by coltday » Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:33 pm
I am new to the forum, so hello all! I was raised fishing the Alapaha, mainly around Willacoochee. Years ago, the Alapaha was a GREAT place for red breast, bass, and channel cats. However, after quite a few years of drought, the water stayed very low and reduced the numbers of fish. BUT, there are still fish there! The best way to fish it is to wade fish. The way I have always done is is with a ultra light reel an rod, a pocket full of extra beetlespins with black/yellow, brown/black and white with red dot, and a stringer tied to my belt loop. We've caught as many as 40 keepers on one trip just walking the rivers throwing to the deep banks. Also, crickets will increase your chances for sure, but is more of a hassle with rebaiting as the shad will suck one off in a heartbeat. The bass are still there, deep holes with plastics, and bang'o lures in spring/summer can produce some very fiesty bass, especially jigger poling up under the trees. We always catfished when the water was up, but still in the banks. Find a good eddy pocket with trash and drop a worm down right beside the boat.
I have only canoed from Willacoochee to Mud Creek (Berrien Beach). It was an overnighter, but we fished a good bit and weren't in a rush. The river was a little too low at the time so we had to do some dragging due to down trees and sandbars. If I can be of any assisstance, let me know!