on the Catawba and now there are only 50 known colonies known in the 3 states. I had first heard of these from Southern Living Magazine which did and article on the Spider Lilies found in the Cahaba River in Alabama. This was an unexpected surprise!
Here are a few random pictures of some of the fishermen, the campsite, and the River.
Trent and "Pamlico"
Phillip "Pip"
The "Boathouse"
Mike and Trent
Pip
Blackwaterbill, Doublehaul, Pip, Pamlico, Me, Shoalieman and ?
Goshawk on the River
1st was seeing and meeting the Brother River fishermen, 2nd, was seeing those Spider Lilies, and 3rd was catching a Shoalie. Hopefully I will make it back next year. Now , I have a big desire to see the Spider Lilies on the Catawba River! A big Thanks to Mike and everyone else. Mack
#flintriver
#shoalbass
#Micropteruscataractae
Micropterus cataractae
1 comment:
Wow, Awesome photos. What a beautiful river.
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